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History of Bennington, Vermont, USA
Journey back in time to Bennington, Vermont, USA
Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to Bennington, Vermont, USA.
About Bennington
First of the New Hampshire Grants, Bennington was chartered on January 3, 1749, by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth and named in his honor. It was granted to William Williams and 61 others, mostly from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The town was first settled in 1761 by four families from Hardwick and two from Amherst, Massachusetts. They were led by Capt. Samuel Robinson, who camped in the river valley on his return from the French and Indian War. kids.kiddle.co
Bennington is a historic town in southwestern Vermont, famous for the Bennington Battle Monument, which commemorates a Revolutionary War battle. The town also boasts beautiful covered bridges and art galleries.
Bennington Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


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Historic Bennington, Vt.

Historic Bennington, Vermont

Lincoln Square, No. Bennington, Vt.
Genealogy gifts & optional resources
Genealogy Gifts & Resources Related to BENNINGTON

VERMONT Ancestors Genealogy Mug - Maple Syrup, Skiing and Craft Breweries - Vermont Roots Gift
Vermont ancestry explains a lot. 🍁 Celebrate your Green Mountain roots with a playful mix of skiing, pure maple syrup, sugar on snow, Vermont creemees, craft breweries, covered bridges and mountain scenery, all wrapped up in a vintage-inspired tribute to the place your ancestors called home.

VERMONT Long Trail Mug – Vintage Postcard - Hiking & Adventure Coffee Cup
Carry a piece of Vermont with every sip! The Long Trail Vermont Mug features vintage postcard art and the charming slogan “Following Footprints of the Past on the Long Trail!” Perfect for hikers, history buffs, and coffee lovers alike, this high-quality ceramic mug is dishwasher & microwave safe. Ideal for sipping coffee while planning your next trek, reminiscing about past hikes, or cozy mornings with maps spread out, it’s a heartfelt nod to adventure, nature, and the trails that connect us. Bring warmth, story, and a touch of Vermont to your kitchen or campsite!

VERMONT Long Trail Aluminum Bookmark - Following in the Footsteps of Hikers Before Me
Mark your place in style with this durable aluminum bookmark featuring a vintage postcard image of Vermont’s legendary Long Trail. Adorned with the inspiring slogan "Following in the Footsteps of Those Who Hiked Before Me!", it’s the perfect keepsake for outdoor enthusiasts, history lovers, and Long Trail hikers. Lightweight yet sturdy, this bookmark makes a great gift for bookworms and adventurers alike. Whether you're reading trail guides or your favorite novel, let this bookmark keep the spirit of the Long Trail alive!
Discover Bennington: History, News, Travel, and Stories
Explore the events, newspaper stories, people, and moments that shaped Bennington through the years.
One of the chief towns of Bennington county. It lies 120 miles S.W. by S. from Montpelier, 25 S. from Manchester, and 30 east from Troy, N.Y. Population, 1830, 3,419. Present population, about 4,200. First settled, 1761. The town is situated high above the great rivers and the ocean, yet we find it of good alluvial soil, delightfully encircled by ever-green mountains. It abounds in iron ore, manganese, ochre, and marble. The streams are numerous and afford excellent mill sites. The products of the soil consist of all the varieties common to New England. Great attention is paid to the rearing of sheep: about 7000 of those useful animals feed on the hills and valleys. There are in Bennington, 6 cotton and 3 woollen factories, a very extensive iron foundry, 2 furnaces, a paper mill, flouring mills, &c. The public schools justly sustain an elevated rank. Bennington is finely located for the muses. On the border of this town, about 6 miles W. of the court house, the...
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There are in Bennington a great number of cotton and woolen factories, a very extensive iron foundry, two furnaces, a paper mill, flouring mills, &c. The public schools justly sustain an elevated rank. Bennington is finely located for the muses.
On the borders of this town, about six miles west of the court-house, the gallant Stark, with a small band of "Northern Yeoman," celebrated for their bravery, gained an important victory over the British August 16, 1777. The fame of that battle is as imperishable as the mountains which overshadow the ground. Shame to the...
Bennington East Village, a manufacturing village of Bennington township, Bennington county, Vermont, about 1 1/ 2 mile E. from the old village. It contains 4 or 5 churches, an academy, and 1 or 2 printing offices. Besides the several factories, foundries, and tanneries in the place, there is an establishment for making a peculiar kind of fire-brick. These bricks are used in glass ovens and furnaces where a high heat is required, and are generally preferred to any imported. They are composed chiefly of quartz and kaolin, a species of feldspar - minerals found in great abundance in the eastern part of the township. Population, about 800.
Bennington Iron Works, situated about 8 miles E. from Bennington Centre, consisting of several large...
A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Volume 1 Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859
(Special to The Messenger.)
Bennington, June 5. — The boarding house of Mrs. D. A. Healey, on South st., had a narrow escape from being burned Sunday night, and none of the eleven occupants in it knew anything of the affair until after they arose Monday morning. It is the custom to leave a handle lamp on a small table in one of the dining rooms every night, as it is usually late when some of the boarders get in. When Mrs. Healey entered the room Monday morning she was started at the sight that met her eyes. The lamp had exploded some time during the night. The spread on the table was burned to cinders, the table was partly gone, a folding bed near by badly burned, the cane seats in two chairs at a table adjoining the one on which the lamp stood were completely burned out the white table cloth on the table was burned to a crisp and several glasses on it were melted.
The ceiling of the room was black with smoke, and so was that in...
The loss is estimated at $60,000; insurance, $40,000. About $20,000 worth of goods manufactured or in the process of manufacture were destroyed. The company has frequently had 300 employes on its payroll, though less than half of that number were employed in the mill, the other doing piece work at their homes. Many families in Bennington, North Bennington and White Creek obtained a living in that way. The origin of the fire is unknown.
The company was organized six years ago and had been very successful. The principal stockholders are Milo C. Huling and his son Floyd. The mill will probably be...
BENNINGTON, Vt., May 30. - A driving rainstorm that obscured the view of an automobile driver and an electric car motorman to-day caused a collision, in which Henry L. Knapp, 40 years of age, a local saloon keeper, who was in the automobile, was killed, and his companion, Miss Kate McGuire, 38 years old, a cousin of Knapp, and William Newton, a local garage keeper, and owner and driver of the machine, were seriously injured and may die.
The accident happened at an electric railway crossing opposite the Vermont Soldiers' Home. The automobile party were returning from Troy, N. Y., while the electric car was going in the opposite direction, bound from Bennington to Hoosic Falls, N. Y.
The automobile was smashed to pieces. The trolley car and its passengers were unharmed.
The milk train was an hour late. It had the right of way and was running at a good speed. The passenger train, having just left the station here, had not gained much headway. Nearly all of the passengers in the partly filled coaches were more or less injured. The milk train carried a passenger coach in the rear, but its occupants, with two exceptions, escaped with a slight shaking up.
The railroad officials at Rutland say the blame for the wreck probably rests on the crew of the local as the milk train had the right of way.
The dead are:
Archie Gokay, 30 years, Rutland, engineer of the passenger train.
Dean Densmore, 23 years,...
Goldsboro and Mocklei left the Buffalo, N. Y., airport in the morning. Mocklei reported the plane crashed into a tree in the wooded mountain lands west of Bennington at about noon.
Mocklei, footsore and suffering exposure and minor injuries, said he had made his way to the town after he had been unable to extricate Goldsboro from the plane wreckage. Goldsboro was still alive when Mocklei left for help.
For five hours Mocklei wandered in the woods, finally making his way to a farmhouse, where he was given transportation to Bennington.
An hour later, a posse of rescuers, accompanied by a doctor, nurse and ambulance, had left Bennington for the...
Bennington Museum: Explore the town's history and art at the Bennington Museum. It houses an impressive collection of American art, including works by Grandma Moses, and exhibits on regional history.
Robert Frost Stone House Museum: Fans of poetry and literature should visit the Robert Frost Stone House Museum. The famous poet lived here from 1920 to 1929. You can tour the house and its beautiful surroundings.
Old First Church: This historic church dates back to 1806 and features stunning Federal-style architecture. It's a great spot for history enthusiasts and those interested in architectural beauty.
Silk Road Bridge: Take a walk or drive across the Silk Road Bridge, which is not only functional but ...
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