Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-06-30
Famous HosteIry,


The CAIAAOUhI fAVERN, IN BENNINCTnx
Bennington is making arr,nrs
Celebrate the coming National ann;us 70
under the auspices Of its Histor,csi
Nv lavine the corner Stone NJ a 'S'ele'y.
70 commemorate one of the most ; n,o.ant
localities in all this historic region ing
soot ia what is known as the site nj ~ ae
amount Tavern, a building erected in az ~.
ar 8. and which was DESTROYED bv e. s.i 40
March. 1871. The tavern received TN
from a huge catamount which had o, uans
81 a cali belonging to John War1 1..'el
man living in the vicinity
stormv winter night, Warner us
.vakeued BY the bleatinr of M. 70 rs
and on going to the log pen wbe-s
h.d been confined found the creatpre -.
With clear evidence at hand that the i Iy.s'
Iator had been a catamOunt Warner ~
vas an expert hunter followed the an
IN the Green Mountains. where he iaY,d, :.
vith the calf upon the limb of a trss n.
L;lled the catamount, which meas,r., is
feet from tip of nose TO tip Of tail The II.
vas stuffed and placed upon the il, ny.
of the old tavern.
The landlord of this famous tavern fxb,,i
at first. was known as the Green N,lr,,,-
T,vern) was Capt. Stephen FAY. VII, -.
tled in Bennington in 1866. and who ",
the father of an influential family F.vsr
his sons were engaged in the bat; "a Es.
ulugton, one of whom was instant killei
| nv a shot through the head. Theodore
Fay. our late Minister 10 Switzerland IA.
oreat-grandson of Landlord Sepba-
Esv of the Catamount Tavern /.
was at this place that the -C...
oil of Safety" the provisional be-
i a
IN meet. Here also was gathered Nlrn.r,.
first Legislature, June 4, HIS A. Nh.
niace was tried Redding, the tory. VI, ",
| detected in the act Of carrying mu-sst.,.
| h;s hrotber tories. and who. for hl. AL
| aI,y was hing in front of the tavern D..
amin Fay. the first sheriff of Vermont. s-,
a son of landlord Fay, oficiated Up IN t5s'..
| casion. and cut down the body OF Rettr.
| with his sword after the exseut IN ~
| sheriff beinp seated upon horseback ,-,-.
time The house was the headquarre-.
| Gen Stark at the battle of Bsnri-,.,
| Augnst Is. HI, and here were brl4s,
,be dead and wounded after the battle
An anecdote OF Landlord Fay ID come.
| with this battle is related a. fl..
.Wbile the families of some Of the men q.
paoed in the battle lef. the vicinity 10 +.
t;c;nat;on of the defeat OF our troops. S-a-.
en- Fav stood by his tavern. He hadrec..,si
a note from Colonel Baum. the Briti,l T. n
mander. the dav previous, which ann Iarssi
with characteristic GOODNESS and ssiteYr.
dence NV officers and myself ". .-.
with Won on the 10th, please have i.a-.-
ready Baum himself fell in the lie bl-
late IN the afternoon of the day, many Of h..
officers and men marched through the ~. age
nnder cuard as prisoners of war. A-ts-,
nassed the tavern. Mr.. Fay stepped o.. ls-.
the porch at the front door, and rem i7.-.
his three cornered hat with profound a
saId. gentlemen | am glad u see You i.-
ner is ready" The sword worn By, e.
Baum at this battle, which was ~l.rauia-ai
TO Gen. Stark, is now in POSSESSION o Mr.
Cady. the genial proprietor OF tie sal.
House, Bennington.
The Catamount Tavern was the meetn.
place of the Convention to arrange tlr Los.
culties between the State OF New YORK AM
Green Mountain boys. in referenc, % III.
New Hampshire grants.
Ii is said that the stuffed cltluJunt Vi
intentionally placed grinninr toward Tie
| New YORK frontier, as suggestive 90 t1c o.
ception awaiting any meddler- clu.a.
from that State. Thompson Vermont iy.-
the old tavern this notice This 3. az.
| (RanpiDoton1 uas the centre of dpFr.t. 3D..