[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S7034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF BENNINGTON, VERMONT

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
250th anniversary of the Town of Bennington, Vermont. On behalf of all 
Vermonters, I want to wish this historical town a very happy 
anniversary.
  In 1749, the Governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, chartered 
the first town in the territory that would eventually become the State 
of Vermont. In 1761, the town was named Bennington in his honor. With 
its access to the Walloomsac River as a power source, the new town 
quickly built up industries such as paper mills, pottery, grist mills, 
and the largest cotton batting mill in the United States. It became an 
important gateway to the region.
  During the Revolutionary War, Bennington gained great notoriety with 
the Battle of Bennington. As the British General, John Burgoyne, 
marched his troops south from Canada with the plans to capture Albany, 
they stopped in Vermont intending to forage for supplies. However, they 
underestimated the strength of their enemy. On August 16, 1777, John 
Stark, leading a militia of 1500 men, including the Green Mountain 
Boys, attacked. After two days of fighting, the militia defeated the 
British with the first decisive victory for the Americans. This 
critical battle is seen as the turning point in the war because it 
greatly weakened the British forces, revitalized languishing spirit of 
the revolutionaries, and ensured another victory at Saratoga. 
Bennington was also the base of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys 
who led the taking of Fort Ticondaroga. To celebrate Bennington's vital 
role in the American Revolution, I've enjoyed marching in many 
Bennington Battle Day parades.
  The Town of Bennington holds a special place in the Vermont history 
books. On Bennington's village green stands the meeting house where 
legislators in 1791 voted for the Independent Republic of Vermont to 
become the 14th state.
  In addition to the town's historical significance, Bennington has a 
rich cultural heritage. The buildings found in Old Bennington form one 
the greatest concentrations of early Federal and Georgian architecture 
in the state. In North Bennington is the Park-McCullough House, built 
in 1865, which served as home to two Vermont governors. The Bennington 
Museum houses a collection of paintings by the celebrated folk artist, 
Grandma Moses, known for her depictions of rural life and the 
countryside.
  Today, Bennington offers much to both its residents and to visiting 
tourists.
  Continuing a long tradition of artistic appreciation, the new Arts 
Center helps promote a variety of exhibits, threatre productions, 
literary readings, artists' work space, and dance and musical 
performances. Bennington also boasts two private colleges: Bennington 
College, a small liberal arts school with a strong performing arts 
program; and Southern Vermont College, a small college that prides 
itself on providing resources to and giving back to the Bennington 
community.
  But the heart of this small town has always been its indomitable 
people and its close-knit community. It is a community dedicated to 
improving the lives of all its citizens. This dedication can be seen in 
several innovative Bennington educational programs, in the town's 
collaborative approach to helping children and families, and in the 
significant progress made toward meeting the community's needs for 
affordable housing.
  It gives me great pleasure to recognize the Town of Bennington's 
250th anniversary, its significant role in both the history of our 
country and of the State of Vermont, and its strong, diverse 
citizens.

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