On January 2, 1974, a group of civic and historic-minded citizens took the bold step to form the Avon Historical Society, electing Mr. George Leger as its first President. That time in our nation’s history was the lead-up to the United States Bicentennial in 1976 and everyone was getting excited about American history. Small towns like Avon took advantage of this national movement and jumped on board.

According to the Society’s first newsletter in 1974, the first order of business was to provide a bulletin board at Avon High School to list events. Our Town Historian Nora Howard, then college student Nora Oakes, began recording stories from local residents. On a larger scale, the Society worked with the Town of Avon to sign a 99-year lease to restore and operate the 1865 Pine Grove School House which opened officially during the Bicentennial year of 1976 thanks to a $2,700 matching grant from the State Bicentennial Commission. Shortly thereafter the schoolhouse, and five homes surrounding it, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the only national register district in Avon to date! In 1980 another 99-year lease was signed with the Town to relocate School House No. 3 from Country Club Road to its current location on East Main Street (Route 44) so the new Avon Free Public Library could be built in what is the geographic center of Avon. It took three years before it was fully restored and opened as the Avon Living Museum in 1983. A 30-year lease on the Derrin House on West Avon Road was signed with the First Company Governor’s Horse Guards in 1996. It was amended and extended to include the Horse Guard Barn in 2011.

In order to raise the money necessary to keep the Society going and growing there have been several multi-year fundraisers for the Society such as Antique Shows (1981-1990), Vintage Clothing Sales (1986-1988), Miniature Shows (1999-2003), Cow Chip Raffles (2008-2012), and now we are about to have the 2nd annual Tablescapes showcase event on March 22 and 23, 2019 (see page 5).

Several books about our town’s history have been published including A is for Avon in 1979 & again in 2009 and Avon, Connecticut….an historical story in 1988. More than a decade later several photo books on Avon’s history by Town Historian Nora Howard in 2000 and Society member Peter Wright in 2010 were published. In addition, the longest known diary of a colonial minister was transcribed by Nora Howard and published as Catch’d on Fire: The Journals of Rufus Hawley, Avon, Connecticut in 2011. A large survey of historical architecture was done in 1997 by the former CT Historic Commission which is the basis for much research on historic properties. And for the Society’s 25th anniversary in 1999, the members enjoyed a garden party at the home of John and Chrissie D’Esopo.

In addition, the Society organized and mounted dozens of exhibits, historic presentations, book talks, and events that feature local and national topics both alone and in partnership with the Avon Free Public Library, Avon Senior Center, and others. When it comes to collaboration, the Avon Historical Society has always been there and will continue to be there as we look forward to our 50th anniversary in 2024!