Owned By 10 Generations Of A Family, Averill Farm Celebrates Its 275 Years
Averill Farm in Washington, Conn. is turning 275 and inviting the whole community to the party.
Tyson, Susan and Sam Averill. Photo by Ariel Picton
Averill Farm in Washington, Connecticut is old. There are a lot of long-standing farms around here but Averill Farm is old, like predates-the-town old, bought-the-land-from-the-holdings-of-an-Indigenous-chief old. Ten generations old.
On August 28 and 29, to celebrate the farm’s 275th year of operation, the Averill family is throwing a party and inviting everyone in town and beyond. Run by ninth generation Sam and Susan Averill and their tenth-generation son Tyson and his wife Jennifer, the farm is a living legacy to regional community farming.
Jennifer says the history of the family and farm she married into have always seemed magical to her. As they’ve been preparing for the anniversary, the family has been going through ancient family pictures and artifacts, many of which will be on display to visitors. While Tyson grew up here and is, admittedly, less enamored by the historical significance of it all, Jennifer says celebrating with the community is important to all the Averills and their neighbors.
“We’ve been here longer than the town of Washington was incorporated,” Jennifer said. “We’ve shared this land with people for so long, we thought, how can we involve the town in this.”
The weekend event will start each morning with yoga at the farm at 10:30 a.m. with Caroline Kinsolving. Pizza to the People will be baking their farm-fresh pies on site. Fresh-baked desert pies will be in ample supply as well. There will be face painting and a bounce house for kids, as well as the Kimberly Park Mobile Ice Cream Stand. Also on the schedule: an art show put on by the Washington Arts Association, a Pilobolus family workshop, and much more.
It’s a diverse lineup of activities for a farm anniversary, a cross section of the character of the Litchfield County community the Averill’s have been a part of for nearly three centuries.
Since the farm was first purchased in 1746 from the holdings of Chief Waramaug it’s changed some, but not too much. For many years it was a dairy farm, but now the 260-acre property is primarily a fruit orchard, while also producing hay and Christmas trees. Some 100-plus varieties of apples and pears are grown on over 30 acres. There are some of the most beautifully gnarled old apple trees you’re likely to see still producing. The pick-your-own season has also just begun at the farm, making for a great trip for visitors to amble through 20 acres of orchards. The farm store always has what’s fresh picked as well as cider, apple cider donuts, cut flowers, and jams and jellies. They also sell locally-sourced pies, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, mums, maple syrup, honey, and gifts.
“It’s all exciting. I’m excited about just getting all the tractors washed and cleaned,” said the pragmatic Jennifer Averill. “We have a tractor from 1939 that’s still in use.”
The tractor, the farm, and the family are a time capsule for the town of Washington. The 275-year anniversary party will no doubt be a fun event, but it will also be a nice moment for locals to reflect on what they’ve been through together, past and present.
