Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-11-19
VERMONT

VERMONT
THOMAS CHITTENDEN
ONE OF HER FOUNDERS
AND HER FIRST GOVERNOR,
BORN JANUARY 6, 1920,
DIED AUGUST 25, 1897.
On the diverse panel in smaller but
raised letters is:
Born in East Guilford, Conn.
A Sailor at eighteen
A Colonel of Militia and six times Member
OF the Connecticut Assembly
Settled in Williston in INA
Forced by stress of War to Abandon his Home
He removed to Arlington in l,76
Returned in 1857
At Dorset July 1916 he helped to shape
The first Compact in the History
OF the New Hampshire Grants.
He aided in formulating the Vermont
Declaration of Independence
Delegate to Congress April III
President of the Convention
Which framed the first Constitution
And of the Council of Safety
Governor lT7S-17S9 and l79J-97.
On the panel looking east is carved in
bold basso relieve a medallion head of
Governor Chittenden. Above this, in
the right hand corner of the panel, is
cut the flag of the United States, and in
the left hand the flag of the State of
Vermont. We recall no work of this
kind in granite or marble better executed
than this. On the panel looking west.
in equally bold relief is cut a ship in
full sail with ropes and cordage twined
so as to show the sailors knot" signi-
fying that at one time Governor Chitten-
den was a sailor.
Surmounting the die is another base or
cap feet, 1-2 inches by ) feet 5-S
inches, foot s "a inches in height.
The lower part of this base bears fine
scotia moulding and the upper part cor
responding mouldingS, giving to this
base a truly artistic and pleasing appear
ance From this base there rises sec
ond die of feet inch by 4 feet 1-2 inch
and feet inches in height. This die
is artistically designed and well wrought
in mouldings and scrolls. 1t bears the
coat of arms of the State. In front on a
shield stands out boldly
VERMONT.
FREEDOM AND UNITY.
In the back ground, clearly cut, is the
pine tree, and at Its sides below the
milch kline and sheaves of wheat. On
the diverse side is engraved on parch-
ment scroll:
Constitution of
Vermont
July 8, 1777
Out of Stone and
Manifold Peril rose
An enduring State
The Home of Freedom
And Unity.
This second die is suTmounted by the
deer's head in bronze, thus completing
and crowning the structure. The mon
ument, though showing good deal of
carving and artistic work, makes the
impression of plain, solid, strong and
enduring structure, characteristic of the
man to whose memory it is raised and
the State that has raised it.
Though we have given a somewhat
minute description of this structure, yet
no description can convey to the sense
the Chittenden monument as it stands on
its alligible site and rises stone by stone,
each we'll wrought, from its broad base
to its crowning bronze. Just as no de-
scription or design even of a cathedral
can show the cathedral as it springs into
the heavens in majestic proportions,
with plain or fluted columns, mullloned
lights, frieze, cornice and groined arch.
1t must be seen to be known.
The design of this interesting monu.
ment was the idea of Henry Root, esq
worked out by an artist of San Francis
CO, Cal, John G. White. Mr.. Root is a
native of Williston, but now resident
of the Golden City. Mr.. Root not only
furnished the design but the lot on which
the structure is raised, and has done
more for the enterprise than any other
man. Messrs. Mann and Gordon of
Barre, also, who have executed the mon
ument and set it up at Williston, have
worked faithfully, and done even more,
as we think, than their contract bound
them to do Their work shows them to
be reliable men and superior workers in
their art. Thus we have what the Bur
| lington Free Press of Tuesday of last
week calls ian appropriate and beauti-