Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-05
THE FOURTH.
Sunday School Parade and Field
DaV.

Days
Thursday, was an ideal day for 'glori-
GUS fourth" and was we'll observed by
both old and young. For years the day
has not been received so general an OBJ
servance in Bennington. AJ an early
hour the streets began to show an unus-
ual activity. Many of the houses and
stores on Main, North, Pleasant, Union,
Willow and other streets were hand
somely decorated with the National col
ors and in some instances the displays
were quite elaborate. Particularly was
this so at E. b. Griswold's Drysdale's,
Custer Post headquarters, E. D. Ben
nett's, j. Oliver Burt's, the Putnam, II.
NJ. Harris, l. E. Gibson's, Or. Goodall's,
G. B. Sibley's, and Others.
The early morning train brought the
Manchester Drum Corps, ten pieces, and
their music during the entire day was
much applauded. The train from North
Bennington, due about $50, brought
quite large delegations of Sunday school
teachers and scholars together with the
North Bennington Cornet Band, D. w.
Parker leader, They formed in process
sion on the depot grounds and marched
to the different places assigned to them.
When the signal vas given on the church
bells for the procession to start there
was hut little delay. The parade formed
on Pleasant street in the following order:
Chief Marshal E. T. Griswold, and
president of the day, Hon. John V. Car
ney; United States flag, with guard of
honor from the Bennington Rifles; Cler-
gymen, Rev. c. r, Seymour, Rev. s. Nc
Laughlin, Rev. r. B. Tozer, Rev. NJ. L.
Severance, Rev. Edward Conover, and
invited guests.
First Divisional. F. Loomis, Marshal;
North Bennington Band, D. w. Parker,
leader; children under ten years of age,
boys and girls, 22O.
Second Division-Samuel Robinson,
Marshal; men, 60.
Third DIVISIONAL. T. Cushman,
Marshal; Manchester Drum Corps, G. A.
Bourn, leader; women, no.
Fourth Division-G. NJ. Rowell, marsh
al; young men above Is years of age, 70.
Fifth Division-H. Norton, marshal;
Bennington City Band, c. E. Carl, Drum
Major.
Sixth Division-Carroll Partridge,
marshal; girls between 10 and 1G years
of age, 100.
Seventh DIVISIONAL. S. Newton,
marshal; Bennington Drum Corps, NJ.
B. Cleveland, leader; boys between the
age of 10 and IS, %.
The line of march was down Pleasant
to North, to Main, to Willow through
Park to the grove, where the exercises
were held. At the corner of Willow and
Pleasant reviewing stand had been
erected and here the parade was reviewed
by the President of the Day, the Grand
Marshal. the clergymen and others.
Upon the arrival at the grounds there
was a short devotional service presided
over by the president of the day in which
the several clergymen took part, those
assembled joining in the singing of
hymns. The different schools were
ranged around the stand where the SER
vices were held. After these services
a most bountitul dinner was provided
which was enjoyed by the old and young.
A five year old miss expressed the senti-
ments of all when she said to the writer,
"Aint this nice"
Fully 1900 people were on the grounds
in the afternoon to see the athletic
sports, under the direction of the Y. NJ.
c. A., consisting of bicycle races and
ball game.
Fast bicycle race, $50 yards, four en-
tries, won by Martin Love; no time Civ
en-. Slow bicycle race, 80 yards, three
starters, won by Fred D. Burt, who can
now be called the champion slow rider,
having won two years in succession.
The interesting feature of the after
noon was the game of base ball between
the Williamstown nine and the Benning
ton nine. 1t was one of the best games
of base ball seen here in a long time.
Following is the summary:
Innings. 2 50
Williamstown. ....O 8 0 0 4 O.
Bennington. 3 0 0 0 lie
Bryant and Kelly were the battery for
the Williamstowns and Graves and Burns
for the home nine. Arthur Cushman
was the umpire and James Mcmahon
scorer. Time of game, q hours.
NOTES.
The Sixth Corps Post, G. A. r., was
in the parade bya color
bearer carrying its colors.
The Bennington Drum Corps was one
of the organizations that attracted
attention. The boys did
well, and all that they need is little
more practice to make them equal to
many other corps that are frequently
heard here.
Both the North Bennington Band and
our own CITY Band acquitted themselves
vel, and contributed much to the success
of the day.
Every division in the parade was
headed by the National colors, and each