Native American Wills History Event Slated in Avon

AVON, CT — From the Avon Historical Society: The Special Projects Committee of the Avon Historical Society is pleased to present the third lecture, in a series, entitled “Native American Wills” from a genealogy and research project at Central Connecticut State University on Saturday, Oct. 7 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Avon Senior and Community Center, 635 West Avon Road, Avon.

It will be presented by Professor Kathy Hermes, PhD, chair of the History Department at CCSU, New Britain. Dr. Hermes has done extensive research into the lesser known Connecticut tribes: the Wongunk who lived along the Connecticut River, and the Tunxis who lived along the Farmington River. Other tribes and clans from the Waterbury area and the New Hartford areas, as well as an area known as Massacoe in Simsbury, traveled through what is now Avon and even erected their homes (wigwams).

As part of the Farmington River Valley, Avon was an area inhabited by and used by Nativen peoples well into the colonial period. In the mid-18th century the Wongunk, Tunxis and Mohegan formed a Christian Indian community that eventually became the Brothertown Movement.

Dr. Hermes will discuss the Native people, their interactions with colonists such as Colonel William Whiting, commander of the 1709 expedition to Canada that marched through Avon, chiefs like Cherry for whom landmarks are named, and the Christian Indians who learned to use English probate law, such as Timothy Indian and the Pewompskin family.

A display of Native American artifacts from the Institute of American Indian Studies Museum and Research Center in Washington, CT will be available courtesy of Nancy Najarian. Also included be a collection of Native American artifacts founds in Avon and along the Farmington River in the mid 20th century that are part of the archives of the Avon Historical Society.

This presentation is part of a series of seven lectures, which started in September, that sets the stage for understanding how early residents lived in various sections of the town relative to historical events that were transpiring. The fourth presentation will discuss Connecticut’s historical involvement and explore how Avon specifically responded to the American Revolution. The fifth examines the ruins of an old cider mill distillery and what the temperance movement in Hartford County, including Avon, looked like. Next will be a look at how the Industrial Revolution brought the Town into the 20th century and finally, the last presentation will be on Avon historic church and school bells with a special hand bell choir performance from of the Avon Congregational Church.

A time for refreshments and asking questions of the presenters will follow immediately after both events. The remaining lectures in the series are listed below:

• Monday, Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m, “Early Avon in the American Revolution” presented by Stephen P. McGrath, Adjunct Professor of History, Central Connecticut State University.
• Monday, Nov. 13, 7:00 p.m, “An Early Distillery and Temperance in Avon” co-presented by Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, retired State Archaeologist Emeritus, UCONN Storrs and Janet M. Conner, Avon Historical Society.
• Friday, Dec. 1, 7:00 p.m, “Avon during the Industrial Revolution” presented by Eugene Macy, Social Studies Department, Avon Middle School.
• Monday, Dec. 18, 7:00 p.m “Historic Church and School Bells in Avon” presented by Janet M. Conner, Avon Historical Society with Winter-themed music by the Avon Congregational Church hand bell choir.

In addition to the above, the Special Projects Committee will be presenting a unique event “Life on the Homefront “with funding from the William Yandow Trust. This will be a dramatic music and poetry program depicting the life of one Avon family whose father goes off to War set against the backdrop music and verse that reflects what was happening on the national stage. The program will be performed by experienced historical re-enactors, musicians, and vocalists. Introduction will be given by local Civil War author and blogger John Banks. This event will be moving and leave a lasting impression. It will be held on Saturday,
Oct. 28 at 1:00 p.m. at the Avon Senior and Community Center. Additional details will follow in the media in October.

Patch file photo