The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-05
Picturesque BennIngtOn-The Town
as Others See IL.

Picturesque BennIngtOn-The Town
as Others See IL.
D. G. B. in the Poultney Journal writes
a column from which we take these eX-
tracts:
People who wish to see Bennington in
its beauty should see it now, with its
wide streets, all of which are well shaded,
its well kept hoIses, its neatly trimmed
lawns and all the evidence that it gives
of a thrifty and fourishing village. One
only needs to drive around it to become
satisfied that it has everything within
its limits that goes to make it attractive.
Nestled in vale at the foot of old Mt.
Anthony, and gazing down upon it from
the landing in the Battle Monument three
hundred feet above it, one sees piano.
rama such as almost leads the locker on
to think that Goldsmith must have had
some such scene before him when he
wrote of "Sweet Auburn, loveliest vii
lage of the vale" The visitor who comes
here to attend some such celebration as
that of the Centennial year, or the one of
last August, in the hurry and confusion
of such time can form no idea of the
attractiveness of the place, neither can
he see those manufactures which have
done so much to make it what it is, one
of the most flourishing villages in the
State, village that has increased its
Grand List $4,000 in year, that has
within its limits fifty-seven men that
have a Grand List of over $1,000, and
what village in Vermont where there are
only about 1900 voters, can make such
showing?
He then describes the monument, the
Centennial history, and proceeds:
But there are other attractions that
to many would be considered more than
equal to the monument. Five miles
away, almost on the mountain, is Camp
Comfort, noted summer resort, which
is yearly growing more popular. 1t is
approached by a railroad, climbing up
grade the equal of which is found on but
few railroads in the country. Here is a
large and well-furnished hotel, number
of cottages, etc. The company own sew
eral hundred acres of land which are in
tersected by trout streams without num-
Der. Artificial ponds are also provided,
and one can almost supply trout meal
without leaving the home. The ride up
and down to this resort, in the observa-
ton car is one that well repays the tour
ist for taking it. From the top of Mt.
Anthony the view on clear day is sim
ply grand. To the south 20 miles away
is TacOnic mountain in Williamstown,
the home of Williams College. To the
north near by, Mt. Equinox is in sight,
and far off can be seen the Adirondacks
AT its foot on one side lies the village of
Bennington; on the other HOosick Falls,
the home of the Walter A. Wood Now
ing Machine Company. To the east the
Green Mountains are seen, and in all
things dame nature almost outdoes her.
self in the scene that is spread out as far
as the eye can see.
A column could be we'll filed with
brief description of some of the manu-
featuring interests of the village. The
fame of Bennington underwear is world
wide. The purchaser if told that the
goods he buys are from Bennington
knows that he is getting the best the
market affords. Fully 500 people are
employed here in the manufacture of
this kind of goods. Among the firms
are Ii. E. Bradford & Co., who en-
ploy $50 hands, the Valentine Knitting
Company about the same number, the
Bennington Knitting Company S0hands,
the Chas. Cooper mills 125 hands, the
Aldine with IS hands, and which will in
crease the force as soon as the addition
now being built is completed the Camp
bell mill with IS hands, the Geo. Rock
U.
some smaller ones. Although there is
water enough to furnish all the power
that is required, the mills are all pro-
yided with steam engines that can be
used if the water is low. They are all
lighted with electricity, heated with
steam and furnished with every appli-
ance to be used in case of fire. The mill
of the Valentine Knitting Company is
surmounted by a clock placed there by
tbs company, the president of which is
Maj. A. b. Valentine, well known
throughout the State, and who is known
at home as one of the most liberal citi-
zens in the town, as we'll as one of its
most public spirited. There are other
manufactures which cannot be noted in
this letter.
Fine dwellings abound, all of which
have well kept lawns in front and in the
majority of cases no fences. The largest
and finest in the village is that of II. w.
Putnam on North street, with the foun-
tains in front, the large and neatly
trimmed lawn, the grove of elms and
naples, the thick hedges and the stream
that runs through it, one may not be
blamed if in passing by, envious thoughts
take possession of the mind. On this
street are the handsome and snowy resi-
dences of w. E. Hawks, E. H. Putnam,
f. N. Squire. On Pleasant street, rightly
named, are the homes of Albert Walker,
L. P. Norton, the snowy brick house of
G. yelling Thatcher, L. F. Abbott, Maj.
Valentine, the Park homestead, and the
almost palatial residence of Col. DIN
Scott of powder making machinery
fame. OF the other handsome residences
are those of L. r. Graves, president of the
First National Bank, A. P. Childs, j. T.
Shurtleff, Geo. W. Hartman, Geo. Graves
and H. S. Bingham who handles nearly
all the products of some of the Benning-
ton mills and who is known in every
town in the State as one of the best fell
lows that ever travelled.