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Living Museum, 8 East Main Street. Open alternate Sundays 2-4 p.m.: May 29, June 2, 16, 30, July 14, 28, August 11, 25, September 8, 22 (2002) or by appointment; free. Handicapped-accessible.
Nora Howard, Executive Director
Dating from the early 19th century, this building was originally Schoolhouse No. 3 in West Avon. Collection consists of artifacts, memorabilia, historic photographs and maps. Located near the intersection of Rt. 44 (East Main Street) and Simsbury Road
( Rt. 10N). Parking and easy access to the museum is off Rt. 10N on Enford Street next to the Post Office.
Pine Grove Schoolhouse, located at the intersection of Harris Road and West Avon Road (Rt. 167). Open Sundays 2 - 4 p.m: through September (2002) or by appointment; free.
Nora Howard, Executive Director
On October 7, 1865, a man with a team was paid $1.50 for scraping and leveling the site for the Pine Grove School. Constructed at a cost of $1,538.34, the school opened in December. Miss Francis, its first teacher, received $96.00 for a four month winter term. English, grammar, mathematics, geography, history, music, and art were the subjects studied. The pupils walked to school carrying books, slates, and tin dinner pails. They took turns building a fire in a bench-type stove. Girls sat on the left and boys on the right. Eight grades were taught here. For 62 years the school was known as School Number 7. In 1927 the town officially named it the Pine Grove School. By then it served as a place for prayer meetings and singing schools. It closed as a school in 1949, but remained open as a branch library, a nursery school, and a meeting place
for Exporer Scouts. Today it is set up as an early 20th century schoolhouse complete with bolted desks (c. 1865), textbooks, and a working stove.
Marian M. Hunter History Room, located on the second floor of the Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd., Avon,
860-673-9712
The Marian Hunter History Room is dedicated to Marian M. Hunter, long-time librarian and historian of Avon. The collection was formed when the Library and the Avon Historical Society combined their archives and dedicated the room on February 4, 1989. It includes photographs, postcards, scrapbooks, maps, deeds, and other pieces of memorabilia. Researchers and interested residents may find information on the general history of the town, original old homes and buildings in Avon, and genealogies of original families.
Staffed by volunteers from the Historical Society, the room is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4 pm or by appointment. Handicapped accessible.
Nora Howard, Executive Director, Avon Historical Society
Oldest continuously operating cavalry unit in the United States. Located on a 35 acre state-owned military reservation and contains a 40-stall barn, 30-40 horses, a drill field, 2 outdoor rings, and wooded trails. Organized in 1778, and chartered as the Governor's Independent Volunteer Troup of Horse Guards in 1788 with the purpose of escorting the Governor. After 1911, the Troop became part of the Connecticut National Guard and participated in battle in Texas against Pancho Villa. In 1946, the unit joined the CT State Militia and is currently still a member. Open to the public Thursday Drill Night, free, 7 :30 p.m. Sponsors horse shows in June and October.
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