To begin a year-long celebration of special events, we have installed an exhibit of a select few artifacts from its collection of over 700 in the display cases of the History Corner of the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon, CT.

The exhibit highlight is a recently conserved silk dress, the oldest textile in the collection, used on February 5, 1794, for a wedding in Northington (original name of Avon when it belonged to Farmington) of Comfort Peck to Jesse Wilcox. The wedding was officiated and noted in the journal of Rev. Rufus Hawley, Northington’s longest-serving minister of the colonial era.

Also in the exhibit is a collection of Native American artifacts found along the Farmington River in the 1930s through 1950s by Rodger Howard; a scale used in Sam Gordon’s Avon Pharmacy, which used to be in a shopping plaza on Route 44 where O’Neill-Sullivan Chevrolet is today; various household items from the 18^th and 19^th century; an 1829 leather fire bucket; a pair of boots used by an Avon Volunteer Fireman in the 1950s and 1960s; and a 1860 whale oil lamp used in Wide Awake parades supporting the election of Abraham Lincoln.

Other textiles on display are an 1813 sampler and a pillow from 1901 embroidered with over 50 names of Avon residents.  There are a few books, such as an 1824 account book by Gamaliel Sperry, who ran a wagon shop on what is today Waterville Road, and a ledger from Patrick O’Neill, who was the local blacksmith in the mid-1800s.

As events for the Avon Historical Society’s 50^th anniversary are planned, the public will be invited to participate. Volunteers are always welcome to help with any aspect of the Society’s activities.  To volunteer or join the Avon Historical Society, leave a message at: 860-678-7621 or [email protected]