Lecture Series to Benefit Restoration for Avon's Historic Derrin House

AVON, CT — Fund-raising efforts continue to fully preserve the historic Derrin House.

A “Save the Derrin House” Fundraising lecture series, co-sponsored by the Avon Historical Society and the Avon Senior Community Center is on tap for Mondays at 7 p.m. The house is on West Avon Road

There is a suggested $10 per person donation at the door.

Refreshments will follow each event with time to meet the presenters.

Here is the slate:

• March 6 – Marty Podskoch will speak on his new book entitled: "Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Camps: Their History, Memories and Legacy." Copies of his books will be available for purchase and signing.
• March 13 - Bob Young will present: "The Return of Albert Afraid of Hawk to South Dakota." There is a Connecticut connection. It will be a 90 minute presentation.
• March 20 – Civil War re-enactors Lynne McKinney Lydick and Dane Deleppo will present “The Devil and an Angel” about battlefield medicine and practices.
• April 10 – Jay Willerup will give a detailed presentation on the history of the Heublein Family and its tower.

Since an accidental fire occurred at the 18th-century Derrin Farm House in the Spring, Glastonbury-based American Integrity Restoration has been working with the Avon Historical Society on the demolition, mitigation restoration of the house and some of the artifacts.

Work began on August 15.

The fire was on May 11. It was accidental and started in one of the oldest rooms of the building.
The Avon Volunteer Fire Department, with mutual aid from Canton, Farmington and Simsbury, was able to contain the fire and save the structure.

Fire officials said the blaze started from spontaneous combustion from oil soaked rags left over from a staining project inside the prior day. The building has been determined to be structurally sound.

Photo Credit: Avon Historical Society