Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-01
Memorial Day.

Dark skies, with cold, disagreeable
wind ushered in Memorial Day this year,
and those who had anticipated and hoped
for pleasant day saw that they were to
be disappointed. At an early hour many
of the stores and private residences were
decorated with the National colors and
flags were flying at half mast oyer Custer
Post headquarters and from the flag staff
at the Soldiers Home. Business at the
banks, in the post office and at the mills
was generally suspended, and the village
wore holiday look
At 8 a. m. Custer Post, No. AZ, came
down from their post-room and formed
on South street, Richard M. Houghton,
commander, in charge. Awaiting them
was firing party from the Graded
school cadets, who was to escort the post
to the cemeteries at the Center where the
graves were to be decorated. The squad
was in charge of Sergt. Carroll Partridge
and consisted of the following: William
Daley, Fred. Carrier, Edward Burgess,
George Partridge, Joseph Ayers, Arthur
Hollister, Fred. HOLSTER, Will Mahar.
Master Frank Newton was drummer.
In the old cemetery the G.. A. r. ritual
was rendered, prayer was offered by Rev.
NJ l.. Severance, and brief address was
lhudO ny A. L sdNhllub, JllO HIdNOb uCCO-
rated, three volleys fired by the cadets,
after which the detachments returned to
Custer Post headquarters and were dis
missed for dinner.
At the same hour Sixth Corps post,
Alba Buss com mander, came from their
rooms in the Opera House block. They
were met at the entrance by detachment
from the Bennington Rifles, Sergt. G. p.
Niles commanding, and the Methodist
broom-drill brigade, 4. 7. Griswold COM
manding, who acted as escort to the post.
Those comprising the firing squad we're:
L. L. Fillmore, II. @. Caswel, Clarence
Hatch, Fred. Warner, Edward Cook, j.
H. Harrington, Fred. Kendall, Burt FL
lott, Albert Houston, Eugene Holt,
Charles Kendall, Robert Johnson, George
Gavin, John Ineson, Arthur Austin, Har-
ry Wall, and Miner Cleveland drummer.
The broom-drill brigade was composed
of the following Misses, who wore black
dresses with yellow trimmings and shep-
herdess cap: Nellie Newton, Ella Cleve-
land, Lizzie lockwood, Rena Wood, Leo
Davis, Jennie Ineson, Susie Ineson, Mel
lieIRussell, Leila Nc Intyre, Grace Russell,
Jennie Howes, Victoria Perham, Olive
Potter, Mary Rudd, Mabel Sweet, Flor
ence Sweet, Rose VanKleeck, Nellie Plank,
Edna Russell. Winnie Collins. The pro-
cession moved up Main street to the new
cemetery, where the G. A. r. ritual was
rendered. Rev. G. r. Seymour offered
prayer, the graves of the 40 comrades
and veterans who repose there were dec
grated, after which three volleys were
fired and the commands returned to the
post quarters and were dismissed for
dinner.
By this time rain began to fall and for
while it was feared that the parade and
out of doors exercises at the Soldiers
Home would have to be abandoned.
There were occasional showers, but be-
fore one o'clock the clouds broke away
for a while and the parade was formed
on Union street, right resting on South
in the following order:
Chief Marshal, LOOMS,
Assistant Marshals, Geo II Wilcox, j A N Will
liams,
Bennington City Band,
Bennington Rifles Capt Fillmore commanding,
40 men,
R Custer Pest AZ, R NJ Houghton command
ing, 80 men,
9th Corps Tost, Abby Buss commanding, SO men,
Graded School Cadets, sergt. Partridge COM
manding,
Drilled Baptist Brigade, W T White command.
ing, "a boys.
Methodist Broom Drill Company,
President of the day, Harry I Cushman,
Orator, Hon Seymour Van Ssntvoord of Troy, MY.
Clergy and invited guests,
r President Of the village.
The procession moved down South ST..
through the mud on North street to the
Soldiers Home grounds in front of the
hospital porch, from which the speaking
was to take place. The comrades were
Joined here by the veterans at the home,
some fifty in number, who were seated in
the front. Seats were provided for the
veterans of the posts. After the audience
had been called to order by Harry T..
Cushman, president of the day, the fol
lowing order of exercises were carried
out, changed somewhat from the origi-
nal programme: