USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Bennington > Historical sketch of buildings now or once located in the village on the hill at Bennington, Vermont, formerly known as Bennington Center, and now called Old Bennington > Part 2
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HOUSES ON SIDE STREETS
West Road, called Mt. Anthony St., from Walloomsac Inn West. South Side of West Road.
111-Katherine J. Hubbell House.
2-story wood, erected in 1816, by Samuel Scott. Oc- cupied for many years by Albert C. Hubbell, now owned and occupied by his sister, Miss Katherine J. Hubbell.
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
112-Conkling Gate-house.
1-1/2-story stone, built by D. Hubbell Conkling. Conkling mansion on the hill to the southwest built of stone in 1864 by D. Hubbell Conkling. Burned. Re- built by Mrs. Hope Conkling Colgate (Mrs. James C.).
113-Reuben Wickwire Home.
Double 2-story house of wood, very old. Torn down by Elbridge Brown and rebuilt as wagon shed on prop- erty of Jonathan Richmond.
114-Farmhouse.
2-story wood. Owned by Daniel Robinson estate. Occupied for many years by Nelson Comstock, John McMahon, and James Cone. Now owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Jennings Martin.
115-Daniel Robinson Home.
Built of stone by General Edwin R. Yale. Sold to Daniel Robinson. Now owned by his granddaughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin.
116-Elijah Dewey Hubbell Home. 1827266
Large 2-story house of wood, now owned by James C. Colgate.
117-Farmhouse.
Remodeled barn, 2-story wood, near Dewey Hubbell house, owned by J. C. Colgate.
118-Brigham House.
2-story wood, built for Miss Ada Brigham by J. C. Colgate.
119-Brettell Home.
2-story wood owned by J. C. Colgate.
120-Mrs. Alice Welles House.
2-story wood, owned by Oliver Ayers, then by George Harwood, later by Randol Roberts, now by his daugh- ter, Mrs. Welles.
121-James Seymour Merrill House.
2-story wood, built by Hiland Hall. Torn down.
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
122-Carter Hall House.
2-story wood. Occupied for years by Rev. Dr. Ed- ward Hooker, later by Marshall Carter Hall, now owned by Mrs. Samuel B. Hall Estate.
123-Seminary Property.
School, 2-1/2-story wood, built by Deacon Stephen Hinsdell in 1825, operated for many years by Rev. James Ballard, Rev. Gordon Hayes and Prof. George W. Yates. Built over into house.
124-Boarding House.
3-story wood. Torn down.
125-Yates Cottage.
2-story wood, built and occupied by Mrs. James (Betsey) Street and daughters. (All owned by J. C. Colgate 1923) .
**
126-John Vanderspiegel Home.
Old, 2-1/2-story, wood, with gambrel roof. Torn ..
down.
127-Guy B. Johnson Home. 2-story wood, owned by his widow.
128-Miss Helen Johnson House.
2-story wood, built by C. R. Sanford.
129-District School No. 19.
Built of brick. Burned. Rebuilt of wood.
130-Ogden Cottage.
1-1/2-story wood. Built by James (Honey) Ogden. Occupied for many years by Mrs. P. Welch. Removed to lands of P. B. Jennings as home of Mrs. Elsie Ketchum. Now owned by Mr. Jennings.
131-Old Ogden House.
2-story wood. Lower floor occupied for many years by Chas. Kennon. Upper floor used by Caleb S. Poole as harness shop. Moved to lands of Riley Harring- ton. Now owned by George Hummer.
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
132-Ogden Barn.
2-story wood. Original High Pulpit of present Old First Church was stored for years on second floor. Torn down.
NORTH SIDE OF WEST ROAD
133-Aaron Hubbell House. "The Hubbell Homestead."
2-story wood. Built in 1768-9 by Deacon John Wood. Purchased in 1780 by Captain Elijah Dewey and given as a wedding present to his daughter Sarah upon her marriage to Lieutenant Aaron Hubbell. Now owned by Robert L. Hubbell.
134-Second Home of Deacon John Wood.
2-story wood. Built in 1780. Stood northeast of corner of so-called "cross-road" and near Boughton stone quarry. Torn down.
135-Phillip B. Jennings Farmhouse. 2-story wood.
136-Phillip B. Jennings Mansion. 2-1/2-story wood.
137-Office of Judge Pierpont Isham.
1-story wood, now a part of John Spargo house.
138-Pierpont Isham Home.
2-1/2-story wood. in 1800 by Rev. David Avery. Later owned by Judge Isham, then by Thomas R. Sexton, lastly by P. B. Jennings. Burned.
139-Governor Isaac Tichenor House.
2-story wood, very old. Owned later by George Lyman, whose second wife was a niece of Governor Tichenor, then by Deacon Lyman's daughter, Mrs. Ezra W. Boughton. Sold by the Boughton Estate to Leonard Outhwaite, the present owner, who is a step-son of P. B. Jennings.
4
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
ROAD RUNNING WEST FROM MONUMENT, AND CALLED WALLOOMSAC STREET
(Commencing at Henry Scott House, Northside)
140-Henry Scott House.
2-story wood, built in 1767. Colonel Martin Scott was born there. He was the original of the story, "I'm a gone coon." Occupied by family until 1916. (149 years). Since death of Miss Ellen Scott owned by J. C. Colgate.
141-Hiram Scott House. (Brother of Henry).
2-story wood. Later owned by Patrick Casey, Mrs. Richard Casey, now by Carl White.
142-John Madden Dwelling.
1-1/2-story wood.
143-John Burke Dwelling.
1-1/2-story wood.
144-Mrs. Merchant Dwelling.
2-1/2-story brick, built by Isaac T. Robinson. Oc- cupied by William Caldwell, then by Wm. Corbiere. Sold in 1880 to Mrs. Chas. Merchant. Torn down in 1923. Premises owned by Mrs. James Eddy.
145-Isaac T. Robinson Home.
2-story wood. Owned later by his son, Daniel Rob- inson, then by Miss Lulu Robinson, now by Mr. Robert Parmalee.
146-Jason Stearns Home.
1-1/2-story wood, originally barn of Nathan Robin- son. Made over into house by Benj. R. Sears. Later owned by Edmund Robinson, then by his daughter, Mrs. Kate Shaw, now by Mr. Wilson of Williamstown, Massachusetts, and used as restaurant under name of Wentworth Arms.
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
WALLOOMSAC STREET, SOUTH SIDE
147-John Cone Home. 2-story wood.
148-John Jepson Home. 2-story wood.
149-Uel Hicks Dwelling.
2-story wood. Burned. Rebuilt south of site by Howard Shields.
150-Captain Hawks Home.
2-story wood. Built by General Henry Robinson. Owned later by Ira Hawks, then by John A. Robinson, then by John V. D. S. Merrill, now by Miss Lulu Rob- inson.
151-Boardman House.
2-story wood. Built by Dr. L. P. Williams, owned successively by Dr. F. T. Gilbert, James Boardman, Jason Stearns, James Pickett, Mrs. Mary Fox, James Doyle, Mrs. John Delevan, Collins Graves, Mrs. Wm. Graves, Mrs. D. L. Boardman, now by Mrs. Henry Boardman.
152-Poole Homestead.
1-1/2-story wood. Built in 1806 by Jacob and Zeruah Poole, of South Abington, Massachusetts. Later owned by Caleb Strong Poole, then by his widow, Jane Terbush Poole, then by his daughter, Katherine H. Poole, now by his grandson, Richard S. Bayhan, Cleve- land, Ohio, compiler of this book. Occupied by Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Haff, cousins of the owner.
153-Jason Stearns Shoe Shop.
1-1/2-story wood. Built and occupied by Mr. Stearns. Later used as house by Seaton and Whittaker families. Torn down by John H. Bahan.
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
ROAD RUNNING NORTHWEST FROM SIBLEY-MER- CHANT CORNER, AT WALLOOMSAC ST., EAST SIDE
154-Vail Homestead.
Old 2-story wood. Built in Revolutionary Times, owned for many years by Deacon John Vail, later by Barker Vail, now by his children.
155-Brann Home.
1-1/2-story wood. Owned by Patrick Brann and John Madden, later by Fred Mattison. Burned.
156-Miles Burke House.
1-1/2-story wood. Burned.
157-Martin Craven House.
1-1/2-story wood. Owned now by his children.
158-Nathanael Noyes House.
2-story wood. Owned later by Daniel Russell. Burned.
159-Quackenbush Gate-house.
1-1/2-story stone. Occupied for several years by Harry Goddeau.
160-George Quackenbush Mansion.
3-story wood. Now owned by Samuel J. Keyes, Jr. Operated as hotel and called the new Catamount Tav- ern.
161-Deacon John F. Robinson Home.
2-1/2-story wood. Later owned by Samuel L. Robin- son, then by John T. McRoy, now by Judge Orion M. Barber.
NORTHWEST ROAD, WEST SIDE
162-Mattison House.
2-story wood. Built by Fred Mattison. Later owned by Fred Baker, now by Walter H. Plumb. (John H. Bahan died there in August, 1908.)
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
163-Prentice Home.
2-story wood. Built by Asher Prentice. Owned later by Patrick Cone, then by John Cone, now by Nick Cone.
164-Samuel Fay House.
1-1/2-story wood. Built by Benj. Fay, son of Land- lord Fay of the Catamount Tavern. Owned later by Samuel Fay, then by Norman F. Crosier. Torn down.
165-Martin Murphy Home.
2-story wood. Owned for many years by Murphy family, then by George Quackenbush, now by John Baker.
166-Zimri Haswell House.
1-1/2-story wood. Owned later by Hugh Kelly, and now by his children.
167-Tarrant Sibley Home. 2-1/2-story wood. Burned, rebuilt, now owned by Mrs. James Eddy.
168-Tarrant Sibley Law Office. 1-story brick. Torn down.
BANK HILL, NEAR ACADEMY
169-Charles Dunn Home.
1-1/2-story wood. Built by Uel M. Robinson. Oc- cupied for many years by Mr. Dunn. Torn down. Re- built of wood by Charles Squier. Occupied by Mr. Curtin.
CATAMOUNT LANE
170-Miss May Clark House, 2-story wood residence.
171-Dr. John Gordon Wilson, 2-story wood residence.
172-John Cushman, 2-story wood residence.
173-Commodore Field Home. Now owned by Mrs. John Harper of New York.
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
174-2-story square brick house, formerly home of Catholic Priest.
175-Old Catholic Church. Built of flint stone. Now being remodeled into Historical museum.
CHURCH HILL
176-2-story wooden house, built by Huling Blackmer, now owned by S. H. Blackmer.
ELM STREET (Leading from McCarthy Home to Bennington)
177-Warren A. Leonard 2-story wood residence. 178-Miss Ada Brigham 2-story wood residence.
179-Original "Old First Church", built of wood in 1762-3. Located "On the Green" between Walloomsac Inn and Cemetery. Torn down in 1807. The site is now marked by a Granite Monument.
180-Mention should be made also of 3-story brick house of Governor Moses Robinson where Country Club House now stands. Torn down and rebuilt of wood. Owned for many years by Dr. Frederick G. Clark. Sold to Golf Club.
181-Also of brick home of Mrs. Esther Safford Robinson on North Bennington Road, northwest of Crosier Place. Later owned by James Silk. Burned. Rebuilt of brick. Now owned by Frank A. Eaton.
182-Further, of the Dimmick Tavern commonly known as the "Dimmick Stand", located on the road to Hoosac Corners, about half-way between Bennington and the New York State Line. The Tavern was a stopping place for the stage coaches of early days.
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
183-Finally, of the Harmon Inn, a relic of Revolutionary days, located about one and one-half miles northwest of Bennington. The building collapsed a few years ago.
The compiler wishes to thank the people of riper years whose work he has sought to perpetuate. Cov- ering 1761-1927 is a large contract.
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
Richard S. Bayhan
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
CENTENNIAL OF 1877 RECALLED BY R. S. BAYHAN
Writer Says Changes in Town Are Almost Unbelievable
DESCRIBES CENTER
Village Had Two Schools and a Seminary for Boys, and But Four Stores
NO WATER SYSTEM
Kerosene Lamps and Candles Gave Light and Horses Were Means of Travel
Richard S. Bayhan, now of Cleveland, Ohio, one of Ben- nington's oldtimers and who was familiarly known as Dick Bayhan in the old days, has consented to write an article for the Banner on the subject, 'Bennington-on-the-Hill Fifty- Years-Ago.' Mr. Bayhan has completed his article which is printed below and is of interest not only to those who recall some of the events of which the author speaks, but to those of the younger generation who are interested in early Benning- ton. Mr. Bayhan is spending his summer vacation here.
The article follows :
To one whose memory goes back to 1877, the changes have been so sweeping that I can hardly feel, that I am visit- ing the same village. The modern improvements have made a tremendous change. On the summit of the hill, where the monument now stands, the State Highway ran to the steep North Hill, down which we youngsters used to coast on our double-runners clear through the old red bridge, which we had previously "snowed" over. One can hardly realize today, with the small winter population of "Town Hill" that a crowd of one hundred boys and girls was no unusual occurrence at a "sliding party."
On the west side of the street we passed the homes of Elisha Kennon, the Fassett house, the Merrill home, and the State Arms house. Across the street stood the Patchin house and store, the Huling house and the homes of Samuel Chase, Benjamin R. Sears, John H. Bahan, H. L. Stillson, James
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
Bahan and Michael Martin. The last house still remains. Some of the others were burned, the balance torn down when the monument was built.
There were very few summer residents when the 1877 Centennial occurred. Nearly all the people lived at Benning- ton Center, all the year round. Two large district schools were maintained, No. 3 in the Academy, presided over by Miss Kate Griffin, and No. 19 by Miss Harriet Dunham. No 19, a brick building opposite the Tichenor place, was de- stroyed by fire and rebuilt from wood. A short distance be- yond stood the Mt. Anthony Seminary, a boarding school for boys, Prof. George W. Yates being the splendid and efficient principal. The professor conducted Sunday school music at the Old First church, his daughter, Miss Lillie Yates, ably presided at the organ, while the "Seminary boys" sang till the old church rang and echoed with such wonderful Sunday school music as I have never heard since.
Rev. Isaac Jennings was the beloved pastor of the old church. A large congregation was present every Sunday. The choir of about 30 voices was led by the organist, Mrs. Samuel L. Robinson or as we knew her, "Mrs. Maggie Robin- son." The beautiful, devotional music had a reputation that extended hundreds of miles away. Father O'Dwyer was the honored pastor of the Catholic church, at the old stone build- ing, now the museum.
There were four general stores, the Patchin store on the summit of the hill, another kept by Charles R. Sanford; Mr. Sanford was Postmaster for many years, also conducted a fur- niture and undertaking establishment, his store being located near the Walloomsac Inn.
A third store stood across the corner from the "Old Church" and was operated by Mr. Martin K. Scott, a kindly gentleman of the old school. The fourth store was owned by Deacon Samuel Chandler and is still ably managed by William Miller.
In those old days, there was no water system on the hill, wells and cistern being the available sources of water. I yield to no one in my admiration of the wonderful water sys- tem made possible by Henry W. Putnam, but many a time on a hot day I long to stand by the "old Fassett well" on "Town
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
Hill" and drop the bucket 60 feet through the living rock, to return filled with the "hard water" with which the hill abounded. We had no electric lights in those days, kerosene lamps and candles being the light givers.
I remember when mother had one lamp for "company," tallow candles giving us our regular lights. It fell to me to put the rods through the wicks in the candle molds, and then to pull them through and tie them at the bottom while mother melted and poured the tallow.
Horses, carriages, wagons and sleighs were our means of travel. On Sunday the old church horse sheds were filled with teams driven by people who came a long distance to church.
In the homes, stoves were rapidly displacing the fire- places and brick ovens, although I remember on the days when pigs were killed, that grandmother heated the water in the fire place and baked in the brick oven. The whole hill seemed like one big family, everyone was friendly with everyone else. Somehow the old horse and wagon made friendship while the automobile often typifies selfishness. Most of the get-togeth- er parties are gone. The husking bees, when we hung old tin lanterns in the barn and lunched on mince pie, pumpkin pie and sweet cider, brought a crowd of happy folks on the scene for an evening of rare enjoyment. The hustle of today, the covering of great distances in a short time, tends to break the community into small groups.
In 1877 there were no telephones, so our grandmothers put on their sunbonnets and with a basket in each hand trudged to the store and brought home all the necessary ar- ticles. Bread, pie or cake was rarely bought at a store, each house-wife doing her own baking, and canning of fruit and vegetables. The ladies still wore enormous hoop-skirts and had to tip up side ways to get through the doors. The men wore full beards, side-boards or moustaches. A smooth faced man was a rare sight.
Some of our old settlers were full of fun, practical jokers in many ways. The chief among them was Hiram Waters, whom we called "Uncle Hi." No one was every angry with him as he was so good-natured. Well do I remember when he tied a bunch of fire-crackers to the tail of an old horse and let
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Historical Sketch of Buildings
him run down the street on August 16th. When remonstrated with he said, "Jest celebratin', that's all." A very odd char- acter was "Jimmy Darby" who never spoke to anyone, but slept in my father's barn and was fed by the kind-hearted women of the Hill.
As the year 1877 came the people began to grow excited over the Centennial, which was to come in August. Inspired by the big one at Philadelphia in 1876, the people of Benning- ton decided to have one worth while. And they did. Pres- ident Hayes, who was present, said it was "A quart celebra- tion in a pint town."
The "big show" was on the land nearly opposite the Chandler store. The usual exhibits, concerts, parades, etc., were given with great patronage. President Hayes held a re- ception, and one man, (a famous character in those days) went in seven times and was introduced to the President un- der a different name each time. On Sunday a great Union Service was held in the Old First Church at four o'clock. A large choir sang many beautiful old hymns. The pulpit was filled with ministers, several of whom made short addresses. One elderly pastor became somewhat mixed in his remarks. He intended to say, "I am the oldest minister here, who was born in Vermont," instead of which he said, "I am the oldest man ever born in Vermont," then stared in bewilderment as the congregation laughed out loud.
All the old Benningtonians came home in 1877 to partici- pate. Great anticipations of the coming Battle Monument were in the air. Ten years later the writer saw the laying of the cornerstone, Aug. 16, 1887. Today the children and grandchildren of the people of 1877 are honoring their mem- ories and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the battle. May the spirit of John Stark and his brave men be with us, may we be inspired by the memories of their lives and deeds, and when the 200th anniversary dawns in 1977, we may rest assured, that although many of us in middle life will have passed on, there will still be the thrill that must come to every one born in Bennington as we remember that the Battle of Bennington was the turning point of the war, and that from August 16, 1777, the United States of America was an as- sured fact.
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in Old Bennington, Vermont
"And once where stood the storehouse,
There rises grand and high,
The rugged Battle monument, straight pointing to the sky. Its rough, grim shaft suggesting,
The men of '77 Who fought with Stark, the hero,
Till victory was given.
And may we ever cherish, the memory of that day,
When forth to win or perish, they marched from home away. May Bennington to Liberty, be ever found a friend,
May peace and may prosperity attend her to the end."
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Historical Sketch of Old Bennington
THE SESQUI-CENTENNIAL August 13-16, 1927
100,000 people came and went during the period. It was a triumphant success like all of Bennington's great history. Kind Providence gave us fine weather. The beautiful Pag- eant given several times, near Gipsy Lane, was greatly en- joyed.
On Sunday morning early, a vast crowd assembled on and near the monument grounds, to participate in a beautiful, sacred, open-air service. We thrilled as we listened to the grand old hymns and felt that the famous Bennington singers of other days were with us in spirit.
Monday a fine procession of school children marched to the old Hill, and a marker, to indicate the first school, was dedicated. Various other markers were placed during the day.
Tuesday, the great day, we shall never forget. The mag- nificent parade to the monument, where many Governors or their representatives were present, the splendid addresses, the wonderful decorations, all, all, was perfect. And I thought of the long years gone by, of the four Governors and great sol- diers of the Revolution who sleep in the Old Cemetery near the White Church. Again my mind dwelt on the great men who have visited the Village, how Jefferson and Madison both came one Sunday and attended Church, then Pres. Hayes at the Centennial of 1877, Benjamin Harrison at the monument dedication in 1891. Then of the visit of Woodrow Wilson who came as a small boy, when his father preached one Sunday in the old Church. And I know that in future years many great people will stand near the site of the Continental Store House and say, "Thank God for Bennington."
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