The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-16
SOLDIERS, HOME NOTES.

Comrade Gerald Sydney died in fit
of apoplexy while at the dinner table, at
the Soldiers Home, Monday noon Aug.
18th. This is the fifth death, He en-
listed at Island Pond, in Co. L, 10Th Vt,
Reg't. under the name Of William Dillon;
it is evident he had left the British ser
vice to do so as the reason for the change
of name. He was an excellent penman
and was detailed as regimental clerk by
his Colonel Ex-Governor Proctor Of
Rutland. lie made application to be ad
mitted to the Soldiers Home last winter
reporting himself in Chicago as broken
in health and an object of charity. Be
fore his application had been considered,
his case was made known to comrades
and friends in that city, who paid his
fare to Bennington and who told him
that he would be taken care off when he
arrived, which was February 17;h, 1888.
Notice of his death was sent to Chicago
and the reply was to bury him tere, and
further particulars would be written.
His funeral was held on Wednesday
morning in front of the Soldiers Home,
the Rev. VIM. B. Walker of st. Peters
church performing the impressive ser
vice. A quartette consisting Of Messrs.
Fl. | Norton, f, A. Booth, Mrs. Merrill
and Miss Hutchins furnished the sing
ing, which was much appreciated by
the old veterans as well as by all pres
ent.' He was buried in the Soldiers
Home Cemetery, the second grave with.
in two weeks. Bugler Chapleau of the
U. S. Steamer "Atalanta" blew the bugle
cal, lights out, at the grave, and roll call
previous TO the service.
Gen. VIM. Wells OF Burlington, Presi,
dent of the Vermont Soldiers Home,
and Col. j. J. Estey of Brattleboro of the
Board of Trustees met at Bennington on
Wednesday at the request of Maj. A. B,
Valentine the resident trustee OF the
Soldiers Home. They decided to have
moved away the present ell or kitchen
to the Home and have the new anex
building throughout 1O0x33 feet. This
will add greatly to the value OF the
building and its accommodations. Maj.
Valentine suggested several other i'm
provements which if they can be secur.
ed will add greatly to the attractions OF
the Home and Bennington.
Alphonso Chapleau, Jr., bugler of the
U. S. Steamer Atalanta, now IN New
York harbOr has been visiting his father
a resident of the Soldiers Home and
formerly of Co. q. I'd, VT. Reg't, His
fine execution of the different bugle
calls have been an enjoyable feature at
the Home during his visit,
All the present members OF the Home
are now able to come to the dining room
for their meals. Several are absent on
30 days furlough during the building of
the new addition. Several new appli-
cations are on file to be admitted. Capt.
Geo. B, Dimlck of Co. 12th, VT, has
been granted admission,
Congress has appropriated $3.50, 600 to
aid State Soldiers Homes by paying the
State 300 for each inmate supported at
a Home. The committee that had this
bill in charge wrote to the Governors OF
different States to ascertain how many
State Homes there were and the number
of veterans supported at such Homes,
To this inquiry the Governor of YER
mont answered the committee
Through the generosity and liberality
of individuals the State has Home-a
fine farm containing over 200 acres, for.
merly the residence OF a retired gentle
man, which makes a pleasant and beau
tiful place for our disabled and needy
veterans. The Home was not in condi-
ton to receive applicants until May 1887,
when it was opened, Up TO this time
(March 10, 1881 there have been thirty
nine inmates. Two have died, one fur
Laughed and one discharged, so there are
now thirty five inmates, with a large
number Of applicants who can not be
received, only as vacancies occur for
want Of room. Tho trustees intend 10
so enlarge the Accommodations by erect
ing additional buildings by early sum
mer that they may accommodate from
eighty to one hundred IN all. 1t is my
opinion that by next summer we shall
he in great need of room and accommo-
dations to the full extent contemplated
by the trustees; and II seems to me that
the number must increase from year 10
year for from fifteen to twenty years to
come, unless the pension laws shall be
so changed as to include a class not now
covered by laws having reference to
pensions. The first years existence of
the Soldiers Home has silenped the
worst opposition its friends had TO con.
tend with--the claim of State officials
and army officers that such home was
not needed, aud that veterans could not
be induced to go to it il established. IL
affords comforting feeling to all the
officers and men who served in the YER
mont regiments to know that If they
should be unfortunate and come TO want
they have Home TO care for them in
their time Of need.