The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-08-24
INCREASING INTEREST
IN STATE HISTORY
Advocated In Report Of Historical
Committee OF Bait c Monu.
ment Society.


AT recent special meeting OF the
Bennington Battle Monument and His,
torlcal society. the historical commit
tee made report comprising mum.
Der OF suggestions, some Of which, II
Is hoped, Will be carfied out 10 tho
conclusion before the proposed OBJ
seryance OF the 150th anniversary OF
the Battle OF Bennington and OF the
independence OF Vermont In 1927. The
report follows:
The undersigned, members Of your
Historical Committee, beg to report
| the progress made with reference 10
the several matters referred by the
general annual meeting to the commit
tee.
| The Historical Committee has held
two meetings since the date OF the
annual meeting OF the association, in
addition 10 which members OF the com.
m!ttee have frequently conferred In.
| formally.
AT the first meeting, upon the mo.
tion Of II. r. Cushman, President OF
the Association. John Spargo was
made permanent chairman of the His.
torieal Committee II was also decided
| that In the interest OF the Association,
and for the greater efficiency OF the
committee. the secretary Of the asso-
cation should be member exofiicio
OF the Historical sCommittee.
The subjects referred to our com.
mittee by the association have all been
given attention by Us. They naturally
divide themselves into three categor.
les. as follows:
A Encouragement OF the study OF
Vermont history In our schools.
B The more general subject OF pub.
lie interest in Vermont history.
G Measures for the marking OF his
torical shrines and sites.
With respect to the promulga.
tIon OF greater interest in
the history Of our State and
town by the rising generation, we have
considered plan OF offering gold and
silver medals and other prizes for es-
says upon themes to be selected from
year TO year This would involve also
the arranging OF lectures IN the
schools.
While believing thoroughly in this
plan, and hoping TO see 1t carried into
effect. your committee believes that It
will be easier to do this, and to insure
its success, If the way for 1t is pre-.
pared by some program of intensive
activity which will attract general
attention and kindle far more than or.
dinary interest ana enthusiasm.
Plans for t5oth Anniversary.
We have felt that the opportunity |
and the occasion for such a program |
arise In connection with the approach |
OF the one hundredth and Aftieth ami |
Yersary of the Battle Of Bennington |
and OF the independence of Vermont |
The celebration OF the sesqui-centennial !
Of those great and momentous events In |
any adequate and worthy manner will !
take some years Of preparation, and |
it Is certainly not too early to begin |
We respectfully remind you that legis
lation will certainly be required In the
State. and perhaps in the national
Congress. The matter will have 10 be |
brought before the next Vermont legis. |
lature in order to have any useful re-
suit.
Your Historical Committee has con |
sidered certain plans for the proposed |
commemoration, both plans of gener' |
al character and those having to do |
more especially with the necessary or
desirable legislation Without offer |
ing these for discussion before your
body, at this time, we beg to make the
following recommendation:
That the association, at a special
meeting to be called for the purpose |
name an organizing committee of not
less than five nor more than seven
members to arrange for an early meet |
ing of prominent citizens and dele
gates from all the patriotic societies,
fraternal orders churches, civic bodies
and associations, and TO pesent to such
meeting suggest ons for worthy cele-
bration of the one hundred and tiftieth
anniversary Of the Battle of Benning |
ton and Of the independence of Yer
mont. and for the organization of the
tions therefor may be made.
Further, we recommend that at such
meeting steps should be taken to form
a self.perpetuating committee, consist
ing Of representatives OF the Benning-
ton Battle Monument and Historical
association and various civic and pa
triotic bodies, to arrange for the cele-
bration of Bennington Battle day in
1923 and annually thereafter.
Memorial on Old Msetlng House Site.
Your historical committee has also
given much attention to the whole sub.
feet of marking various historical
shrines and sites in Bennington We
are of the opinion that ii tn could be
done extensively during the next two
or three years the interest aroused |
would of itself go far to insure the sue
cess of the sesqui-centennial celebra-
ton Further than this, nothing, IN
our Judgment, could better promote
general public interest In all that per
tains to Vermont history in general
and Bennington history in particular
No town in America has richer
heritage OF historic greatness and
splendor than Bennington. Here are
the shrnes which are sacred to all
Americans. The tens Of thousands of
people from all parts of the country
who visit Bennington annually are
drawn largely by that richly storied
history. 1t is perhaps not as well rec