Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-08-28
trains arrived the gayly decorated streets
were we'll filIed


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.
Vcazey, of the G. A. R.; Edward j.
Phelps, and others.
The celebration was the culmina-
ton of q series of events covering q
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 $4,000, with
the condition that the cornerstone of
tho proposed memorial be laid on the
10th of August following, and that the
sum of $1,000 be raised by private SUBJ
scription. While these conditions were
not fulfilled and the appropriation
lapsed, the agitation continued In 1875
rs the Bennington Historical Society, and
subsequently the BenniH gton Battle Mon
ument Association, were organized, the
latter chartered by the State Of Vermont,
with an appropriation OF $751; condi-
toned on the raising of $1,000 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
mental storchouse, the object point Of Col
onel Eaum's expedition in 1777. The cost
of the monument and site has been In
n Oh, 20
contributed $4,000, New Hampshire
~, 500, the national government $40, 900,
and Vermont the S15, OoO aforesaid and q
supplemental appropriation for the site.
The balance has been raised by private
subscriptions.
The monument stands on command
ing site 2s3 feet above the Walloomsac
River. This river flows through the viii
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-
uro is an obelisk, built of native stone,
and faced with Sandy Hill dolomite The
height from the base to the top of the cap
stone is 30l feet l0As inches. The monu-
ment at the base is 81 feet inches by 81
feet inches, running to a point atthe top.
The walls are thick at the base, but de-
crease gradually to thickness of two
feet at the apex. The outside stone is
iplaid with "stretchers and headers. I"
The inside walls rise to height of 26o
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 angle corners with the
shaft and also at the windows and other
openings the stone 8 finished in quar-
ter-inch draft lines Of arris This gives
the structure finished and artistic ap-
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 entablatures en-
clrcling the monument. From this look
out the battlefield is plainly visible seven
miles away. The first room in the mon
ument contains four tablets, three Of
them inscribed respectively to the States
OF Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Vermont. The fourth is blank. The
outlook room contains four hi: toric gran.
tie tablets, placed there Dy the Vermont
historical Society, the Masonic frater-
nlty which laid the cornerstone in 1877.
the Order OF Odd Fellow S, and the Grand
Army of the Republic