The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-08-07
COLLECTIONS OF cuRlos
One of the Most Interesting in the
United States.

united STATES.
Few Benningtonians realize that
one of their citizens is the possessor
OF one of the finest private collections
in the United States along mineralogi
cal, geological and archaeological
lines. Besides these, are very yalu-
able collection of curios from all
parts OF the world and with varied
historical interest, number oil the
famous Navajoe Indian blankets, a
collection of fossils, antique furni-
ture, and 100 pieces of choice Rock
ingham pottery.
w. B. Walker of Pleasant etreet is
the fortunate owner of these valu-
able and interesting collections with
the exception of the pottery which is
owned by Mrs. Walker. The house,
itself, in which Mr.. and Mrs Walker
live is one of interest on account OF
its style of architecture. The house
was built by Judge Luman Norton III
1888 and is OF brick, following partly
the colonial style of construction,
massive and imposing. surrounding
the house at present arc many beau
tiful flower beds, displaying flowers
of all varieties, reared under the care
of Mrs. Walker who yearly grows
enyjable beds of all kinds of Vermont
flowers.
Entering the house, one immediate
IL notices the beautiful carpets, vari-
ed in their form, color, and type of
decoration. Mr.. Walker owns seven,
such carpets which are the work OF
the American Nayajoe Indians who
were noted for the fine texture of
their weaving. Throughout the. house
there are many pieccs OF antique fur
niture. much of which have passed in
to Mr.. Walkers hands from his an
eestors.
I In Mr. Walkers mineralogical and
geological caminets are found per
haps the finest private collection of
stones in this country. Among the
contents are found Brazilian agates,
goodies from the Mississippi river,
very fine calcites, Grain coral, types
of marble, Mexican amethysts, stibi-
mite, and ore specimens. However,
the most striking part of the collec-
ton is the group OF Middleville crys-
tails which resemble diamonds in APP
pearence. In fact, they were used
for diamonds in previous years before
the introduction of the present meth
Cd of finishing diamonds.
Mr.. Walkers crystals are of all
sizes and shapes, form the size Of the
head of a pin to those weighing four
or flve pounds Which are jagged
pieces of cleaning stone. The daz'
cling appearance OF these stones inn
mediately catches the eye of one who
stands before the cabinet. Ht
Mr. Walkers collection of curios
is one of great interest and value An
especially interesting feature is the
different types of weapons used by
the American Indians, and savage
tribes in the Philippines, China, and
Japan. War clubs, bolos, machettes,
spears, poisoned arrows, and knives
make up the list of these weapons
Among the group of Revolutionary
curios are a Hessian cartridge box
and bullet pouch. swords, pistols,
powder horns, and nuskets A gun
captured when The Tennessee surrend
cred to Admiral Faragaut is an object
of special interest. a portion of the
first Atlantic cable, a Peruvian idol,
a Chinese idol, an army pin cushion
which was carried in the first battle
AS there is no local museum in
(which these things can be exhibited,
Mr.. and Mrs Walker have kept them
at their residence but should there
ever be a museum erected or fitted
out both Mr. and Mrs Walker have
generously agreed to present to such
an institution many valuable and in
teresting pieces. Several times the
project has been discussed by local
authorities but nothing has ever
materialized from these discussions
Not only in the Walker collection but
in other collections owned by Ben
ningtonians there are many things OF
both national and HISTORICAL signifi-
canoe which rightfully belong to a
Bennington museum.