Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-07-20
FIREM EN /!
Fifth Annual Convention !
Tournament Winners !

-@-
The Firemen of Vermont-officers
Elected Wednesday = Procession
Yeste.day-Tournament and those
who Mountaineering Particulars.
Bennington, the old historic town of
Vermont, put on its holiday attireWednes
day, and did itself proud in the welcome
it extended to the members of the Yer
mont State Fireman's Association, who
gathered here to attend the fifth annual
convention of the Association. They be-
gan to arrive as early as Tuesday after
noon, ana by noon Wednesday the
streets were we'll filled with local and
visiting firemen. While there we're no
street decorations, there were but few
buildings on the principal streets but
what were handsomely decorated. The
most elaborate display in that line was
the building corner of River and Maine
streets occupied by A. Drysdale & Son
and the Father Matthew \. A. B. Society.
The Junior member of the firm was the
first president of the Association, and
was the recipient of many congratula-
lions from visiting firemen during the
day.
The headquarters of the Association
were at the Putnam, and at II o'clock a
meeting of the executive committee was
held in its parlors. There was little of
Importance to come before it, but
it was decided that the rules of the State
Association as laid down should be rig
idly adhered to in the different contests
to take place Thursday.
The convention proper was called to
order in the Opera House at2.30 o'clock
p M, by Harry T. Cushman, president
of the Association, who introduced H..
S. Bingham, president OF the village,
who in behalf of its trustees and citizens
extended hearty welcome. Mr.. Bing-
ham said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Committee: 1t gives me great pleasure
to welcome you at this time to our his
toric town.
We have in the past had many celebra-
tions to commemorate the Battle of
Bennington (which notable event is
marked by the monument on the hill),
and, although your battles have not been
of the same nature, we rejoice as heart
lily at each victory over the enemy.
You, gentlemen have complimented
us by selecting our village as the place
in which to hold your fifth annual con-
vention and tournament. l trust the
meeting OF the afternoon, and the eXer-
cises of tomorrow will inspire you with
renewed interest in your organization.
l am gratifed that the old Green
Mountain State has a fireman's associa-
ton, and if the association has been as
beneficial to the various departments
which you are here to represent, as it
has been to our own, can only say that
believe in the near future there will
not be a fire department in Vermont
which will not be represented in your
convention.
During the past few years we have
completed one of the most perfect water
systems in New England, which system
has supers eded the old style of fighting
fires with hand machines. We have
built and improved our department
houses, added fire alarm and other APP
pliances, and to-day, if may be allowed
the statement, believe we have one OF
the most efficient volunteer fire depart
ments in the State.
Gentlemen, as you have assembled
here this afternoon to transact impor
tant business, do not wish to monopO
ilze your time with extended remarks.
In behalf of the trustees and the cor
poration, extend to you the hospitality
of our village; trusting that on the NOR
row nothing will occur to mar the pleas
ure of the exercises, and that when yor
depart for your respective homes you
can sincerely say that your deliberations
of the afternoon have been fruitful, anC
the exercises to take place on the NOR
row will have been satisfactory in every
way, amply rewarding you for the tim'
spent in our midst.
In replying to the address, Presiden
Cushman referred to the growth of thu
association, and that as citizen of thu
village he knew that the welcome ex
tended to the association met with {
hearty response from everyone. He no
ticed the fact that since the last annua
convention one member had died
Speaking particularly of the association
and its object, he said: 'We do no
urge the antiquity of our organization
but rather boast its worth. The associ
alton is born of the progress Of the cen
fury, and would not have been POSSIBLE
, in any other. Beneath government
founded as ours was founded, and exist
ing as ours exists, vigorous and robus
populace, men of nerve and sinew, an,
endurance, must stand eyer ready +
raise the standard of the Republic an
bear it onward again if necessity shoul
require, through battles by sea and b
land to final triumph in the future as i
the past. Our service is one whic
teaches us the deep duty of adherence t
principle, and we apply the lesson to tn
accomplishment of the public gooC
Our hopes are young, our hearts bea
+ fast, our desires and our energies kee
3 pace, and the association grows an
prospers." The report Of E. D. Moore
: secretary, showed that there al
! now connected with the associi
Q ton, So life members. SO fiji
companies, six chief engineers and on
, member of a fire board, total of IL;