Avon Historical Society Hosts Fundraising Lectures

From Avon Historical Society: The Avon Historical Society invites the public to the 2nd in a series of four history-themed lectures as fundraisers for the ongoing repairs of the Derrin Farm House in Avon which suffered a fire in May 2016. All presenters are donating their time to this effort and have distinctly different history-related themes that should be of interest to all. These family friendly events are taking place on Monday evenings in March and April. They all begin at 7pm at the Avon Senior Community Center, which is co-sponsoring these events, located at 635 West Avon Road, Avon. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person at the door.

Next Monday, March 13, beginning at 7:00 p.m., Mr. Bob Young will present The Return of Albert Afraid of Hawk to South Dakota. Young, a historian and longtime member of the Danbury Historical Society, will tell the story of Albert Afraid of Hawk, a 20-year old Oglala Lakota Sioux from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Albert was a rider with the Buffalo Bill Wild West program which performed in Connecticut in June 1900. After taking ill he died in Danbury Hospital and was buried there, but long forgotten. More than 100 years later records were found that a Oglala Sioux was buried in Danbury. This led to a search for descendants and an elaborate set of events to return is remains to South Dakota. Mr. Young will present his story and that of Albert’s family who was all but wiped out at the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek on Dec. 29, 1890.

Upcoming events in the series include:

• Monday, March 20 – The Devil & The Angel: A Civil War Surgeon & Clara Barton by Dane Deleppo of Harwinton, CT and Lynne McKenney Lydick of Worcester, MA. Both are Civil War re-enactors who convincingly portray how they would have cared for the soldiers on the battlefield. Dane will discuss medical protocols and has period surgical instruments to show. As Clara Barton, Lydick will read from her personal letters of that time.
• Monday, April 10 – History of the Heubleins and their Tower by Jay Willerup, President of Friends of Heublein Tower and Simsbury, CT resident. Jay’s wealth of knowledge about the early towers on the mountain and the Heublein family and fortune is unmatched. He will explain the use of the Tower over the years and how it even attracted the likes of Mark Twain and many national political figures including thousands of hikers today!

“We cannot thank all these presenters for stepping forward after the fire last year to offer their expertise as a fundraiser,” stated Terri Wilson, President, Avon Historical Society. “It’s a unique collection of topics that for someone who attends each, will feel they touched on several important times in our national and local history.”

On May 11, 2016, an accidental fire broke out inside the Derrin Farm House as it was undergoing final work before a grand reopening in June to commemorate the 250th anniversary (in 1766) of the Derrin Family settling in Avon. The fire destroyed some of the original 18th and 19th century framing, exterior, windows, part of the roof and some artifacts. The Society’s insurance paid for much of the work to be done, but new electrical wiring is needed and water and duct work added to the building for future use. In addition some new carpentry work will be needed in several rooms. The Avon Historical Society has been working on the Derrin Farm House since leasing it from the State Department of the Military in 1996. Previous to that it was used by the First Co. Governor’s Horse Guards, located across the street, as the caretaker’s house since 1954.

As the stewards of local history, the Avon Historical Society has been focusing on the adaptive reuse of the “Rockwood Red” Derrin Farm House and the Horse Guard Barn for many years. It is only through the very generous donations of time and labor from volunteers organized by long time Society member, Len Tolisano, for the past twenty years that the Society is able to now work again on replacing what was with new life and excitement. The Society invites the public to attend these lectures and learn more about what has been done since the fire with exhibits available during a reception following each presentation.

Anyone wishing to make a donation toward the extra expenses, the Society has a social media fundraising site at: www.gofundme.com/derrin Or donations can also be sent to: Avon Historical Society, P.O. Box 488, Avon, CT 06001. All donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged.

Image courtesy of Library of Congress (“Albert Afraid of Hawk” who is the topic of the talk.)