Avon History Group To Open Up Historic Site

Avon Historical Society

AVON, CT — The Avon Historical Society is hosting a family friendly open house of the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse on Sunday, June 4.

The old schoolhouse is located at 3 Harris St. (West Avon Road/Route 167).

Following the open house, the historic schoolhouse will be open to the public every Sunday through September from 2 to 4 p.m.

"Last year’s opening of the schoolhouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, after the pandemic was very successful," wrote the historical society. "To welcome the new tourist season, the public is invited to an open house."

There will be new things to see inside the schoolroom, a puzzle (for all ages) to solve about artifacts on display as well as greeters to explain the building’s history.

The Pine Grove Schoolhouse, built in 1865 as Schoolhouse No. 7 and still
standing on its original location, is owned by the Town of Avon.

It was in use as a school until 1949 when it became a nursery school, a branch of the town library, and a meeting place for the Boy Scouts Explorer Troop 122.

In accordance with a long-term lease from the Town of Avon, the Avon Historical Society restored the building in 1976 and interprets it as a schoolhouse of 1900 with bolted desks, hand slates, textbooks and other educational artifacts of the time.

“Last summer we had the highest number of visitors in over a decade. Reopening after the pandemic brought out strong interest in our local history and we encourage all residents to bring their family and friends to see this lovely 19th century schoolhouse this summer,” said Terri Wilson, president of the Avon Historical Society.

Three years ago, the Society installed a Little Free Library next to the schoolhouse that is available 24/7.

Books for all ages are contained inside and everyone is welcome to take a book/share a book as
they would like.

In addition, a National Register of Historic Places roadside marker, donated by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, was installed on the front of the property.

For more information on this site and to watch a video about the schoolhouse and West Avon filmed in 2020, visit: https://avonhistoricalsociety.org/pine-grove-schoolhouse. For those interested in local history and genealogy, they are encouraged to visit the Marian Hunter History Room at the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Road, by making an appointment at 860-673-9712.

For more information on the schoolhouse, click on this link.

For more information on the schoolhouse's open house event, click on this link.