The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-08-27
trains arrived the gayiy decorated streets

trains arrived the gayiy decorated streets
were we'll filed
Among those prominent in national
affairs were. the President and his cab
met, ex-Gov. Prescott, of New Hamp-
shire; Gov Page, of Vermont; Gen.
Veazey. of the G. A. R.; Edward j..
Phelps, and others.
The celebra ton was the culmina-
ton of series of events covering a
century. The anniversary of the battle
of Bennington is to the people Of South
ern Vermont what the Fourth of July
is to the nation Fer nearly fifty years
there has been more or less preparation
for the building Of a suitable monu-
ment The first organized effort was
made in 1853. The Vermont Legislature
in that year appropriated So, 600, with
the condition that the cornerstone Of
the proposed memorial be laid on the
10th Of August following and that the
sum Of So, 900 be raised by private sub
scription. While these conditions were
not fulfilled and the appropriation
lapsed, the agitation continued. In 1875
76 the Bennington Historical Society, and
subsequently the Bennington Battle Mon
ument Association, were organized, the
latter chartered by the Sta Of Vermont.
with an appropriat on OF $15, 900, condi-
toned on the raising of $4,000 more.
The celebration of 1877 followed. These
events, and the subsequent action Of the
States of New Hampshire and MasSa-
chusetts and the national government,
have conspired to cause the erection Of
the noble shaft on the site Of the CONT
mental storehOuse, the object point Of Col
onel Paum'S expedition in 1777. The cost
of the monument and site has been In
round numbers $100, 900. Massachusetts
contributed 1O,OOC, New Hampshire
81, 500, the national government $40, 900,
and Vermont the $15, 900 aforesaid and q
supplemental appropriation for the site.
The balance has been raised by private
subscriptions.
The monument stands on command
ing site 283 feet above the WalloomSac
River. This river flows through the vii
lage of Bennington. The foundation Of
the monument is the solid rock Of the
mountain, on top Of which was the Ben
nington of the revolution The struct-
ure is an obelisk, built of native stone,
and faced with Sandy Hill doiomte. The
height from the base to the top of the cap
stone is 3O1 feet 1917 inches The monu-
ment at the base is 81 feet inches by 81
feet inches, running to point at the top.
uO Walls h1O GniCA DIT blIO O0oO1 Uut NC"
crease gradually to a thickness of two
feet at the apex. The outside stone is
inlaid witt "stretchers and headers. :"
The inside walls rise to height of 900
feet, after which the stones extend
through the wall. Inside the walls
are left in the rough rock; outside
the stone is rough finished, and
at the right ngle corners with the
shaft and also at the windows and other
openings the stone is finished in quar-
ter-inch draft lines of arrs. This gives
the structure finished and artistic APP
pearance The look out room IS 1873 feet
above the foundation, and Is reached by
an iron staircase. This room is marked
on the outside by two entab!atures ems
circling the monument. From this look
out the battlefield IS plain y visible seven
miles away. The first room in the mon
ument contains four t5b3ets, three of
them inscribed re pactively to the States
of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Vermont The fourth is blank. The
outlook room conta ms four his toricgran-'
tie tablets, placed there by the Vermont
Historical Society,", the Masonic frater-
nifty, which laid the cornerstone in 1877,
the Order OF Odd Fellows, and the Grand
Army of the Re public