The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-01-05
BENNINGTON'S BOOM.

Olllng.
! BEHNINGTON'S BOOM.
Gratifying aud Encouraging Exhibit
for 1887, and Promise of 1 SS8. -NeW
! Mills and Buildings Erected, Other
Business Enterprises, Etc, Etc.
The year 1887 passes into history al
one of the most important Bennington
has of late years seen. those who are
interested in the grow th of the town anC
he material prosperity of this village
cannot but be encouraged by review
of the past year, The boom" really
commenced in 1856, and to fully sppre.
ciate the progress made the Two last
wears would properly pass in review
Our space, however, will not this week
admit Of SO extended notice and we
give cursory glance at the latest i'm
prOvements.
Probably the most notable events of
the year were the founding of the Yer
mont Soldiers Home and the commence
ment of the Revulu ionary Battle Monu
ment. In this connection the celebra-
ton Of the laying of It's corner stone and
the muster of the SAFE militia on the
Soldiers Home grounds will be recalled
The exercises attending the laying Ui
the corner stone of the Bennington Bat
tie Monument with Masonic ceremonies,
were the most imposing the State has
ever seen. While not az large as the
Centennial professions in 1877, in ele
Rance OF dress, etc. the militia, the
knights II mpiar, and the Patriarchs
MlIltan far outshone the larger gather
ing. The details of this event are fresh
IN mind and need no repetition a.. our
hands. The representatives of the
governments of three States and of the
National Government. tOget her with the
visiting military and distinguished men
gave great ecldt to Brnnington's 10Th of
August, 1887, and to the encampmenl
of the militia.
We mention first of building opsra-
tions the Battle Monument This is de-
cldedly the most magnificent structure
and far-reachlng in importance of any
thing ever erected in town. 1t is not
only good thing to have, but it will
carry the name of our town down to far
distant ages. Aside from the sentiment
tai and educational phase of this event,
we are of the opinion that our people
have hardly yet began to realize what
the monument finished will do for the
town. An imposing structure, second
only to the Washington monument in
height, it will be visited by thousands
in summer, and will have great ten
dency to call city peoples attention to
the great advantages of our town as .
resort. The scenery hereabouts is grand
and the climate Is invigorating That
rugged sentinel, CommOralive of the
hardy yemanry who fought at Ben
nlngtOn." will become the greatest ad
vertlsement of our mountains and val
leys, our peaceful homes and happy fire
sides. Nothing to equal it in this Ca
paclty could have been devised. And
at the same time we are perpetuating a
noble history. We expect to live 20 see
the day when elegant villas and cottages
shall dot the rolling slJ. IF "Old Ben
nington on the HILL after the manner,
which was the dream OF the late Mr..
COnkling. The Battle Monument now
stands twenty-five feet in height of its
proposed three hundred and one feet,
and the stones are being rapidly pre-
pared so that in the spring work may
be resumed and expeditously pushed
forward. The tablets of the three
States of Vermont, New Hampshire and
Massachusetts, are in position upon three
OF the inner sides. We suggest that on
the fourth there be prepared like
tablet for the National Government
which has contributed so generously
towards the funds OF the Association.
Next in Importance may properly
come the establishment of the Soldiers
Home, in the shadow of the monument.
This classification needs no apology at
our hands. The inmates of that home,
together with several hundreds of thOus
ands brave men, perpetuated in 1873
what the Revolutionary fathers be
queathed to pOsterIty. and made possible
the business and improvements we shall
mention later on. We indicated last
week the real characteristics of this
home. 1t is not the common place
affair which other towns in our State
had to offer, nor is it the regulation
home which results from a big hotel.
like structure or asylum style Of build
ing, when specially erected. On the
contrary it is the elegant and well ap-
pointed summer residence of wealthy
New Yorker. While we would reflect
on no one, yet we confidently affirm
that nowhere else in the United States
is there to be found its parallel. YER
mont's Union brave will mere pass their
last days amid surroundings which
lavish wealth alone, for itself, could
have supplied. 1t may not be generally
known that to perfect and beauty this
estate. the late Hon. Seth Is. Hunt pur-
chashed the site of a small hamlet,
moved off the buildings. changed the
location of the highway, etc., but euch
is the case. Many Of the removed
dwellings became the lenements of
"Scotch Avenue"
The closing of the year 1886 saw our
village supplied with pure water from
the east mountains brought into town
Dy the Bennington Wafer Company
Henry w. Putnam, E,q.. president.
This is a great step in advance. and
guarantees that the impure water supply
of the last decade is thing of the past.
The public water works of our village
are the greatest health blessing the
town has ever possessed, and will greatly
tend to call people and business into our
beautiful municipality. The past year,
1887, another step has been taken. the
putting in of electric lights. We think
the Hon. j. w. Wakefield should be
mentioned IN this connection. He be-
came possessed Of the fine water power