Avon Landscape c. 1890
The view looks south into town with the Avon Congregational Church spire, and its long and low horse barn at the left. The couple are probably Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Neville. Anthony O'Neill Collection.
The Farmington River Bridge, before 1896
This bridge carried traffic on the Albany Turnpike (Rt. 44), cost less than $1,000 to build, and stood from 1878-1896.
Marian Hunter History Room, Avon Free Public Library
The 1880 Railroad Station, c. early 1900s.
The Farmington Canal Railroad was chartered in 1847, and the line from New Haven to Avon opened in 1850. The line to Northampton opened in 1856. The railroad ceased operating with the end of freight service in 1991. The station still exists, after its move in 1955 to what became Riverdale Farms.
Antony O'Neill Collection.
The Albany Turnpike over Talcott (Avon) Mountain, May 1911
The CT General Assembly chartered the Talcott Mountain Turnpike Company in 1798. It completed a road through Avon, between Hartford and New Hartford, in 1799. The turnpike connected Avon to Hartford and Albany, NY, and beyond, and was one of New England's busiest highways.One month after this photograph was taken by Clinton Hadsell in 1911, the massive Harrison Rock was blasted to pieces.
Marian Hunter History Room, Avon Free Public Library
Map of Avon, 1869.
Reprint by Avon Historical Society, 1994.
This multi-colored map shows the seven school districts in Avon.
Copies are for sale at the Avon History Museum and on the Avon Historical Society website in the gift shop page.
Map of Avon and Farmington, 1835.
Printed five years after Avon's incorporation, by Stodart & Currier, NY.
The center of Avon with the Avon Congregational Church is at the top of the image.
Farmington buildings are the dots at the bottom of the image.
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Nora O. Howard