The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-23

passed in Quebec. The next year she
began her great work During seven
teen years, with the assistance of four
or FIVE women whom she had brought
from France, she attended the sick
and wounded. In the winter of 1857
Miss Nance sustained a fractured arm
and the dislocation of one wrist
through a fall on the ice. The arm
was set but the dislocation was not
discovered. The arm soon became
entirely useless and her health wasted
away under incessant and violent
pain
She was in consequence Obliged TO
relinquish her work among the sick
in Montreal and return to France
where the withered member was res
tOred She then entered with renew
ed zeal and enthusiasm upon the con
tinuance of her work in Montreal.
Again she sought the aid Of the Dut-
chess de Bullion, who gave her $4,000
francs. The next year, 1863, saw the
fruition of long cherished hopes. Miss
Nance, with these hospital nuns OF
st Joseph, established the Hotel Dieu
of Montreal. She labored at the work
so dear to her heart until death in
1873.
Fanny Allen, daughter OF Ethan AL
len, leader of the famous Green Noun
tain Boys, and Frances Allen, was
born in Sunderland November 10,
1884. She went to Burlington with
her parents in 1857. In December OF
that year General Allen established
his family on the farm afterward
known as the Van Ness place. Here
the family lived until Ethan Aliens
death, February IL, 1889 Part of this
farm is now inclAded in Ethan Allen
park.
After the death Of Ethan Allen the
widow and children went to West
Minister to reside. Here in 1898, Fan
ny Aliens mother was married TO
Jabez Penniman OF Burlington. Fanny
continued to reside in Westminster
with her mother and stepfather until
her 18th year. or until 1901, when the
Pennimans removed to Swanton, Mr.
Penniman having received an appoint
ment as collector of customs for Yer
mont.
Four years later Fanny Allen asked
permission of her parents to go to
Montreal to complete her education In
| the convent of the Congregation
Speaking of herself at this time Fan
ny Allen said 81 was an infidel. had
read only novels and the writings OF
rationalists and had heard nothing
but evil spoken of the Catholic church
At the convent in Montreal she
sought instruction in the Catholic doc
trine, was baptized and received hel
| first communion. Later she decided
to consecrate herself to the service
of religion. She entered the novitiatC
of the Hotel Dieu, September 29, 1908
made her solmen vows of religion or
May s, 1911 and died September 10
1919. She was the first woman born
in the United. States to enter the or
der of Hotel Dieu and so her name
was given TO the Fanny Allen hospita
the first house of the order to be es
tablished in this country. Her exam
pie her piety, and her prayers contri
buted to the conversion OF many tC
the Catholic faith. The body of Fan
my Allen lies under the chapel of Ho
tel Dieu in Montreal, those of hel
father beneath the familiar shaft II
| Green Mount cemetery in Burlington
while her mothers last resting place
is Elmwood cemetery also in Bur
lington.
The building which commemorate:
these noteworthy anniversaries d
Gothic in architecture and distinctly
ecclesiastical in appearance. 1t is l2i
feet by 80 feet and three stories II
height, having beside basement ant
an attic The material is red bricl
with marble trimmings.
The building will contain the ad
ministration offices and will be thu
home of the Religious Hospitalers. II
the basement will be the kitchen, din
ing room and laundry. On the frs
floor will be the Office and other ad
ministration rooms, library, recep
ton rooms and the sisters commun
ity room.
The completion of the monastery
will fill a want at the hospital tina
has long been telt. Inc quarters u
present occupied by the sisters will b.
used for hospital patients and will pro
vide ward for twelve or fifteen bed
and ten private rooms for women pa
tients.
The establishment of the Fanny Al
len hospital was made possible
through the generous donations b!
Mr.. and Mrs. Michael Kelley of thu
original building, an old time tavern
together with thirty-fve acres OF lane
surrounding II. The location is ideal
with pure air and abundance OF pure
water, and a magnificent panorama
of landscape. The hospital was open
ed In 1894 six sisters coming from
Montreal TO begin the work under the
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