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Avon Old Farms Inn Avon, CT

Avon Old Farms Inn History In 1635, John North, the first of the North Family to arrive in America from England, settled in the territory of this immediate vicinity known as the town of Farmington, Connecticut. Later the area became known as Northington, a contraction of North Farmington. Still later, the land in this area was called” Nod” an abbreviation for North District of the Church of Farmington. The road joining route 44 at the North corner of Avon Old Farms Inn derives its name from this and our official post office address is One Nod Road.

Thomas North, son of John North, settled on the present site in 1678. After fighting with the British Colonial Army in King Phillip’s War, he became a “Freeman” and for his services he received from the King of England a grant of land on the East side of the Farmington River, under the mountain and North of the Hartford-Albany Turnpike. His son, Nathaniel built his home on a parcel of his fathers grant in 1757. Now a part of the Avon Old Farms Inn- the foyer, lobby, Private Dining Room and other areas comprise Nathaniel North’s original home. Nathaniel’s grandson, Isiah, Deacon of Northington Church, upon his death left his property to his son, Joseph. Estimating the properties worth in his will, Isiah wrote:

One House and Barn and land Adjoining and Six Acres = $600.00 One Shop = $30.00 Land North and Adjacent to the Turnpike (Thirty Acres) = $600.00 Land and North Piece (in the Meadow- Eleven Acres) = $176.00

In 1832, Joseph North, a blacksmith in the Nod area, remodeled his shop, erecting a fine stone building. An Inn was established around 1678 across the turnpike from North’s Blacksmith shop and was known as Marshall Tavern. It was here that the Hartford-Albany-Boston stagecoach stopped overnight. Passengers and horses were accommodated both at Marshall Tavern and at Joseph North’s home and shop. To supplement the Tavern, the North homestead gradually grew into an Inn and in 1923 became the Old Farms Inn. The Marshall Tavern was demolished in 1933.

The Tavern was then rebuilt and still stands there today, although it no longer houses any guests.