The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-08-07
SITE OF 0LDF|RST (.
CHURCH MEMORIAL
.,,, .;..I;;; ;,;'! ' s'II.'' I%I.@''flER GIFT
Resident of Old Bennington
Provides Fund for Project
DESIGN BEING SELECTED
Sum of $4,000 Contributed to
Mark House Hallowed by
First Meeting House
DESIGN BEING SELECTED

Through the generosity of Mrs Eli.
nor W. Squier and the untIring effort
OF DR.. Vincent Rayl-Booth, pastor OF
the First Church OF Christ, Old Ben.
nington, a fitting monument will be
erected In the near future On the
historic green at Old Bennington to
mark the spot Where the first meet.
Ing house once stood.
The site has as much, II not more
historic interest than any other place
In Vermont. On. talis spot, between
the present church building and the
Wa'loomsac Inn, stood the first meet.
ing house. erected in 1863. II served
as church, school and assembly hall.
In that building steps were taken to
resist British oppression In the early
days OF the revolution. In II were
confined the prisoners after the bat
tie OF Bennington. The legislature
met in February 1879 under its roof,
and adopted the fundamental law Of
the state. In ii were held two of the
longest and most important sessions
Of the legislature prior to the admls-
sion OF Vermont into the Union. In
1t was established the first high
school in the state.
Soon after coming to Old Benning.
ton, two years and eight months ago.
DR.. Booth was approached by several
of the oldest members OF the church,
and urgently requested to take steps
toward the erection OF suitable mon
ument on this sacred site.
Since thenphe has been working on
the project very quietly, but persist
emily. Two sketches have been pre-
pared by a well known firm OF archi-
tects In New York. The first called
for a monument costing $4,000. Aft
er repeated attempts TO find this sum,
the plan was abandoned. The second
sketch calls for monument costing
$4,000 Dr. Booth presented this de-
sign to Mrs Elinor II. Squier, who
agreed to finance the project. One
half of this sum has been already
pa d. The balance will -oe forthcom.
ing when the money is needed to pay
builder and architect.
A committee has been formed to
take charge OF the project, consisting
of Messrs. J. c. Colgate, Hall p. Nc
Cullough, A. j. Holden, P. B. Jen-
nings, Judge E. l.. Bates and DR..
Booth as chairman.
Since the gift was made 1t has been
decided to reopen the question Of de.
sign. Mrs. Squier is in Europe, and
is keeping her eyes open for the cor
rect idea. Nothing will be done In
haste Whatever is done will be
done with the single purpose or serv-
ing the best interests of Old Benning.
ton. In this connection 1t should be
stated that Dr.. Isaac Jennings, the
beloved pastor of the church In years
gone by, worked very hard to erect
suitable memorial to the First
meeting House, and would have sue
ceeded but for the outbreak of the
World War.
This. same project has also been
advocated by the Historical Society,
which appointed a committee to con
slider the matter as far back as in
1876. Moreover, this past spring DR..
Booth was requested by the Historic
al Society to accept nomination as
chairman of a special committee, to
be selected by himself, for the pur-
pose of marking out the site in ques'
tion.