The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-07-28

l
had its beginning and Bennington, whic
| furnished more recruits than any othe
| town. 1t was from Bennington that Ethal
Allen started ON that glorious trip result
| ing in the capture OF Ticonderoga am
| Crown Point
| 1t was near Bennington that the BATH
was fought, bearing the name of the town
| that proved the turning point of the wa
of the revolution and Bennington at a mo
ment's notice furnished over 200 soldier,
for Stark's army. 1t was Bennington
which furnished the subsistence and sup
plies also which made Stark's victory pos
sible and Bennington women cooked ant
supplied the food.
1t was Bennington county that furnish
ed the governors of Vermont for 81 of the
first AZ years that Vermont was a state
and not only the governors but large pro
portion of the other state officials. 1t was
at Bennington that the first church in the
state was formed, a church that still exists
1t was at Bennington that the first militia
company of the state was enlisted and the
first manufacturing enterprise in the state
was established
1t was at Bennington that the first pot
terry in America was built and at Benning
ton that the first iron furnace in northern
New England was erected and the first pig
iron in America was smelted. 1t was in
Bennington that the first knit underwear
factory of any importance in the United
States was erected and there that the
business is the most important industry to
this day 1t was at Bennington that the
first stereoscope was made and there the
principal stereoscope factory in the world
is now located.
This list does not include all, or nearly
all of the things of note with which the
name of Bennington is convicted but
merely some of the principal ones. The
list could be greatly heightened Not only
the more important incidents will be re-
produced at the coming pageant, but also
several lesser scenes of human interest.
1t will be the first time in this country
that battle scene has been depicted in a
pageant. Over 600 people will take part
in the scenes and the pageant will be given
complete and entire each of the four days.
The advance program of the pageant is
as follows
Prologue.
i. Old Portsmouth, Governor Benning
Wentworth's Home.
2. Benning Wentworth's Marriage to
Martha Hilton.
Colonial Days.
l.. Coming of First Settlers, 1861.
2. Parson Dewey's School.
g. House Raising and Wedding of Joseph
Rudd and Sarah Storey.
4. Departure of Samuel Robinson for
England to present the grievances
of the New Hampshire Claimants to
King George III, 1866.
5. Samuel Robinson in England.
6. About the Catamount Tavern.
a. The Beech Seal.
(2) The Council of Safety.
Revolutionary Days.
1. Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and the
Green Mountain Boys.
2. General Stark's Encampment at Ben
nington.
3. Departure of Starks Brigade to meet
the Enemy.
H. The Battle of Bennington, Aug. 16,
1777 Flight of the Indians Women
Praying on HARDWOOD Hill. Arrival of
Warmers Men under Lieut.. Col. SAT-
ford "The Victory is Ours" Eng
lish Officers and Hessians pass the
Catamount Tavern.
Later Eighteenth Century Days.
1. The Return of Ethan Allen.
2. Industrial Bennington.
The Nineteenth Century.
l. June Training.
2. Departure of Union Volunteers for the
Civil War.
Twentieth Century Days.
1. Review of the Pageant.
2. The Makers of Tomorrow.
Several scenes and tableaux will be add
ed to this when the program is finally pre-