The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-17
Satisfaction Of Knowing Good Always Improves the
When You Get Hurt Trying to Do You Have the Satisfaction
REMAINING MAIN STREET
Action by Village Urged for Change
to Putnam Avenue.

" RfGHh~s
To the Editor of The Banner:-It
was my hope that the village trus
tees would include in the warning
for the annual meeting tomorrow an
article proposing to change the name
of Main street to Putnam avenue, an
act expressive of our keen apprecia
ton of the munificent gift Mr.
Henry w. Putnam has bestowed up
on this people. | now possess my
self in the peaceful assumption that
the commission was for want OF
thought rather than want of heart
Still resolution directing the
change of name may be acted upon
under the last article in the morning
since any business not involving the
expenditure of money can be proper
ly and legally transacted under that
article.
1t is proposed by some that North
and South streets be given Mr.. Put.
MANS name, for the reason that his
residence and business are on North
street 1t should be remembered
that Mr.. Putnam built his residence
on North street when North street
was thoroughfare to be proud Of
However, these streets do not consti-
tute our main thoroughfare, while
North street has been sadly marred
of late by the vandalism OF corpor-
ate interests through which some
beautiful and stately naples have
been cut down and replaced by poles
that resemble tall trunks of dead
trees through which a forest fire has
ranged. And again North street is
now our irrigation" avenue to which
the thirsty wend their anxious way
and from which the satiated wabble
their devious ways Mr. Putnam
would not ] am sure feel particular
ly honorea by having this street bear
his name.
On the other hand Main street is
not only our dest and broadcast and
longest but also main business ar.
terry of this old historic town, and in
time all streets running east and
west should be called avenues and
intersecting thoroughfares streets
preferably numbered rather than
named. Besides Mr.. Putnam owns a
fine business building, a magnificent
opera house, the leading hotel and
the real estate of two of the largest
industries in town, all situated Oh
Main street. il that be any argument
Some people hold that Mr.. Putnam
does not desire the honor of having
our main business artery given his
name. And should you ask him | am
certain he would hold up his hand in
earnest dissent, for such is the
modesty of the man-such the nature
of the man--to be ever giving and
never asking-always comforting bus
eternally protesting against the re
turn of favors. ] have private know
ledge of the fact that Mr., Putnam
during his citizenship. has given tC
religion, to charity, to business enter
prises in this town, more than fif>
thousand dollars. and | know ais
that his credit has stood behind two
of our principal enterprises from
which we have mapped many hun
dreds of thousands of dollars in di
rect benefit, and who else. pray
would have given you one of the fin
est houses of amusement in New
England? Ii is not on record so fai
as | know that Mr. Putnam has tax
en- legal action against this communi
ty for bestowing his name upon
cow-path in the suburbs of the vii
lage. and ] doubt sincerely if his pro
test against Main street bearing hi!
name would take the shape of I
court action in the form of an injunc
ton or suit in assumpsit or writ o
error or appeal from the kindl,
wishes of his townspeople Whel
| the deed is done we shall at leas
| have the satisfaction of knowing
that we have performed all that GU
| hearts and minds and means coulC
| conceive as an expression of our pro
foundest gratitude
When this people, some years ag,
sought to acquire by purchase tn,
Bennington water system, Mr.. Put
name expressed to the writer tn,
earnest wish-and there were tear
in his voice-that he might be per
mitted to retain possession till it wa
fully completed that it might stan,
| forever as moment to hi
memory; that this people would sui
| fer no loss by the exercise o
patience with him and then, reading
between the lines the purpose he ha,
1 in view. eXerted all the influence tina
lay in my newspaper TO crafty hi
wish. and accordingly he complete,
the system by the acquisition of tina
magnificent natural spring in tn,
Green mountain, called Lake Hand
cock, and has now presented all tina
| appretains to the finest water system
anywhere. free and unincumbered {,
/ this people. and it will indeed stan,
| forever as a monument to hi
memory.
There are men who hold that thi
is honor enough. But by who's,
grace, pray tell me. is this honor be
slowed? And others yet there ar,
who maintain that if this is no
enough, surely the Henry w. Putnam
/ Memorial Hospital should be regard
ed as the key stone of the triumpha
arch erected to his memory. Blu
again, by whose grace is this homo
bestowed? Can we not in all con
science and due regard to justice an,
equity OF our own nation. of our owl
volition. of our own spontaneous init
alive. do honor to Mr. Putnam
When our main thoroughfare shall
bear the name OF Putnam, and mos
Of our business literatum also. thei
will his name be suitably respected
since il viii be ever, on our lips anS