Abigail Fieldmouse Among Historical Society Attractions at Avon Day

The Avon Historical Society will participate in Avon Day on Saturday, Sept. 26 with a special family-oriented theme. Abigail Fieldmouse has been the subject of a serial story in the quarterly Avon Historical Society Newsletters since 2014 much to the amusement of kids and adults! So in keeping with the story of her adventures of life in the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse, the Society invites all families to stop by their booth to have their picture taken with Abigail and learn more about the Society’s historic buildings and activities. That evening a special event for adults will be held at the Avon Senior Center focusing on the early inhabitants of Avon.

According to Janet Conner, Chairwoman of the Special Projects Committee of the Society, “the serial stories of Abigail have been well received by so many that we felt it was time to present her to the children of Avon. We will have a cutout of Abigail for children to have their photos taken with as well as stickers to wear with Abigail’s picture on them.” Conner went on to say that she would like to hear from children in Avon about their ideas for future stories in the series. Conner hopes to publish a book of stories of Abigail this coming year for all schools in Avon to have in their libraries.

In addition, the Society is beginning a year-long commemoration of the Derrin Family acquiring land in Avon, 250 years ago, along what is now West Avon Road where the 1810 Derrin House is located. The Society is hosting a five-part lecture series, with two companion exhibits, in the Avon Free Public Library from September 2015 through June 2016. The lecture series is entitled “One Square in Avon’s Heritage Quilt History – The Derrin Family of West Avon.” It will take a look at farming in the Valley from both past and present farm families, including state and well known authors and historians. The first lecture is being held September 26, the evening of Avon Day, at 7:00p.m. with a talk entitled “Early Settlers in Nod/Northington” presented by Lisa Johnson, Executive Director, Stanley Whitman House, Farmington. It will be held the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road. Before it was named Avon, the town was called Northington and was a part of the town of Farmington. Ms. Johnson will present detail on the history of Avon’s early settlement. It is open to the public free of charge. A reception will follow the talk.

Also in the Society’s Avon Day booth there will be items for sale from our gift shop including local history books, 1869 color map of Avon, full-color postcards and colorful notecards of Avon scenes. This is a great opportunity to pick up something special for friends and loved ones as the holidays are right around the corner. Conner notes, “the Society provides so much for the Town in the way of being good neighbors that it would be wonderful to have all residents stop by to say hello.”

Members of the Society’s Board of Trustees, and its volunteers, will be available to answer questions, provide information on volunteer opportunities with the Society and would be happy to sign up anyone who wants to be a member to support their mission to identify, collect, utilize, publish, display, promote and preserve the history and heritage of Avon, Connecticut. Membership is open to the public.

Avon Day is open to the public free of charge. For more information on the Avon Historical Society, visit: www.avonhistoricalsociety.org.

Photo courtesy of Avon Historical Society