Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-08-09
Building in Bennington.

At no time in the history of the village
has there been so much building as at
the present time. The new Bank build.
ing and the Ritche Block will, when fin
ished, rank with the finest business
structures in the State, while some of
the residences just completed or in the
process of construction, those of VIM.
Campbell, Fred Graves and E. L. Bates,
will be numbered among the most costly
and handsome in Vermont. The struct-
ures IN addition to those others of re-
cent construction, the Opera House
Block, the residences of Geo. F. and L.
E. Graves, E. w, Bradford, Geo. Ii.
Moore, II. S. Bingham, A. P. Childs, &.
w. Thatcher, ETC., make possible the
statement that in no village of its size in
New England has building been, within
the past two or three years, more notice
able or more active than in Bennington.
But it is of the residence building of
which we wish particularly to speak.
In addition to those already mentioned
there have been large number of others
almost as large and expensive. In view
of the depressing conditions that have
generally existed, the number of resi-
dences that have been built, ranging i'll
cost from $500 to $4,000, has been pne-
nomenally large. With these and the
larger number of buildings that have
been enlarged or improved, and the num-
Der of fine residences of older cOnstIu uc-
tion, Bennington, as a village of fine res
licences can hardly be surpassed by any
other of its size in the country.
During this time there has been equal
ly as noticeable increase in the number
of smaller dwellings, ETC., neat, attrac
tive and modern in appearance. Near the
centre of the business section several
streets have been opened and now pre-
sent pleasing appearance with the resi-
dences of this character. Building has,
also, been rapidly spreading into the
more distant portions of the village.
Where so recently were disfguring or
vacant lots or pastures, are the pretty
homes of the prosperous operatives of
the various industrial enterprises which
give employment to so many of our citi-
zens.
In other ways than in building is the
| spirit of improvement and progress
everywhere apparent. Never before has
the village presented so clean and invit-
ing an appearance. Well groomed and
ornamental lawns and an absence of dis
! figuring objects are the rule and not the
exception. The householders generally
seem possessed with the desire to beau
tify and the results are apparent on every
! hand.
In enterprises of more public nature
Bennington has been equally progress
sive. Our magnificent and unsurpassed
water system, itself of recent cOnstruc-
ton, has been extended as demands have
querired. An electric light plant has
been established, and later, the village
sewer system has been put in.
AS all these improvements continue,
Bennington, with the commendable ac-
tivity of it's Board of Health, is becom-
ing one of the most healthful, attractive
and desirable village as place of resi-
dence in the United States.
its peOple-manufacture merchants
and working classes, are generally pros
| pero!s. Its industrial enterprises aIe
varied, widely scattered and extensive,
insuring a prosperous condition even
though the country at large may be
struggling with depression and stagna.
ton. The proof of this was shown dur.
ing the past two years, when our sister
cities and towns were industrially pros
trated. Under ordinary conditions Ben,
nington is extremely prosperous. And
her residents, the employers and the
employees and the merchants, reflect
this prosperity in their handsome anC
neat homes which now abound withir
her limits and the number of which is Sc
raridly increasing.
With her churches and excellent