Avon was settled in 1645 and was originally a part of Farmington. In 1750, the parish of Northington was established in the northern part of Farmington, to support a Congregational church more accessible to the local population. Its first pastor was Ebenezer Booge, a graduate of Yale Divinity School who arrived in 1751.
The Farmington Canal’s opening in 1828 brought new business to the village, which sat where the canal intersected the Talcott Mountain Turnpike linking Hartford to Albany, New York. Hopes of industrial and commercial growth spurred Avon to incorporate. In 1830, the Connecticut General Assembly incorporated Northington as the town of Avon, after County Avon in England. Such expansion never came and, in the 1900s, the rural town became a suburban enclave.

1778 First Company Horse Guard

Avon’s past is present. The 1778 First Company Horse Guards still operates.
The Town converted the former Ensign-Bickford Company fuse factory buildings into offices and workshops.
Life in early Avon is frozen in the remarkable diaries of Reverend Rufus Hawley, covering 1767-1812,
and the journals and notebooks of Frank Hadsell, covering 1845-1942. Frank and his brother Clinton, both photographers, left behind hundreds of glass plate negatives taken about 1889-1919,
when Avon’s population was just over 1,000.

Avon is rated #2 in the "Best Places" to live
in Connecticut for 2018 by Niche.com 

AVON IS RANKED AS ONE OF TOP SCHOOLS SYSTEMS
IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

CLICK HERE TO VISIT AVON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEBSITE

US NEWS & World Report ranked Avon High School 25th within Connecticut. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® course work and exams.

Schools are ranked based on their performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college.

AVON HIGH SCHOOL
510 W Avon Road, Avon, CT 06001

Average SAT scores: 1,717

AVON MIDDLE SCHOOL
375 West Avon Road, Avon, CT 06001

PINE GROVE SCHOOL
151 Scoville Road, Avon, CT 06001

ROARING BROOK PRE-SCHOOL
30 Old Wheeler Lane, Avon, CT 06001

Another notable historic site is the Pine Grove School House, which was built in 1865
and remains open today as a museum.

There is no plumbing at the school. The students were served by an outside pump and an outhouse.

After the town closed the school in 1949 it was used as a branch library, nursery school, and home for the boy scouts.

The Avon Historical Society restored the building and it was opened to the public in 1976.
It is currently open to visitors on Sundays from 2PM - 4PM, June through September,
or by appointment with the Avon Historical Society.

One of Avon's two elementary schools, Pine Grove Elementary School, now bears the same name
in honor of the original Pine Grove School.

Avon reached a milestone in 2005, celebrating 175 years since its incorporation in 1830.
Its history is preserved, maintained and collected by the work of the Avon Historical Society
and the Avon Free Public Library's Marian Hunter History Room.

A few of the most notable historic sites in Avon are the Avon Congretational Church, and 
Avon Old Farms School recognized as a prestigious boarding school for boys.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING TO GO TO THESE WEBSITES

Avon Historical Society

Avon Old Farms School

The Avon Congregational Church is a Congregational Church building at 6 West Main Street in Avon, Connecticut (Rt 44). Built in 1819 for a congregation founded in 1754, it is a high-quality example of Federal period architecture, and one of the finest works of architect David Hoadley. 

Avon’s families worked their dairy, poultry and tobacco farms. Men and women from Italy, Ireland, Eastern Europe, and Germany came to work on the farms, at the Climax Fuse factory, and at Avon Old Farms School.

Avon Old Farms School, a boarding school for boys was designed by Theodate Pope Riddle, one of the first female architects in America. The school was originally run by the Pope-Brooks Foundation,
which was founded in part by Theodate.
It opened in 1927 and closed for a period during World War II to serve as a convalescent hospital for blind veterans.
Avon Old Farms is in the Founders League.

Pictured above is a sampling of the historic buildings on site of the Avon Old Farms School - Quintessential New England

One of Avon's special gems is the Farmington Valley Arts Center (FVAC) located at 25 Arts Center Lane.
It is an enclave of culture celebrating and promoting the arts comprising artist studios and galleries.
You can become a member, take classes, schedule parties.

The center offers children's programs, special events, and there is also a gift shop. 

Avon Old Farms Hotel began as a 4-unit motel in 1955 and, through two expansions, has grown into a 156-room luxury hotel. From its earliest days, the staff has been dedicated to meeting the needs of its guests’ with personalized attention, hospitality and impeccable service. 

In addition to being named "Best of the Best" by Yankee Magazine, our Seasons Restaurant is one of the highest Zagat-rated restaurants in the Farmington Valley and we have received awards from esteemed travel publications and websites. 

Click HERE to visit the Avon Old Farms website.

GOLF IS A POPULAR PASTIME IN THE FARMINGTON VALLEY. Avon is home to 3

If you're looking for fine dining, Avon also offers a wonderful variety of restaurants. Many offering patio dining in addition to indoor dining. Listed below is a sampling of many. Click on the  links below to visit their websites:

• Seasons Restaurant/Tap Room
• The North House 
• da Capo Ristorante Italiano 
• Max-A-Mia
• Fabiolas Fine Foods
• Ekkalak Thai Cuisine
• E&D Pizza Company
• Amici Italian Grill
• Little City Pizza
• The Lyme Grill