News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1897-06-30

school cadets attracted many cheers
all along the line.
The principal address at the monu-
ment dedication was made by Fred
erick jennings of New York, de-
scendant of Rev. Isaac jennings, who,
on behalf of the subscribers, presented
the monument to the Bennington
battle monument and historical soci-
ETY.. The acceptance was by Gov.
Grout. Maj. A. B. Valentine was
presented and made a neat address.
At 3 o'clock an open-air campfire was
held on the home. grounds, Hugh
Henry of Chester presiding. Gen. J.
G. Mccullough made the address of
welcome. Ex-Deputy Commander
Linehan ofNew Hampshire, Secretary
of State Palmer of New York, Gov.
Grout, Capt. Crawford and Gen.
Cogswell were the other speakers.
Gov. Grout, ex-Congressman Stew
art, E, j. Phelps, ex-Minister to Eng
land, and Col. Aldace F. Walker,
formerly Interstate commerce COM
missioner, were among the distin
guished men present.
The monument is erected on the
site of the Catamount tavern, hos
telry famous for a number of years
preceding and during the Revolution.
1t was built in 1867 and destroyed
by fire in 1871. The tavern was the
headquarters of Col. Ethan Allen and
the Green Mountain boys. 1t was
during this time that the settlers
placed a stuffed catamount over the
swinging sign of the tavern, grinning
defiance to the New York land claim
ants, from which the tavern took its
name. In August, 1777, the tavern
was the seat of the famous council of
safety, the only government that the
state of Vermont bad at that time.
! The hotel was also the headquarters
of Gen John Stark at the battle Of
Bennington.
The monument consists of a highly
polished granite pedestal seven feet
high, weighing niue tons, surmOunted
by large brass figure of a catamount.|
On the pedestal is this nscrintion 1
"Ste of the Catamount tavern, 767 y
The funds for this work were practical
ly all subscribed by citiz ms of Ben
ningtOn. The marking of the site Of
the Catamount tavernis "a part of the
scheme to mark all Of the many his
torical spots at Bennington.
The department of the Woman's
Relief Corps convened Wednesday in
the chapel of the ID Congregational
church for its 18th annual conven-
ton. Mrs A. Louise Putnam, Presi-
dent, of Brattleboro, presided.
Mrs. Putnam's report showed that
there had been two corps added since
the last convention, one at Walling-
ford with 80 charter members, and
one at Castleton with Is. On April
81 there were II corps in the state,
with 2475 members. During the wear
there were expended in relief $133 20 !;
turned over to G. A. R. Posts, $S63.-
6S estimated value other than mon
ey, $1491.5S. Sinceits organization
in 1885, the corps has expended for
relief, 1913 1868 of which $10,751 has
been in cash. The balance in relief
funds on hand is $1299.25. The off
GERS elected are:
President Florence H. Gates Morrisvile
Senior Vice President, Alice c. Willoughby,
Junior-Vice- President, Mary W Gould, Iud-
low.
Secretary, Clara NJ. Niles, MorrisvilIe
Treasurer, Ida Towne, Morrisvie.
ChaDlain, Angie l.. GutterSOn, Rutland.
Executive Board, Helen NJ. Blake, Swan
ton; X. II. ID. Bowman, st. Johnsbury, Laura
A. Long Bennington; Eliza Cutting, Ben
nington Alice A. Raymond, Stowe.
Mrs. Gates, the new president, was
the first president OF j. NJ. Warner
w. r. G. of Morrisville, and served
10 years in that capacity. She has
served three years as department in
spector or as an assistant inspector,
has been a member of the executive
board of the department, and was
senior vice. president last year. In
1898 she served as aid on the staff OF
: the national president.
Following the election of officers.
Mrs. j. b. Needham of Rutland on
behalf Of the corps, presented to Mrs.
A. Louise Putnam, the retiring pres.
ident, an onyx clock, silver water
service of four pieces and some silver
mementoes of Bennington. Mrs
Putnam was taken by surprise, but
: accepted hegifts in short, butpleas
ant speech.
The next encampment will be hello
! at st. Adams.