The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-20

Last winter we gave the architects
description of the new st. Francis de
Sales church, and which was called, by
the BANNER, The Cathedral Church, .
because of its imposing appearance
when completed, as shown by the ele-
walton drawings.
The site is the commanding knoll Just
west of the ancestral residence of the
Messrs. Dewey, near to the village but
at present little retired from the bust
ness c@ntre. According to relative sit
uatiOn there is no finer site in New
England, and we do not wonder at the
enthusiasm shown by the people of that
communion in the pref minary steps
towards the erection of their proposed
magnificent house of worship Indeed,
we have been shown the subscription
list, and from that evidence we infer
that the building Of the church chapel
and parish residence will be continuous
instead of one at time, as was first
thought to be the only possible way.
Besides the building fund, which is the
accumulation of offerings and fairs from
time to time during the past few years,
there is over $1,000 subscribed, and the
several amounts promise that there will
be no lack of funds to erect the build
ings and finish and furnish the same
when the time comes. The contract is
let to Mr. VIM. IL. Ward, the builder
of the Bennington Battle Monument.
and the style OF that superb piece of
masonry indicates. somewhat, the
workmanship of the walls of this
church building with its towers and
H., 4 L.
ground the walls of the whole are to be
faced with Sandy Hill lime stone. cut to
working plans rs in the Battle Monu-
ment. The walls from the surface to
the water-table are to be of massive
stones in regular layers, and above the
water-table the walls and abutments
and towers will be laid of smaller stone,
according to the system outlined by the
architect in the description formerly
published. 1t will readily be seen that
the work will be job of several years
duration, although it is now hoped that
po.sibly the roofs may be put ON rot
later than the autumn of 1889.
The first foundation of concrete and
marble, to come to the surface, is eX-
pected to be completed this fall. Work
thereon has already commenced and
will be pushed with vigor. To give one
an idea of the massiveness of this part
of the building it is only necessary tn
refer to the tower, which is of stone-a
monument, so to speak, of itse in
structure-which rises to height of
l73 feet. This is to be of the Norman
style and will give the main entrance a
very imposing appearance. Indeed, it
will be a landmark in the landscape,
calling attention to the pile of massive
buildings in the rear. This is the first
edifice built in Vermont of this style
and proportions.
The side-elevatiOn is the most ex-
pressive and is TO be seen from Main
street and from the valley to the north
The church faces the east instead of the
street. The side-length of the whole
structure is 22i feet, the front, includ-
ing the tower, 50 feet, and the tower
stands out by itself, so to speak, on the
southeast corner at an angle of forty
five degrees from the east and west di-
rect line. Those who:have seen the
foundation as aked out will be able to
gather a better idea of this than can he
gained by its mere description.
The first foundation is expected to be
completed before snow flies, and then
covered ready for active operations
next spring For the purposes of this
building, a railroad track has been lain
from the B. & Il. railway, derricks
erected, and large amount of material
is already on the ground. A portion of
the church will rest on solid rock, and
the balanc. on a heavy concrete founda-
ton, similar to that of the Battle Monu-
ment first above the rock.
The walls Of the church and chapel
will go up together, leaving the resi-
dence and tower to be completed later.
The chapel faces the south and is set
back from the side line of the main ed
iiice. 1t is to be connected with the
west end of the church by corridor
with an outside entrance also) extend
ing some twenty-five feet along the
north side. The chapel will be used as
workshop when the roof is on, aud
rs soon as circumstances will allow, for
divine worship pending the finishing of
| the inside of the main auditorium The
whole is gothic, and the inside has a
new idea. The arches will appear to
rest ON nothing, that is, tn pillars are
to be absent, and the points OF the arch
es will he used to sustain the electric
lights, caus ny n most unique effect. II
is not yet decided whether the ceilings
shall Pe .; wood VI corrugated iron, but