The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-04-30
Tue HENNINaT0N oNLrnRAr1oN.
Plans Further Completed at the Meeting
Held Yesterday.

Plans Further Completed at the Meeting
Held Yesterday.
In accordance with arrangements made
the members of the Vermont Centennial
Commission with delegation of citizens
from Bennington, says the Rutland Her.
aid this morning, met in the upper par
Tor of the Bardwell House yesterday
morning to discuss plans for the celebra-
ton at Bennington on August 10.
There was much discussion as to what
persons should constitute the list of in
vited guests. The banquet was practi-
cally decided upon, the order of exercises
was talked over and some details decid-
ed. On the whole, matters were gotten
into more definite shape than at any pre-
vious meeting of the Commission.
Gov. Page acted as chairman, and the
Commission was in session until after
2 o'clock p. m, when the Governor took
the mail train for home.
One of the first matters discussed was
the question of invited guests. There
was difference of opinion on this and
the Commission found it difficult to draw
the line. On account of the large ex-
pense involved in entertaining the guests
of the State the number to be invited
will of course have to be limited. 1t was
decided, however, to have the list include
the State officials, ex-GOvernOrs. ex-COn-
gressmen, the Judiciary, the Governors
of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and
Connecticut, officers and directors of the
Bennington Battle Monument Associa-
ton, and persons who may have a his
torical connection with the Bennington
battle.
A communication from W. D. Lane in
regard to center piece for the banquet
table was read and referred to the deco
rating committee.
Gov. Page had on the table before him
big gl1st of letters, communications
and suggestions relating to the celebra-
ton, most of which were read and re-
ferred.
Judge Carney, chairman of the Ben
ningtOn Committee, made statement
relating to the banquet saying that the |
committee had elected. Il. d. Cook, of |
Boston, as the caterer. The bill of fare
will be varied. The banquet tent will be |
so by 300 feet and the tables and seats |
will contain $4,000 feet of lumber 1t is |
proposed to lay covers for 1900 and fully |
800 will be the guests of the State. The |
caterer furnishes everything, including |
about 30 walters. The Bennington peo- |
pie are to guarantee certain price per
plate, pay all cost of transportation and
other expenses incidental to the affair.
A waiter will be in charge of each table
and the serving will be done by young
ladies. The speakers at the banquet will
be seated at tables on a raised platform
and in such position that they can be
seen by all present. 1t has not been de-
cided, but it is proposed to fix a popular
price for the banquet tickets.
Gov. Page said it was his idea to make
the affair as popular as possible, as the
people will want to go there and see and
hear the prominent people that will be
present. He wanted to remove all idea
of exclusiveness.
Gov. Page stated that he had received
that President Harrison
and his cabinet would be present at the
celebration.
The matter of carriages for tile guests
Of the state i'll the parade was next taken
up, and this seems to be one of the most
difficult questions the commission has to
contend with. 1t was thought best to
limit the number of carriages to 100,
which would accommodate 300 people.
The committee would like to secure
andaus, but they are very scarce and
Bennington can furnish only small
proportion of the carriages. Some have
already been engaged in Troy, HOosick
Falls and North Adams for which the
has been charged high price.
1t is estimated that the carriage bill alone
will be from $4,000 to $4,000.
Another matter decided was to have
lhe Norwich cadets of Mortified attend
The celebration and go into camp with
5he National guard. This will be a new
NaRstnV G.. Il.
always gone into camp at Northtield.
by only the West Point cadets.
Of the various departments to be repre-
'ented in the parade invitations will be
Ows, Knights Templar, Sons of Veterans,
he Sons of the Revolution and other
not yet decided upon.
rhe three companies of the New
York National guard at Troy have asked
or a place in the parade, also the
IOosick Falls company.
The invitations to be issued to the
tate guests will be engraved and they {
will be a valuable memento of the Occa-
lion. l.
1t is also proposed to have an official
,adge which will be copyrighted.
The Grafton tent, which will be near {
he monument, will have a seating capGc Il
ty for 1000 or 1900 people. and one |
,lan suggested is to build it to represent
he capitol building at Montpelier. Here
Phelps will delieer the ora
ion and the formal transfer of the deeds {
If the monument will tlke places |
he governors of Massachusetts and $
New Hamdshire participating in the {
while the acceptance will c
20 by Gov. Page in behalf of the State. t
There will probably be apoem, music c
md other exercises. a
The Montpelier military band is the
egimental band, and in addition there
will be one band for escort duty. The ,
jitizen's Band of Bennington was sug- |
,ested for the place and an application
vas read from the Brattldboro band. a
Col Veazey will probably be the pres /
dent of the day. A letter was read
rom some one in Charlotte, N. c., in {
Iuiring about the railroad rates during
he celebration. The railroad officials |
lave held several conferences, but are I
lot yet ready to announce their G
The Estey Guards and the Fuller Bat {
cry of Brattleboro will march over the v
mountain to Bennington and Col. Fuller +
las informed Maj. Valentine that they
will enter the place at sunrise and when f
hey strike the town the people will t
now it. Their arrival will be an
ounced by the firing of cannon. e
Another meeting of the Commission v
will be held in Bennington soon, proba-
ly within month. aik
North bennington. I