The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-27
VERMONT SOLDIERS HOME.

Forbes, in the Boston Journal gives a
review of this institution, from which
we quote
Whoever visits the Soldiers Home in
Vermont at Bennington must commend
the action of the Legislature of 1884,
which made provision for the establish
ment of home in this State for the
aged and infirm Union veterans who
served in Vermont regiments from 81
to '65. The appropriation of $45, 900 by
the State for the support of the home
during the first four years of its exist
,ence is evidence that Vermont has not
forgotten the patriotic services OF her
Sons who fought in the Rebellion. The
wisdom of the legislation which created
the Home and has maintained 1t Is fully
demonstrated by the company of happy
and contented Boys in Blue who are
inmates. No more delightful spot could
be selected in the ate for the locati IN
of an institution of this kind than the
site occupied by the Soldiers Home.
The estate contains 100 acres of
meadow and cultivated land and also a
maple grove of eight acres. 1t also con-
tains ample barns and outbuildings.
The capacity of the original main
building was found by the trustees the
first year to be inadequate to accommo-
date the old soldiers applying for admis'
sion to the Home. 1t was therefore de
cided to erect Capaclous wing 10 the
original house, and the contract for
erecting the addition was made early in
1888. Work on the extension to the
Home was rapidly pushed, and the new
wing is now completed. The addition
is 100 feet long, 80 feet wide and three
stories high. A broad piazza runs the
entire length of the building, affording
a fine covered promenade for the veter-
ans. There are also capacious piaZzas
OH the other side of the main building
and wing. Fronting the main entrance
are beautiful flower beds, made in the
form of various army corps badges
Hanging baskets filled with rare plants
hang between the piazza posts. The
lower floor contains ample halls, a well
appointed library, reception room, the
office of the superintendent, the family
dining room, the soldiers dining hall
capable of seating 100 persons, a pleas
ant reading and smoking room with a
large fireplace, kitchen, laundry and
various smaller rooms. A large Cooley
v. Il
frigerator have recently been added to
the kitchen department. The second
and third floors Of the wing contain 80
rooms with II beds. The hospital occu-
pies the east end of the second floor. 1t
Is sunny and pleasant room with an
open fire place. The sleeping rooms are
neatly and substantially furnished.
Rooms have been furnished in the
Soldiers Home by the following organI-
cations Custer Post of Bennington,
Roberts Post of Rutland, STANDARD Post
of Burlington, and the Grand Army
Posts of Troy, MY. Gen. William Wells
Camp of Burlington and Col. Tyler
Camp of Brattleboro, Sons of Veterans,
and the Woman's Relief Corps of Wind
sor, Montpelier, St. Adams, Brattleboro,
Bennington, st. Johnsbury, Chester and
Bradford. Mr.. w. E. Hawks of Ben
nington and MIR. T. j. Deavitt of Mont
pelier have al o furnished rooms in the
Home. Gen. William Wells of Burling-
ton has presented handsome flag, 20 by
10 feet, to the Home, and Col. Julius j.
Estey OF Brattleboro has contributed a
series of 40 wir sketches, nicely framed.
A red, white and blue bedquilt of 1000
pieces has recently been received at the
Home from the Z. B. Frost w. r. G. of
Post Mills. This quilt contains the
names of 55S persons written in ink, in
Guiding the autograph of Benjamin Har-
rison, A similar qri t, with different
names written thereon, has also been re-
ceived from the Woman's Relief Corps
of Wells River. Numerous other useful
and ornamental articles have been con-
tributed to the Home from time to time.
The library contains 100 volumes and is
being added to constantly. Everything
about the premises seems to be condu-
ciye to the pleasure and comfort of the
inmates of the Home. The table is sup.
piled with rich milk and fine butter, the
product of dairy of 10 Jerseys, and
with meat, vegetables and fruit raised
,on the farm.
The inmates of the Home are not re-
quired to work upon the farm but many
OF them have volunteered to do so. The
greater portion of the products raised
upon the farm are used in the Home
Trout brooks are numerous in the vicin'
ity of Bennington, and afford much
pleasure to the disciples Of Isaac Walton
at this season of the year. That the vet
Grams of the war for the Union have moi
forgotten how to shoot was practically
shown short time since, when one oil
the inmates of the Home started on &
hunting expedition on Woodford Noun
tain and shot black bear wearing 20(
pounds. The skin of the bear now or
naments the floor Of the library.
Under the law passed by Congress II
August, 1883, appropriating 800, 900 pei
annum to assist the States which arr
maintaining homes for the old soldiers
the Soldiers Home in Vermont will an
nually receive 800 from the Genera
Government for each soldier inmate
Assuming that the Home will accom-
modate 100 veterans and that the cos
will be $500 per man, the expense o
maintaining the 100 per year would b.
500, 900 of which amount $4,000 will
come from the United States Treasury
The last Legislature appropriated $25 ,OO
for the Home for the biennial term end
ing June &c. 1890.
The Soldiers Home is under the car
and supervision of Major Robert j. Col
fey and his wife, who, as Superintendent
and MatrOn, are admirably fitted TO
their respective positions. Maj. COTE.
served in the Fourth Regiment, VeT
mont volunteers, ana since the war ma
been the landlord Of hotels in Montpt
lier, Windsor and other places. MaJo
and Mrs Coffey show the utmost car
and consideration for the inmates OF tn
Home, and they are universally esteem'
and beloved by the old soldiers.
IL is but little over two years sine
the first old soldier was admitted TO tn
Home, yet in this brief period over 10
veterans have received the benefits {
the institution, while some u soldier
have become permanent inmates OF th
Home. The present number OF old 50
diers in the Home (and temporarily al
sent on furlouRhs) IL 53; in addition
which here are nUnI.'-r # npp1"'
tons f"r ADM, sion on file. There has
been five deaths at the Home aince
was opened. Several veterans have ale