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Autumn 2019

DEEDS NOT WORDS: 100 YEARS OF THE VOTE FOR WOMEN

November 2019 – November 2020

The trio of Avon’s Historical Society, Avon Free Public Library and Avon Senior Center recently received a $4,030.00 grant from Connecticut Humanities to help fund the first half of a year-long series entitled DEEDS NOT WORDS: 100 Years of the Vote for Women. This series will focus on events that contributed to the Nineteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The goal of the DEEDS series is to have the audience think widely about what Connecticut was doing in the mid nineteenth to early twentieth centuries and how those moving forces shaped the dialogue leading up to the passage in 1919 and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. The notion of voting equality started in 1848, but was quickly dismissed. It took the organizing of several national Progressive Suffrage groups, with state chapters, to move the needle in every corner of the country. By 1869 Connecticut had a very active state chapter in favor of suffrage; while in 1910 another chapter formed to oppose it. But what was the suffrage movement and who were the women (and men!) who took charge to change their world? Come to our events and find out! All events, exhibits, talks, theatrical portrayals, books talks, and movies are open to the public free of charge. Most all are held at the Avon Free Public Library, unless otherwise noted. Watch the local media for more events.

Preview Event Wednesday, October 23, 6:30pm – Taverns, Temperance, Teetotalers, and Tommy Guns: The Long History of Prohibition. The year 2019 is the centennial year of Congress passing “Prohibition,” a facet of old-stock American, rural, Protestant rule in the 1920's that brought about severe restrictions on immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, and the rise of organized crime. By the election of Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, the nation acknowledged prohibition to have been a colossal failure. Learn the ins and outs of this topic, which was part of the causes of the pro suffrage movement in America. This lecture is presented by Dr. Francis Coan, History Professor, Tunxis Community College and Stephen McGrath, adjunct History Professor at CCSU. Enjoy this lecture wet (with a beer) or dry (with a cup of tea.)

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DEEDS Series Launch Event

Saturday, November 16, 3:00pm – Why They Marched: Celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage, presented by Susan Ware, Organization of American Historian Distinguished Lecturer and author of numerous books on 20th c. US History. Former professor at various institutions, she has long been associated with the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study where she serves as the Honorary Women’s Suffrage Centennial Historian. Her book, Why They Marched uncovers a broader and more diverse story waiting to be told, providing a fresh account of one of the most significant moments of political mobilization in American History. Feminism and women's rights are an ongoing struggle with no clear endpoint in sight and the women's suffrage movement is a vital part of that story. Her book will be available for purchase and signing after the event.

More events and movies in the DEED series Monday, December 9, 6:30pm - Fashioning Women's Suffrage, how suffragists use dress to win the vote presented by Prof. Heather Prescott, History Department, Central Connecticut State University and member of the Connecticut Commission on Women’s Suffrage. A discussion on how suffragists used dress and other outward symbols to promote their cause. Suffrage themed films – All films begin at 1:30pm in the Avon Library Community Room: November 6, 2019 Suffragette In 1912 London, a young working mother is galvanized into radical political activism supporting women’s right to vote. Starring Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep, and Helena Bonham Carter (2015; PG-13; 1 hr. 46 min)

December 4. 2019 Iron Jawed Angels The story of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns played by Hillary Swank and Frances O’Connor (2004; NR; 2 hr. 3 min.)

January 8, 2020 The Divine Order The Suffrage movement in Switzerland where women got the right to vote in 1971 (2017; NR; 1 hr.36 min.)

February 5, 2020 Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony Two women, one allegiance (2004; NR; 3 hrs.)

March 4, 2020 One Woman, One Vote PBS documentary chronicles the 70 year struggle leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment (2005; NR; 1 hr.) shown with: Equality Contemporary women introduce women of the past (2007; NR; 30 min.)

April 1, 2020 Susan B. Anthony Archival photographs and dramatic recreations of Anthony’s fight for women’s rights (1995; NR; 50 min.)

May 6, 2020 America’s Victoria: Remembering Victoria Woodhull Chronicles the life of one of the most important and unrecognized women in US history (2007; Rated G; 2 hrs.)

June 3, 2020 Mary Poppins Walt Disney’s classic film provided the first exposure to the suffrage movement for many children (1964; Rated G; 2 hrs. and 19 min.)

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Avon Historical Society creates pole banners to showcase local historic sites

Newly installed pole banner featuring the former Climax Fuse Factory which is now Avon Town Hall

Driving around town this Fall you may notice a line of banners on sidewalk light poles along Simsbury Road (Route 10). There are twelve 18” wide by 36” tall brightly colored banners. They are designed to provide some local history to walkers and bikers who use the sidewalk. They depict historic sites, past and present, most of which should be recognizable those familiar with the Town of Avon. For those less familiar, it will be a subtle and inviting way to share with them the Town’s past.

The banners follow a set of seven-foot tall pop up banners that are now circulating around the

Town in public places such as lobbies, restaurants, etc., entitled, “Moments in Avon’s History.” The pole banners are much simpler – the word AVON in a large block font is at the top, one photo in either color or black and white is in the middle, with the title of the object in block lettering underneath the photo. The logo of the Avon Historical Society is along the bottom. They hang seven feet above the ground on light poles next to the new sidewalk on the eastern side of Simsbury Road. The sidewalk and light poles were installed by the Town of Avon in 2016 and were funded by a Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant from the State of Connecticut. Production funding of the new banners comes from the proceeds of TABLESCAPES, the annual decorated tabletop event organized by The Avon Historical Society every March. Special thanks to Exhibits and More of Liverpool, New York, for donating the banner designs and layouts and the Avon Department of Public Works for installing them. They are will remain in place from the spring through the fall each year.

Banner shown at dusk featuring Heublein Tower

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Rev. Rufus Hawley, colonial minister of Northington from 1769 – 1817 His gravestone, his letters, his descendent and his last church!

Dick Rulon and Randy Nelson show original gravestone Nora Howard shows off Hawley letters John Miller at Rev. Hawley gravesite

Those involved with historical societies know that there are times, which cannot be explained, when events in history comes together mysteriously in present day. This summer was one of those times. For more than a decade, Nora Howard, Avon Town Historian, and others have been researching and documenting the very long life and times of Reverend Rufus Hawley who served as the colonial minister of Northington, which is the early name for Avon. Howard published a book in 2011 about her ten-year research of Hawley’s 50-year diary. The book, entitled Catch’d on Fire, is sold through the Avon Historical Society website. Since that time, Howard and others in the Society have been interacting with The Hawley Society, a national family association, to find descendants of Rev. Rufus or anything more that can be discovered. This summer a descendent was found 2019 right here in Connecticut! Why is this important?

Simultaneous to this exciting development, Dick Rulon, caretaker of the West Avon Cemetery

and Avon Historical Society member, privately raised funds to have Rev. Rufus Hawley’s badly deteriorated gravestone removed and replaced with an exact replica. Turns out that, in Connecticut, any gravestone over 100 years old that is planned to be removed and replaced, must be approved by the local probate court. This little-known law also requires that a descendent provide formal permission for the removal and replacement. And, a local museum or historical society has to agree to accept the old gravestone for proper storage or exhibit. So this summer, Mr. John Miller, a fifth generation descendent of Rev. Rufus Hawley, and his wife, Christine, and all concerned attended a meeting at the Simsbury Regional Probate Court to approve the application for Rev. Hawley’s gravestone to be removed and replaced with a replica. Meeting Mr. Miller was a very pleasant surprise for Howard and others who have never seen a painting or image of Rev. Hawley. Thanks to the diaries, we know many in Rufus’s family had blue eyes. Surprise! Mr. Miller does indeed have blue eyes! But there’s more…

Thanks to the private funds raised by Dick Rulon, Mr. Randall Nelson who is a professional

gravestone carver and historian in Connecticut, is now working on replicating the original stone. The local NBC news station visited with the Hawley team in the cemetery and ran a story on the project. It was exciting that this project received such attention! But there’s more…

Just a week prior to all those events, the Hawley Society notified Howard of an anonymous

cache of letters from Rev. Rufus Hawley. They were digitizing the letters for their collection and asked if Howard would like the originals! Of course she said yes! So about ten days later, a box

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arrived with about 60 letters from the Hawley Family between 1798-1828. All were written to Timothy Hawley (b. 1771 d. 1828). He was a son of Rev. Hawley who moved from Northington to Ohio. Many letters were from his brothers in Northington and some from his father, Rev. Hawley. This was a wonderful, unexpected surprise and everyone involved wonders how they have survived for more than 200 years in almost perfect condition. They are being transcribed by Howard and Marj Bender of the West Avon Congregational Church which was the last church Rev. Hawley preached in before his death in 1826. But there’s more…

In honor of the 200th anniversaries of the building of the West Avon Congregational Church in

2018 and the Avon Congregational Church in 2019, a non-fiction book entitled A Tale of Two Meetinghouses and Their Communities, Avon, CT 1746-2109, written by Nora O. Howard, Marjorie P. Bender and Jean T. Parker, was published. It chronicles the history of the church in Avon, the schism of both congregations 200 years ago and how they have become a partnership today. Of course, Rev. Rufus Hawley is a part of the story as he last preached in the newly built West Avon Congregational Church before retiring in 1820. The book can be purchased through either offices of the churches. It was indeed the summer of mystery and discovery about Rev. Rufus Hawley and his family.

A wonderful summer for visitors to the 1865 Pine Grove Schoolhouse!

Eileen Riley enjoys greeting visitors as a school teacher when she is on duty

Once again, PGSH has become a “must see” for visitors who love history. This summer we welcomed almost 200 visitors from all across the country and world! Thanks very much to a dedicated group of greeters – Ben Isaacson, Helaine Bertsch, Anita & Mike Marcotte, Terri Wilson, Eileen Riley, Norm Sondheimer, Ruth Woodford, Adriane Mosley, Gene Macy, Mary Harrop and Brian Malone – who spent two hours on a Sunday sharing the history of this wonderful schoolhouse with everyone. In addition, an Avon resident who is a senior at Northwest Catholic High School, Robby Early, who intends to be a history major in college, shadowed two greeters and reported he enjoyed the experience. Once again we offered visitors a chance to take the PGSH Scavenger Hunt, created by Ben Isaacson. It provides clues to find items inside and outside the building such as a fancy lunch pail, “Honest Abe”, oil lamp, ice skates, etc. Many stay over an hour looking around, sharing stories and just having fun. The schoolhouse is now closed for the winter, but will reopen on Sunday, June 2, 2020 for the next summer season! Please contact the Society if you would like to become a greeter.

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A new blog entitled “Digital Avon” is launched Long time Society member, Janet Conner, has contributed to a blog on the history of Avon through the “Digital Farmington Project,” the brainchild of Professor Kathy Hermes, Professor of History at Central CT State University. According to Prof. Hermes’s blog, it is a partnership among several of Dr. Hermes’ classes and the Stanley Whitman House in Farmington to show change over time in Farmington (Avon is a daughter town of Farmington) through the use of a digital map. The map is the creation of CCSU students taught by Professor Stan Kurkovsky. A link to the blog is on the Avon Historical Society’s website, or at: https://digitalfarmington.org/category/digital-farmington-project/digital-avon/ Feel free to view the site and leave comments where indicated as this is a work in progress!

Exhibits in the History Corner of the Avon Free Public Library

Now through December 2019 - McGuff Girl Scout Museum display of the history of Girl Scouting in Connecticut with special recognition to Avon resident, Cheryl McGuff, who along with her husband, Steve, helped to fund the museum in North Haven, CT. January through February 2020 – “Set My Place: Napkin Rings from Around the World” presented by Cyndi Larsen, Reference Librarian, Avon Free Public Library. March through April 2020 – International history of Women’s Suffrage

Do you shop Amazon? If you do, please go to: http://smile.amazon.com and CHOOSE the Avon Historical Society, Avon, CT to have .5% of your purchase donated to us! It’s simple and free.

The mission of the Avon Historical Society, founded in 1974, is to identify, collect,

preserve, utilize, publish, display and promote the history and heritage of Avon. 2019-2020 Officers and Board of Trustees

Officers: Trustees:

Terri Wilson, President Mary Harrop Dr. Helaine Bertsch, Vice President Gene Macy

open, Secretary Carolyn McGrattan

Eric Throndson, Treasurer Cal Miller-Stevens Sebastian Saraceno

Heddy Panik Brian Malone

Carol Bradvochak