Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-12-05
OF BENNINGTON.
An Imposing Monumental Shaft Com
memOrates the Event.
with One Exception the Highest Shaft in
America-Handsome Stone Used in Its
Construction.

On Monday the 18th, the capstone of the
4 Remington battle monument was laid in the
presence of 1000 people. At sunrise two
i INNS announced that the monument would
lie finished as stated. In the afternoon at
40 promptly the capstone, flying the Mason
&c flag and otherwise decorated with a hand
some bouquet of autumnal flowers. swung
out into midair, was hoisted to the top of the
structure and deposited in its place at 8
o'clock without accident. This stone is conf
cal in shape, and weighs two tons. As il
stands the monument is 30I feet 10 IL inches
high. This will be surmounred by ball of
gun metal and ten-poinicd star, making it
in all 800 feet high.
A platform had been placed around the
summit Of the shaft, and at O'Clock, Archi-
tect Rim, Contractor Ward, Superintendent
Parsons Major Valentine and Root of the
Building Committee. the local clergy and
others assembled on this platform. and par
tic pated in impromptu services. As the
stone was lowered into the cement all joined
in singing the doxology. This was followed
by "America." A short address was made
by the Rev. NJ. l.. Severance, who pro-
nounced the benediction, which closed the
exercises. Mr.. Severance is pastor of Old
First Church, successor of Isaac Jennings,
pastor Of this church, who pronounced the
benediction at the laying of the corner stone,
Aug. l6, 1887. Mr.. Severance's remarks were
congratulatory of the successful raising of
this shaft. which commentaries the brave
yeomen soldiery, who fought and won the
battle, Aug. l6, III. II stands for liberty,
overlooking the hard-won field of Benning-
ton. Three cheers were given by thirty gen.
tlemen assembled on this small platform at
the dizzy height for the country, for Yer
mont, for the architect and others.
Not an accident has occurred during all the
progress of this work, and the outer wall to-
nto ctanda aonanlata1 This
occupies site raised four hundred feet, and
therefore commands view Of Walloomsac
Valley and battlefield from an elevation over
seven hundred feet above this village. 1t is
massive, towering structure, worthy of the
event 1t commentaries, and highly creditable
to the generation which erected it. With
winding staircase the monument will cost
10000. 1t is thought, however, that an iron
staircase and elevator viii be put in, which,
together with the site of some twenty acres,
will cost, all told, more than 100000. The
formal dedication will occur August 16, 1891.
The setting of the capstone practically COM
pletes one Of the loftiest and most imposing
memorial shafts on the face of the earth.
The Washington monument alone in this
country exceeds it IN height. The mighty
shaft that commentaries the victory won by
General Stark over the British troops under
General Baum on the 10th day of August,
1777, rises sentinel-ike from commanding
eminence in Bennington Centre, 120 feet
above the level of the sea. The site of the
monument marks the spot where the Con-
tinental storehouse of the Revolution stood.
Ground was broken for the foundation of
the monument in June, 1887, and the corner
stone was laid with imposing ceremonies on
the anniversary of the battle, Aug. 10, 1887.
The base of the monument is thirty-seven
and half feet square.
The first lookout in the shaft is at the
height of 175 feet. At 200 feet the main in
closed openings are made, where heavy metal
supports and girdeTs are inserted. There
are four landings, beginning at 40 feet, and
Guiding at 25O feet, with small openings The
Iyltlg stone of the shaft is a hard dark blue
s5lomte. quarried at Sandy Hill, N. Y.
1t is handsome stone and Is capable of
outstanding n pressure of $1,000 pounds to
the square incl.. Some 10000 tons OF stone
and 5000 square yards of masonry were used
in its erection.
Memorial tablets Of various kinds OF stone
and bearing appropriate inscriptions were
contributed by the State Grand Lodge of
Masons and Odd Fellows, by the Grand
Army of the Republic of this department
and by the Vermont Historical Society, and
placed in the monument during its con-
struction. The monument was designed by
Architect Rim of Boston. The masonry
work has been done hy w. III. Ward of
Lowell, Mass, who took the contract for
$4,000. All the material used in its con-
struction has been lifted by steam power
through large upright chute. 1t will re-
quire several weeks to complete the masonry
of the interior of the monument. The
interior starways will not be put in till next
year. A bill win be introduced at the
coming session of Congress for an appropri-
alton for building an iron stairway.
The Bennington Battle Monument Associ-
alton was incorporated by the Legislature in |
1876 "for the purpose Of erecting and main-
tanning suitable monument commemorative
of the achievements OF General John Stark
and the private soldiers of Vermont, New
Hampshire and Massachusetts at the decisive |
battle Of Bennington fought the 10th day of
August, III" The bill appropriated the
sum of $4,000 for the monument. This APP |
preparation was subsequently increased to |
$4,000. The State OF Massachusetts appro-
priated $4,000, the State of New Hampshire |
$1,000, and Congress appropriated $4,000 In
aid OF the monument. The balance of the |
money necessary to build the shaft was OBJ
tanned by private subscriptions.