Avon Isle - Site of French/Indian Battle

Nov. 10, 1933 ad in the Lorain Journal

Today, Avon Isle Park Pavilion is an events center available for rent located at 37080 Detroit Road in Avon. Pretty much hidden from the road, it's a cozy venue for parties and weddings.

It has a lot of history, mainly as a dance hall dating back to at least the 1920s.

But did you know that its location was also the site of a bloody battle between Native Americans and French soldiers?

That's the story told in the article below which appeared in the Lorain Journal back on November 25, 1940. 

It notes, "Avon and its historic French Creek was once the scene of a "battle to the death" between French soldiers and desperate Indians.

"Excavations have revealed human skeletons in positions indicating violent death. Near them were French military buttons and rusty remains of ancient guns.

"Most of this evidence of violence and strife was found on what is now Avon Isle-pk. Old timers in Avon still tell the story of the crude stone, circular embankment which runs along the bank of the creek thru the entire village.

"The tale runs that this embankment was thrown up by one powerful Indian tribe as protection against marauding bands of other tribes – all this long before white settlers set foot on the soil.

"The wall stood from eight to ten feet high and many of the stones can still be found around Avon. Avon is also the site of numerous Indian mounds which are thought to have been burial grounds because of the many human bones found in them.

"Early tillers of the soil have leveled most of these. When Avon was founded in 1819 as Troy many of these mounds were still in evidence.

Judge Pierpont Edwards

"Originally owned by Pierpont Edwards, a famous Revolutionary soldier, congressman and judge of Connecticut, Avon for a time was also known as Xeumma. It has been called Avon since 1825."

The story of Avon's name was recalled in the article below, which appeared in the Lorain Journal on October 22, 1926. 

As the article notes, "It was named in honor of the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The village was once known as French Creek.

"But the name of Avon was not given it without a struggle, and many people still think of the village and talk of its as "French Creek."

"When the township was organized in 1818, it was named Avon. Then they tacked on it the monicker "Troy." Before 1818 they called it Xeumma.

"However, six years after the organization of the township, Shakespeare students achieved their wish, and it has been "Avon" officially ever since.

The article explains why Avon was once called "French Creek." It notes, "Among the first settlers of the vicinity were a colony of French who erected their cabins on the creek early in the 18th century, a century before the township was organized.

"For generations they continued on this site, and the place acquired the name "French Creek." Now, however, none of the descendants of the old French now remain.

"Years ago there was a circular embankment of stone from seven to eight feet high, along French Creek.

"The embankment appeared to have been thrown up by the natives as a protection wall before the settlers came and without regard to the size of the stones.

"Mounds in the vicinity that were opened up years ago contained human bones. Most of these mounds, near which is situated the Avon Park dance hall, have been leveled."

Interestingly, the 1940 Lorain Journal article referenced at the beginning of this blog post appears to have its roots in another article (below) that appeared in the paper on January 11, 1927. It's the same story with a few tidbits not found in the 1940 version.