History of Benson, Vermont, USA

1839 - Benson
Benson, Vermont
Rutland county. This town, on Lake Champlain, was first settled in 1783. Population, 1830, 1,493. It lies 84 miles E. from Montpelier, 20 W.N.W. from Rutland, and opposite to Putnam, N.Y. The lake at this place is about a mile in width. The town has some streams affording mill sites, but none of great importance. The waters are generally brackish and unpleasant. A stream issues from a swamp in this town, and after running a short distance, passes through the base of a high hill, a distance of more than half a mile. Benson has good pine, maple, walnut, oak, and beech timber, and a bog of marl resembling fuller's earth. There are about 14,000 sheep in this town.
The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839

1849 - Benson
Rutland Co. This town, on Lake Champlain, was first settled in 1783. The lake at this place is about a mile in width. The town has some streams affording mill sites, but none of great importance. The waters are generally brackish and unpleasant. A stream issues from a swamp in this town, and after running a short distance, passes through the base of a high hill, a distance of more than half a mile. Benson has good pine, maple, walnut, oak and beach timber, and a bog of marl resembling fuller's earth. A part of this town was annexed to Orwell in 1847.

Boundaries. North by Orwell, east by Hubbardton, and a small part of Sudbury and Castleton, south by Fair Haven and West Haven, and west by Lake Champlain.

First Settlers. The settlement of the town was commenced 1783, by Barber, Durfee, and Noble. Mr. Durfee came into town and made some improvements before the Revolution, but was driven off. The town was organized about the year 1786, and Allen Goodrich was the first town... Read MORE...

1849 - Fire in Benson
We learn that on Friday afternoon, at about one o'clock, a conflagration commenced in Benson near the Lake Shore, from the burning of a fallow claring, which swept of large tracts of partially cleared land, destroying timber, fuel, and other outdoor property, to a considerable amoutn - mostly belonging to Mr. Wilcox of Orwell, Mr. Adams of Benson, Mr. Gurley of Putnam, N. Y. At the date of our information (Saturday) the conflagration was still spreading, and its termination difficult to be conjectured. No buildings hae been destroyed.
St Albans Messenger
St Albans, Vermont
August 2, 1849

1876 - The Tramp Murder at Benson
The court inquiry on the body of the tramp who was shot at Benson, on Friday night last, by Franklin Munger, rendered the following verdict: That the death of said transient person was caused by a gun shot wound at the hand of Franklin Munger, of Benson,a nd that said Munger was jutsified in the force and means used, by which such transient person come to his death.
St Albans Daily Messenger
St Albans, Vermont
January 5, 1876

1922 - A. L. HALE IS 52 YEARS POSTMASTER. Benson Landing Man Went Into Office in 1870 Under President Grant
Benson Landing, Nov. 27 - A. L. Hale, an aged resident here, is rounding out his 52nd year as postmaster at Benson Landing and says he believes he is one of the oldest, if not the oldest postmaster, in point of service, in Vermont.

Postmaster Hale went into office in 1870, under Grant's administration, and has been sorting mail and serving the needs of his patrons steadily ever since. Although now there are but ten or a dozen who call at the Benson Landing postoffice for their mail, things were different back in the seventies. That was when steamers brought Uncle Sam's mail pouches to the little hamlet on the shore of Lake Champlain, before the construction of the Delaware & Hudson railroad on the New York side, and when lumber-laden craf plied the lake waters, unloading their cargoes at Benson Landing for reshipment to points south.

In those days Benson Landing was a distributing station for both Benson, Vt. and Putnam Station, N.Y., just across the lake. Ever since the... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Benson and its surrounding areas:
1. Lake Champlain: Benson is located near the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the United States. You can spend your days swimming, boating, fishing, or just enjoying the scenic views along the shoreline.

2. Benson Village Store: Start your day with a visit to the local village store. Grab a coffee and some Vermont-made snacks while you chat with friendly locals and get insider tips on what to do in the area.

3. Explore Nature: Benson is a nature lover's paradise. You can go hiking, birdwatching, or even bring your mountain bike to explore the miles of trails in the Green Mountain National Forest.

4. Mount Independence State Historic Site: This nearby historic site offers a glimpse into Vermont's role during the American Revolution. You can explore well-preserved archaeological remains and enjoy interpretive exhibits.

5. Lake Hortonia: Just east of Benson, Lake Hortonia is a peaceful spot for kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply... Read MORE...