The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-02

Ut tue emu VI thC htot oV SCdfS VI lis
history had already grown to be the
most important manufacturing town
in the state though of the plants then
doing business hardly one is in opera.
ton today in the same line OF indus
try.
In 1S41, the lower village, then called
East Bennington. had outgrown the
old village on the hill, though the
bank, newspaper Office and most of the
stores were still on Town Hill.
Fortunately there is III existance an
interesting account Of the industrial
condition of Bennington iii 1871 1t is
to be found in Zadock Thompson's
History OF Vermont Natural, Civil
and Statistical" published by Chaun-
cey Goodrich Of Burlington in 1S42.
Following Is an extract from Thomp-
sons sketch OF Bennington:
Bennington Centre, or the old viii
lage of Bennington, has seventy.flye
dwelling houses and about four hun.
bred Inhabitants. The public build
lngs are Congregational meeting
house, court house and Jail, and two
academies. Ii also has the post Office,
bank, three taverns, I'VE stores. sew
Ell law Offices printing office, and
mechanics shops, of various descrip-
ton Ii Is a place Of considerable
capital and BUSINESS but like most
old villages in New England, having
bcal begun on high ground portion
of the business, Of which il would
otherwise have been the centre, has
departed to more fortunate locations
on the streams. This village was the
centre Of operations OF the people OF
this state against the Workers and
also against the common enemy dur
ing the revolution The councils of
the leaders were held at the Green
Mountain tavern kept by Stephen Fay;
the sign to which was the stuffed
skin OF eatamount, placed on a post
twenty-five feet high, with its jaws
distended, and teeth grinning towards
,lxe~ York. Here were determined the
most important public GOVERNMENTS:
and here decided the fate Of those
accused OF offences against the people,
Many lucklesst Yorker had reason TO-
rue the day he VAS summoned to trial
at the sign of the catamount; and
many an unfortunate Tory has depart
ed from its council ROOM thanking his
stars that he had been suffered 10 es-
cape with his life, though at the ex-
pense Of a confiscation Of his prop
erty. The house is now occupied as
private dwelling by Samuel Fay
Esq. a descendant Of the first pro.
prietor. The battle ground is situat-
cd about miles northwest Of this
village, on the Wa oomseoik river, in
the town Of Hooshk k. New York.
The Congregati nal meeting house
is fine wooden building, and was
erected in 1904 Until about 1880, ii
was the only house for public worship
in town. Now there are seven Others,
The first emigrants to Bennington
were Congregationalists; and it is re-
lated of Samuel Robinson the princi-
pal proprietor, that when persons
came to town to purchase land. it was
his practice to invite them to his
house over night IN the course of
the evening he contriyed to ascertain
their religious views. III he found
they did not correspond to his, he per
suaded them to settle in Salisbury
of which he was also proprietor. By
this means the settlers Of Bennington
were nearly all of one religious faith;
and they continued so, with some ex-
ceptions. until a late period This at
tempt to preserve uniformity of re-
ligious sentiment was doubtless de-
signed to promote the harmony and
consequent happiness of the town. But
it is questionable whether 1t had that
effect While but a single church eX-
listed il was often divided into parties.
sometimes of most bitter character,
whose influence extended throughout
the town, and provided violent ami
mosities and heart burnngs The
party in the majority was generally
intoerant and both parties bigoted
and uncharltable. Since other
churches have been established, more
liberal religious as we'll as kinder So
cial feelings have prevailed. The
church, by the separation of a portion
OF its members TO form two other
churches. has become much weakened,
though ii is still the largest. and has
the rsost numerous and wealthy con-
gregation of any in the town. One Of
academies in this village, was erected
in 1921, and the other in 1929 They
were for five. or six years rival insti.
tutions. and we're in a fourlshinig con.
dition: but since 1873, permanent
schools have not been maintained in
either. The village is we'll situated
for an institution of this description,
and Mr.. Horace Fletcher has lately
commenced school in one OF the
/ buildings, with a fair prospect OF sue
cess.
Bennington East Village situated
/ about a mile and hale east OF the
old village contains TAO dwelling
houses and about 700 inhabitants. It's
public buildings are four churches and
an academy, II has a woolcn factory
4 employing eight or ten hands; two
wadding factories, which manufacture
from 70 to so thousand sheets per an
mum. valued at 20 ito S25000: tive
cupola furnaces which make from
eight to ten tons of castings such az
stoves. mill.irons, ploughs, &C. PEI
week. three tanneries that prepare
for market 5000 hides annually; q
stone and earthenware factory. EN-
ploying from IL to 10 hands; and an