One of the many projects Avon's America 250 Coordinating Committee undertook for the nation's 250th anniversary was creating the Legacy Landmarks commemorative booklet.

The Committee's mission for Avon's commemoration - Celebration, Reflection, and Civic Pride - is fully embodied in these pages. We invite readers to explore Avon's outdoor monuments, memorials, and markers, each representing a facet of our town's history and the people who shaped it.

The Society has announced that the recent Pine Grove Schoolhouse renovation will be the subject of a documentary planned for 2027 entitled “A Coat of History: Preserving the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse.”

Documentary filmmaker Adriana Davis of Avon-based D-Squared Media and Avon Historical Society President Terri Wilson will co-direct and co-produce it.

The documentary asks: How can this small town, inspired by America’s 250 commemoration, reignite the spirit begun by our country’s founders, who encouraged public education for all?

“Pine Grove is not a musty, do-not-touch museum. When I first walked through its doors, I could almost hear the walls whispering a life-long love of learning into my ears,” said Davis.

“To tell its story, our film needed to journey beyond its 161-year-old structure and into the hearts of a community determined to honor the power of primary education in a child’s life,” she said. “The documentary archives the building’s history and physical makeover but also peels back the layers of paint to share the memories of former students and teachers alongside the impressions of new visitors and schoolchildren amazed at what learning was about in a 19th-century environment.”

For more information about the documentary, go to: https://acoatofhistoryfilm.com

Avon Historical Society Completes Renovations to 1865 One-Room Historic Schoolhouse

New Open House Date in May 2027 to Honor Schoolhouse and the History of U.S. Public Education

PR Contact: Andrew Blum, AJB Communications
ajbcomms@gmail.com, 917-783-1680

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Avon, Conn. – September 23, 2026 – The Avon Historical Society in Avon, CT (Society) announced today that is has completed the renovation of an historic 1865 one-room schoolhouse.

The Society conducted a major three-part renovation of the iconic 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse to honor the history of the one-room schoolhouse in New England and throughout the United States. The renovation also marked a continuation of the celebration of America’s 250 in Avon, a hotbed of activities this year commemorating the nation’s Semiquincentennial. An open house to unveil the recently renovated building to the Farmington Valley, CT, community was set for September 26 but the event was moved due to a nor’easter that was forecasted to hit the East Coast and New England that weekend.

"Out of respect for Mother Nature, we’re ringing the final school bell on the newly renovated Pine Grove Schoolhouse for the season,” said Society President Terri Wilson. “We will reopen in May 2027 with a grand reopening party that might include other improvements that will see us staying open year-round."

The rescheduled open house will include showcasing the schoolhouse and its recent renovation, along with a range of activities, photography, and the reopening of a time capsule that was sealed during the schoolhouse's 1976 renovation 50 years ago.

Avon Town Historian Nora Oakes Howard noted that the learning of history has been under fire lately. Yet, she added, that in the midst of such attacks, and many more against the study and practice of American history, “I take heart from this historic schoolhouse and its renovation.”

“It’s all because of professionals and volunteers wanting to showcase the story of public education for children. They are broadcasting history to the visiting public – not erasing it,” Howard said, praising Wilson for spearheading the project. “Avon’s one-room schoolhouse carries a mighty message. It symbolizes Thomas Jefferson’s progressive view that only an educated public could help prevent corruption and abuse of power,” Howard said.

“History, it turns out, still matters. So do local stories that historians uncover and share,” she added. “Avon’s programs for America 250 and its restoration of the Pine Grove Schoolhouse are a triumph for our small town. For those adults and children who are so vigorously taking part in Avon’s America 250 events, I know we are making a big difference.”

The Society’s recent renovation of the schoolhouse came after its last major upgrade in 1976 when the Society signed a lease to operate it with the Town of Avon. Minor upkeep has been done over the past 15 years. The new project included painting the interior of the historic building, fixing a broken 19th-century chalkboard pulley system to raise and lower it, and repairing several small holes in the roof.

The Society also has announced that the project will be the subject of a documentary planned for 2027 entitled “A Coat of History: Preserving the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse.” It is being co-directed and co-produced by documentary filmmaker Adriana Davis of Avon-based D-Squared Media and Wilson. For more information about the documentary, go to: https://acoatofhistoryfilm.com

The documentary poses the question: How can this small town, inspired by America’s 250 commemoration, reignite the spirit begun by our country’s founders who encouraged a public education for all?

“Pine Grove is not a musty, do-not-touch museum. When I first walked through its doors, I could almost hear the walls whispering a life-long love of learning into my ears,” said Davis.

“To tell its story, our film needed to journey beyond its 161-year-old structure and into the hearts of a community determined to honor the power of primary education in a child’s life,” she said. “The documentary archives the building’s history and physical makeover but also peels back the layers of paint to share the memories of former students and teachers alongside the impressions of new visitors and schoolchildren amazed at what learning was about in a 19th century environment.”

The schoolhouse, which was renovated by the Society for the 1976 Bicentennial, has been open to visitors for almost 50 years. At one time in the U.S., there were 190,000 one-room schoolhouses; Avon had seven of them. The Pine Grove Schoolhouse operated for 84 years, and is listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places.

The interior painting was done through a local partnership with Thomas Mach Interiors of Simsbury, Conn., who donated consultation, and project management services. The specialized paint was made by Farrow & Ball Paint & Paper (F&B), a UK-based manufacturer of handcrafted richly pigmented paints and unique wallpapers. F&B donated the paint for the schoolhouse.

“Thomas Mach Interiors and Farrow & Ball are delighted to support the Avon Historical Society in the thoughtful restoration of the historic schoolhouse interiors,” said Mach. “Living museums like this are more than beautifully preserved spaces - they keep the stories, craftsmanship and character of our communities alive, connecting new generations with the people and places that helped shape our shared history.”

Donors for the labor part of the schoolhouse painting included long-time Society supporter Pat Moran in memory of her mother Harriet Moran, proceeds from the Society’s TABLESCAPES 2026 fundraiser, and Delmonte and Martha Davis of New York City. Pat Moran was a nursery school student at the Pine Grove site in the 1950s. Martha Davis’s mother, Arline Judd Olson, was the oldest surviving pupil of the schoolhouse before she passed away in 2016 at the age of 100.

The interior preparation and painting work started August 5 and was completed August 21, 2026.

About the Avon Historical Society
Founded in 1974, the Avon Historical Society is a volunteer, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to identify, collect, preserve, utilize, publish, display, and promote the history and heritage of Avon, a town of 20,000 people 10 miles from Hartford. AHS leases three other historic sites: the Derrin House, the Avon History Museum, and the Horse Guards Barn. For more information, go to: https://avonhistoricalsociety.org/

About the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse
The schoolhouse is operated by the Avon Historical Society, while the property is owned by Town of Avon. The schoolhouse was first a school, and then became a nursery school, a Boy Scouts troop meeting place, a singing school, and finally, a dance school. Originally built at a cost of $1,538.34, it was called the “finest school in the state” by Henry Barnard, Connecticut’s first Commissioner of Education. The schoolhouse is open seasonally during the summer to early fall on Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. It is located at 3 Harris Road, at the intersection of West Avon Road (Route 167).
For more information, go to: https://avonhistoricalsociety.org/pine-grove-schoolhouse/

About Thomas Mach Interiors and Farrow & Ball Paint & Paper
Thomas Mach Interiors, based in Simsbury, Conn., provides luxury interior and exterior painting, in-home color consulting, kitchen cabinet makeovers, and full interior design services. It also works with interior designers and has a professional painters program. For more information, go to: https://thomasmachinteriors.com/

Farrow & Ball, based in Dorset, England, is dedicated to creating eco-friendly paint and wallpaper using top ingredients and rich pigments. Each paint contains a blend of up to five pigments and an eco-friendly water-based formula. Farrow & Ball uses recyclable materials, responsibly sourced ingredients, and sustainable business practices. For more information, go to:
https://www.farrow-ball.com/us/

About D-Squared Media and Adriana Davis
D-Squared Media is a full-service production company based in Avon, CT. The company produces and edits documentaries, feature films, podcasts and corporate videos. D-Squared has offered film and video production management, writing, editing, and voice-over casting/directing services to a wide variety of clientele for the last 30 years. For more information, go to: http://dsquaredmedia.com/

History, it turns out, still matters. So do local stories that historians uncover and share. Which is why we are pleased to announce that The Hartford Courant ran an op-ed by our own Town Historian, Nora Howard, online on September 16, 2026

You can read the full story online here or the synopsis below:

Learning history has been under fire lately. On September 8, Smithsonian secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III resigned, saying he was “weary of the fray” in what the New York Times, on Sept. 8, called “withering attacks from the administration” on the Smithsonian's independence.

Taking aim at history on the exact 250th anniversary of the United States, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a report on July 4 that discredits the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The report was titled Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage.

According to the watchdog group Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian, founded by two history professors at Georgetown University, the Policy Council demands that the Smithsonian eliminate certain stories about the disagreements, conflicts, and people who brought this country into being.

David W. Blight, Yale University Sterling Professor of History, testified before Congress and refuted the Council’s findings. He stated that historians are “storytellers,” “keepers of memory,” and “essential for any society’s need for self-understanding.” Dr. Blight warned that without knowing history, we are ignorant.

Hartford has a distinguished tradition of standing against ignorance by supporting public education. Established in 1638, Hartford Public High School is the nation’s second oldest public high school. It’s a proud heritage, but budget cuts at Hartford’s public high schools recently led to the loss of librarians.

The public library in Alex Haley's Tennessee hometown banned his book “Roots” for a short time earlier this year. Colleges are cutting costs by eliminating humanities departments. In Massachusetts, Hampshire College is closing. That’s where documentary filmmaker and historian Ken Burns studied his craft.

In the midst of such diminishments, and many more against the study and practice of American history, I take heart from a historic 1865 one-room schoolhouse in Avon, Connecticut, that still stands.

Pine Grove Schoolhouse was one of seven one-room schoolhouses located throughout Avon. It was built at a time when children attended an estimated 1,800 one-room schoolhouses in Connecticut. The Civil War had just ended, and these children were the hope of the future.

The schoolhouse opened to the public in 1976, and renovations have continued, with major work this year. It’s all because of professionals and volunteers wanting to showcase the story of public education for children. They are broadcasting history to the visiting public – not erasing it.

The historians of Avon have ambitiously put local history under the microscope in the past year. Avon’s America 250 Committee, the Avon Historical Society, the Avon Free Public Library, the Avon Senior Center, and their partner organizations are presenting a remarkable lineup of events, exhibits, programs, artwork, readings, publications, and music.

Local historians have conducted original scholarly research. Lectures by CCSU Distinguished Professor of History Dr. Matthew Warshauer have drawn packed houses; descendants of signers of the Declaration of Independence read it aloud on July 8. Upcoming in October is a historic quilt show at the Avon Congregational Church — which proudly celebrates its heritage as a church of local abolitionists.

These events and many more have filled venues with people of all ages. Children at a Declaration of Independence program lined up to sign a giant copy, as parents lined up to take their photographs. Historians and the public dedicated an Honor Roll of local soldiers in the American Revolution — the result of new research that identified 80 additional names, including that of Abel Dego, a Black soldier. The newly planted Liberty Tree is part of a nationwide program.

Participants in these programs show a grassroots love of learning history and a fascination with the past. Audiences are hungry to understand how the Declaration came about, what it meant, who fought the world war that was the American Revolution, why Connecticut as the Provision State was critical for victory, and the responsibilities of living in a democracy.

From 1865-1949, Pine Grove Schoolhouse educated students in grades one through eight in one room. Architect Thomas A. Teft designed the school as part of a movement to modernize one-room schoolhouses for the benefit of students and teachers. The effort was led by school-reform promoter Henry Barnard, Connecticut’s first education commissioner, the U.S. Commissioner of Education (1867-1870), and author of School Architecture, a Contribution to the Improvement of School-Houses (1854).

Students at Pine Grove studied reading, grammar, math, geography, art, music — and history. Even in this one small room, the teacher prioritized shelf space for a library, and students could take books home. The official Little Free Library cabinet outside the schoolhouse today recognizes this heritage.

The 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse will unveil its renovations of the one-room schoolhouse during a ceremony on Sept. 26.

Avon’s one-room schoolhouse carries a mighty message. It symbolizes Thomas Jefferson’s progressive view that only an educated public could help prevent corruption and abuse of power. In 1786, he sent a letter to his friend and law mentor George Wythe. Jefferson wrote about “the diffusion of knowledge among the people,” saying that “No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom, and happiness.”

History, it turns out, still matters. So do local stories that historians uncover and share. Avon’s programs for the 250th and its restoration of Pine Grove Schoolhouse are a triumph for our small town. For those adults and children who are so vigorously taking part in Avon’s America 250, I know we are making a big difference.

Nora Oakes Howard is Avon's town historian and a member of the Avon Historical Society. A documentary about the Pine Grove Schoolhouse renovation, “A Coat of History: Preserving the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse,” directed and produced by documentary filmmaker Adriana Davis of D-Squared Media, will be released in 2027. The public unveiling of the renovated schoolhouse will be Sept. 26

Avon Historical Society Renovating 1865 One-Room Historic Schoolhouse

Project Hails America’s 250th and the History of U.S. Public Education

PR Contact: Andrew Blum, AJB Communications
ajbcomms@gmail.com, 917-783-1680

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Avon, Conn. – August 5, 2026 –The Avon Historical Society in Avon, CT (Society) today announced the start of a major three-part renovation project to honor the history of the one-room schoolhouse in New England and throughout the United States.

The Society is working on a continuing renovation of the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse – whose last major upgrade was in 1976. Minor upkeep has been done over the past 15 years. The new project includes painting the interior of the historic building, fixing a broken 19th-century chalkboard pulley system to raise and lower it, and repairing several small holes in the roof.

“When discussing history, I think it is important for us to keep things fresh for our community, both young and old,” said Society President Terri Wilson. “I can think of no better way to continue the celebration of America’s 250 than to preserve and commemorate this iconic 1865 schoolhouse.”

“We are 51 years into a 99-year lease with the Town of Avon, and we at Avon Historical Society promise to keep this site an authentic building for future generations to explore,” Wilson added.

The Society also announced that the project will be the subject of a documentary planned for 2027 entitled “A Coat of History: Preserving the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse.” It is being co-directed and co-produced by documentary filmmaker Adriana Davis of Avon-based D-Squared Media and Wilson.

The documentary poses the question: How can this small town, inspired by America’s 250th commemoration, reclaim this evidence of our country’s earliest endeavors to provide a public education for all?

The schoolhouse, which was renovated by the Society for the 1976 Bicentennial, has been open to visitors for almost 50 years. At one time in the U.S., there were 190,000 one-room schoolhouses; Avon had seven of them. The Pine Grove Schoolhouse operated for 84 years and is listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places.

The interior painting is being done through a local partnership with Thomas Mach Interiors of Simsbury, Conn., who is donating consultation and project management services. The specialized paint is made by Farrow & Ball (F&B), a UK-based manufacturer of handcrafted richly pigmented paints and unique wallpapers. F&B is donating the paint for the schoolhouse.

Donors for the labor part of the schoolhouse painting include long-time Society supporter Pat Moran in memory of her mother, Harriet Moran, proceeds from the Society’s TABLESCAPES 2026 fundraiser, and Delmonte and Martha Davis of New York City. Moran was a nursery school student at the Pine Grove site in the 1950s. Martha Davis’s mother, Arline Judd Olson, was the oldest surviving pupil of the schoolhouse before she passed away in 2016 at the age of 100.

Interior preparation and painting began on August 5.

We will see you in May 2027 for a grand reopening celebration that may include other improvements that will let us stay open year-round.

About Thomas Mach Interiors 
Thomas Mach Interiors, based in Simsbury, Conn., provides luxury interior and exterior painting, in-home color consulting, kitchen cabinet makeovers, and full interior design services. It also works with interior designers and has a professional painters program. For more information, go to: https://thomasmachinteriors.com/

About Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball, based in Dorset, England, is dedicated to creating eco-friendly paint and wallpaper using top ingredients and rich pigments. Each paint contains a blend of up to five pigments and an eco-friendly water base. Farrow & Ball uses recyclable materials, responsibly sourced ingredients, and sustainable business practices. For more information, go to:
https://www.farrow-ball.com/us/

About D-Squared Media
D-Squared Media is a full-service production company based in Avon, CT. The company produces and directs documentaries, feature films, corporate videos, and corporate identity reels. It offers film and video production management, writing, editing, and voice-over/voice-casting services. For more information, go to: http://dsquaredmedia.com/

As part of the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Avon’s America 250 Coordinating Committee invites the public to view a new exhibit in the History Corner of the Avon Free Public Library entitled “From Nutmeg Grievances to Nationhood: Avon’s Revolutionary Voice,” open now through August.

Read More...

Listen to the latest Podcast as Avon Talks Host Jim Pabich welcomes Jeannie Parker, a lifelong resident who shares her memories of Camp Gertrude Bryant, Avon's Girl Scout Camp from 1947-1965.

AVON TALKS, hosted by Avon Resident Jim Pabich, features episodes on local history, landmarks, and events, both historic and modern, that shape the community in which we live.

Avon resident and high school attendee Ethan Guo originally created AVON TALKS in 2023.  He planned to share Avon's history in an entertaining and immersive way, engaging historians, professionals, and residents by inviting them to share new perspectives through intriguing stories that provoke thoughtful conversations. According to Guo, “History is an integral part of any community. To me, Avon Talks is a way to further connect the Avon community through shared narratives and stories of the people and places around town."

AVON TALKS podcasts are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube Music, Google Podcasts, Podcast Index and Amazon Music. The Avon Historical Society is the sole owner of the rights to the programming, and all guests’ comments are their own and not necessarily those of the Society.  Anyone wishing to suggest a podcast subject for any of the four themes is encouraged to contact the Society at: info@avonhistoricalsociety.org or leave a detailed message at 860-678-7621.

Thanks for listening!

For more than fifty years, the rolling pastures of Connecticut's Farmington Valley served as the office of Dr. Harry Werner, a legendary veterinarian whose career witnessed a profound transformation in American agriculture.

With his wife and partner, Susan Werner, they navigated the challenges of a 24/7 business through decades of changing country life, watching the profession evolve from an era of clinical intuition to hyper-specialized, high-tech modern medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Werner shares the remarkable, often humorous, and deeply moving stories of a lifetime spent in the stalls—revealing not just how the care of our farm animals has changed, but how a family with strong dedication built a lasting legacy in veterinary care in the Farmington Valley.

AVON TALKS host Jim Pabich talks with Jeannie Parker, a lifelong resident who shares her memories of Avon's Girl Scout Camp Gertrude Bryant, a camp for Avon’s Girl Scouts from 1947-1965. The camp was located near where Avon High School is today. Hundreds of girls spent happy summers at camp learning skills, singing songs, making crafts, and being part of the larger Girl Scout movement in this country, which helped many become very successful women in society.

Avon Talks shines a light on one of Avon’s most active and community-minded organizations: the UNICO Italian American Club. UNICO has a long tradition of service, fellowship, and pride in Italian-American heritage, and the Avon chapter is no exception. From scholarships and charitable giving to local events that bring people together, UNICO plays a meaningful role in our town's life. Today, I’m joined by the chapter’s officers, who will share the history behind the organization, the work they do here in the Farmington Valley, and how they continue to keep Italian culture and community service thriving in Avon.

From Host, Jim Pabich, "William Faulkner once said, 'The past is never dead, it’s not even past”

When we look at recent events, we have the benefit of both having lived through them as well as the capability of looking at them through the objective eyes of the future.

Today, we’re joined by Avon resident Professor Stephan Bullard, a respected scholar whose book “Covid 19: The First Six Months” traces the daily advances and setbacks as they happened.

In this conversation, he brings a clear, grounded perspective on how the crisis unfolded in places like Avon, how it reshaped life across the country, and what its ripple effects look like worldwide.

Whether you lived through it on the front lines or felt its weight in quieter ways, Professor Bullard helps us understand what truly happened, what we learned, and how those lessons continue to shape our future.

Step back in time to discover what life was like during Avon’s earliest days. Our new host, Jim Pabich, is joined by local historian and author Scott Lewis, whose new book, Avon Connecticut's First Century: Visionaries and Victims, takes readers through the town’s formative years — a period marked by a mix of ambition, hardship, and transformation. The book is available for sale on our website.

Scott’s stories bring to life the local families who laid the foundation for the town we know today and the national figures who crossed their paths. We’ll talk about what inspired him to write this history, the surprising discoveries he made along the way, and why understanding Avon’s past helps us appreciate the community we live in now.

In 1736, Benjamin Franklin founded the Union Fire Company in Philadelphia. This would be the first volunteer fire department of its kind in the United States and would lay the foundations for a tradition practiced in many American towns today. Avon is one such town. The Avon Volunteer Fire Department, with its four stations and almost two-hundred staff, is a completely volunteer-based organization that has been serving the town’s needs for over half-a-century.

Joining us for this episode to discuss the history and development of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department are fire chief Bruce Appell and board member James DiPace.

In August of 1955, Connecticut was hit by one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s modern history. Over the course of one week, two hurricanes – Hurricane Connie and Hurricane Diane – collectively dropped more than two feet of water and raised the Farmington River by over eighteen inches. These two storms, and the subsequent Flood of 1955 that resulted, ended up causing over 680 million dollars worth of damage across the Eastern Seaboard, with 350 million dollars of that being dealt to Connecticut alone. In response to these damages, Governor Ribicoff declared a state of emergency, requested federal assistance from President Eisenhower, and activated the state’s National Guard. By the end of the Flood of 1955, 87 Connecticut residents had perished, 668 dwellings were destroyed, and over 200 dams suffered partial or total failure.

Avon, located adjacent to the Farmington River, was not able to escape the impact of the hurricane, suffering extreme damage to its public infrastructure, farms, and houses.

For this episode, we are joined by Janet Carville of The Pickin' Patch Farm who, being a lifelong resident of Avon, was able to experience the Flood of 1955 first-hand.

In the 15th century, Johannes Guttenburg introduced the printing press to Europe, which not only defined print media’s dominant role for centuries to come, but also fundamentally altered the social, political, and religious structure of the Western World. However, since the turn of the 20th century, the media landscape has, once again, begun to rapidly evolve with the advent of radio, video broadcasting, and, eventually, the internet. This revolutionary change would not escape Avon.

Joining us to discuss the rapidly transforming landscape of print publishing and media digitization in Avon and the Farmington Valley is Bruce Deckert, the founder and editor-in-chief of Today Publishing.

Following victory in World War II, the United States was forced to navigate a precarious transition period as it welcomed its millions of veterans back into society. To accommodate many of these returning soldiers and the subsequent Baby Boom that followed, developers across the country found success in creating standardized suburban housing and lifestyles that heralded an extreme period of national uniformity in the 1950s. However, American life would not stay stagnant for long. By the 1960s, the Hippie Movement fought against this uniformity for an era of creative expression and individualism, amongst other goals, like never before. Avon would feel the results of these efforts as it welcomed the Farmington Valley Art Center in 1974.

Joining us to discuss the visionary history of this center and its impact on Avon and Valley life are Carol Kaplan, the current Executive Director of the center, and Melissa Meredith, a current member of the board of directors.

What does the heyday of American industrialization have to do with Avon, CT? The answer is in Lions Club International. In 1917, the Lions Club was first founded in Chicago, Illinois in response to the height of American industrialism where widespread disease, poor living conditions, and endemic child labor ravaged many dense, metropolitan areas. It wouldn’t take long for the club to extend its impact throughout the United States and across the world, eventually playing a crucial role in forming the NGO section of the, then, newly established United Nations in 1945. The Lions first formally made their presence felt here, in Avon, CT, in 1951, and have since then become a cornerstone of charitable social service within the community.

To talk more about this journey with us is Heidi Zacchera, the president of the Avon Lions Club since 2004.

What is a library? To some, it’s a repository of knowledge for study and research. To others, it’s a place to borrow novels and movies and to get lost in worlds of figment and imagination, or a public space to get work done and access different community resources. In the greater American story, public libraries have been the homes of some of the greatest self-starting entrepreneurs and the cradle for world-changing academic research and literature. In this episode, we are going to explore the development of one specific public library nestled right here in Avon, Connecticut. The Avon Free Public Library has had a long history, from being transplanted across the town to developing an evolving identity as the needs of libraries and information literacy have changed with the digital age.

Joining us today is Glenn Grube, the director of AFPL and Cal Miller of Miller Farms. Thank you both so much for being here with us today.

Join us with Robert Summers, the former Avon Athletic Director and founder of the Avon Athletics program, as we explore the tangential history of Avon athletics with the Avon High School, the development of different sports teams, and the long-term impact it has had on generations of Avon students.

The first podcast of 2024 is with Jay Willerup, the (then) current board president of the Friends of Heublein Tower, as we explore the tower’s founding story, introduce its history, discuss some of the notable United States presidents that have graced its halls, and examine its current community impact in the 21st century.

The final December podcast of 2023 features a discussion with Art Custer, the head of the History Department at Avon Old Farms as we explore the school’s founding, introduce its history in relation to Avon, and the role the school has had on generations of students from across the nation and world.

Join us for the November 2023 podcast with Avon Town Manager Brandon Robertson as we introduce the role of the town manager, break down the structure of Avon's local government, and discuss the importance of civic engagement at all levels of government.

The October 2023 edition of AVON TALKS, the podcast, focuses on Prince Thomas of Savoy. Join us with Chris Cody and Paul Rotondo as we introduce the Prince Thomas of Savoy Italian social club, its over-century-long history, and its role within the Avon, Farmington Valley, and Connecticut communities.

The September 2023 podcast featured Imam Safwan Shaikh and Dr. Khamis Abu-Hasaballah, who introduced us to the Farmington Valley American Muslim Center and its growing role in the Farmington Valley community.

To learn more about the FVAMC, visit their website at www.fvamc.org

Join us with Cal Miller and Brian Malone as we introduce the foundation and formation of Miller Farms as well as its current pet food business in Oma’s Pride and its charity Miller Farms Cares. To learn more about Miller Farms, visit their website at Oma's Pride or Miller Farms Cares.

The first themed podcast launched on July 4, 2023, featuring Nora Howard, Avon Town Historian, and Terri Wilson, president of Avon Historical Society. They spoke about the launch of AVON TALKS as a new educational medium to share stories and events from Avon, CT’s long history.

Want to stay up to date with Avon Talks? Send an email to avontalksahs@gmail.com to join the newsletter.

Or, for more information, Terri Wilson, President, 860-798-0918

The AVON TALKS logo is courtesy of Priscilla Tonkin Marshall and is her own design. Given with permission.

As part of the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Avon’s America 250 Coordinating Committee invites the public to several events taking place throughout the year. All events are free to attend unless otherwise specified.

Tablescapes 2026 was a huge success, with plans for 2027 already underway! Save the date for March 12 & 13, 2027!

Our thanks to all who came out to the event. We had a record number of visitors this year! And kudos to all of the exhibitors! Their tables were so amazing this year! We truly appreciate the time and effort they put into creating them. Weeks and weeks of planning.

What an amazing transformation!

We give huge thanks to Richter & Cegan Inc.  Richter & Cegan is one of the most respected Landscape Architecture and Urban Design firms in the region, and we were so lucky to have them donate many hours to the design of the entire grounds.

Then beginning on Monday, June 9th, a crew from D.W. Burr Landscaping of Simsbury began landscaping the grounds outside the New Avon Museum.  Not only did D.W. Burr Landscaping provide a week of labor to us, FREE OF CHARGE, they also provided all of the plantings at cost.

These two very generous companies saved us thousands, and looks beyond amazing! There are no words that can full express our gratitude!