The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-20
OLD CONSTITUTION AoUsE
First Meeting of Association TO Be
Held at Windsor In June

First Meeting of Association 70 Be
Held at Windsor In June
The first annual meeting of the Old
Constitution House association will
be held at Windsor. Monday evening,
June at s o'clock.
In connection with the meeting the
following appeal is being sent out
by the committee on membership
To the Sons and Daughters of Yer
mont
From July to July 8, in the year
l777. the convention was held in the
town of Windsor that adopted the
first constitution OF the state of Yer
mont. The building in which that
convention was held, commonly
known as the Old Constitution house
still stands in the village of Windsor.
At that time a tavern, it has long
since been used for other purposes
for several years past serving as
storehouse for stoves and tinware. In
1904 few persons interested in pre-
serving the memory of its historic
character placed upon the building
bronze tablet with the following IN
scription:-
"The Constitution House
in this building was held July 2-S,
1777 the convention which adopted
the constitution of the Free and
Independent state of Vermont
the first in America to
prohibit human
slavery"
The question of the rescue Of this
historic structure from its present
use. and its restoration and preser-
walton as an ancient relic has been
a matter of some discussion and agi-
tation, for several years, among in
dividuals the legislature Of Vermont
at one time passed a bill appropria-
ting $1,000 for that purpose, but the
bin met defeat at the hands of the
governor; some efforts have also
! been made in the same direction by
one of the patriotic societies in the
state; but no widely organized effort
has heretofore been undertaken to
reach all those who have an interest
in preserving for future generations
this ancient landmark, until the for
nation of the Old Constitution House
association, the articles of associa-
tion and bylaws of which accompany
this circular.
This patriotic movement was be-
1 ers,,, nv ft,fapdo IL, aonpcfI tho trcrnafaf =
club of Windsor, which, like all WON
ems clubs in Vermont, has always la
ken an active and intelligent interest
in civic Improvement Through the
instigation and encouragement of this
club the present organization was
formed by few we'll known citizens
of Windsor upon basis. as they be-
lieve, so broad as to command the
interest and attention of all Vermont
ers who cherish any sentiment for
her history and Institutions and the
perpetuation of the places in which
her very notable early history was
made.
The owners of the building are pre-
pared, with a generous public spirit,
to present the structure to this asso-
citation upon certain suitable restric-
tions and reservations which may be
briefly stated as follows:
The building is to remain forever
as an historic relic. upon a suitable
site in the village of Windsor to be
owned by the association, and the
same is to be restored and maintain
ed and devoted to historical, literary
educational and SOCIAL purposes only
There shall be a tablet placed up
on the building with an inscription
stating that the same is presented by
the present owners thereof
The deed of gift is to contain a
reyersionary clause in case of failure
to comply with the conditions of the
gift.
The organizers Of the association
desire membership widely distrib
uted through the state of Vermont
and among Vermonters residing else
where.
II the plan of the organization
meets with your approval and you de
sire to cooperate in the organized
effort, please sign the accompanying
application for membership and for
ward with the membership dues in
the enclosed envelope to Frank B
Tracy, treasurer, and the same will
be properly and promptly acknow
lodged.
While the organization OF the as
ISOLATION is at present incomplete. II
respect of all the officers and trus
tees contemplated by the bylaws, the
incorporators expect to have com
plete organization before the annua
meeting in June next
Clara Mlndoes Perkins,
Alice c. Evarts.
Sherman Evarts,
Committee on Membership.