Old Bennington in Bennington County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Vermont's Colonial Shrine
Vermont Legislature Joint Resolution December 11, 1935
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 20, 2010
1. Vermont's Colonial Shrine Marker
Inscription.
Vermont's Colonial Shrine. Vermont Legislature Joint Resolution December 11, 1935. Whereas, the Old First Church of Bennington was organized December 3, 1762, and is the Oldest Church within the present limits of Vermont; and, Whereas, our forefathers met in Prayer in the First Meeting House for assistance against the oppressive measures of New York and the overwhelming power of King George, and to the First Meeting House returned from the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the Battle of Bennington, the surrender of Burgoyne to offer up their Thanksgiving; and, Whereas, in the first Meeting House of Bennington the Legislature of Vermont met on eight separate occasions, and the laws for carrying on the Government of this sovereign state were enacted at the Meeting House on February 11, 1779; and the convention, consisting of one Delegate from each Town, Held in Bennington on January 10, 1791, ratified the Constitution of the United States by the signatures of 105 out of 109 Delegates, thereby preparing the way for the admission of Vermont into the Union as the first state after the Original Thirteen; and, Whereas, the burial ground, surrounding the aforementioned church structure is the first and oldest cemetery in the state, where lie the remains of five Governors of Vermont, seventy-five Revolutionary Soldiers, the author of Vermont's Declaration of Independence, the founder of the Vermont Gazette, the Patriots who fell at the Battle of Bennington, The Hessian prisoners who died of their wounds in the First Meeting House converted into a temporary hospital, together with scores of others who labored for the stability and prosperity of Vermont; now, therefore, be it, Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: , That the aforesaid Bennington Center Cemetery and the aforementioned First Church Building are hereby Declared to be Vermont's Colonial Shrine for the preservation of the sacred memories and traditions of Colonial Days, in order that our children's children may cherish the great deeds of our fathers and build on the foundations laid by them the commonwealth of the future.,
Whereas, the Old First Church of Bennington was
organized December 3, 1762, and is the Oldest Church
within the present limits of Vermont; and
Whereas, our forefathers met in Prayer in the First
Meeting House for assistance against the oppressive
measures of New York and the overwhelming power of
King George, and to the First Meeting House returned
from the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the Battle of
Bennington, the surrender of Burgoyne to offer up
their Thanksgiving; and
Whereas, in the first Meeting House of Bennington
the Legislature of Vermont met on eight separate
occasions, and the laws for carrying on the Government of this sovereign state were enacted at the Meeting House on February 11, 1779; and the convention, consisting of one Delegate from each Town, Held in Bennington on January 10, 1791, ratified the Constitution of the United States by the signatures of 105 out of 109 Delegates, thereby preparing the way for the admission of Vermont into the Union as the first state after the Original Thirteen; and
Whereas, the burial ground, surrounding the aforementioned church structure is the first and oldest
cemetery in the state, where lie the remains of five
Governors of Vermont, seventy-five Revolutionary
Soldiers, the author of Vermont's Declaration of
Independence, the founder
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of the Vermont Gazette,
the Patriots who fell at the Battle of Bennington,
The Hessian prisoners who died of their wounds in the
First Meeting House converted into a temporary
hospital, together with scores of others who labored
for the stability and prosperity of Vermont; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the aforesaid Bennington Center Cemetery
and the aforementioned First Church Building are
hereby Declared to be Vermont's Colonial Shrine for
the preservation of the sacred memories and traditions
of Colonial Days, in order that our children's children may cherish the great deeds of our fathers and build on the foundations laid by them the commonwealth of the future.
Location. 42° 53.01′ N, 73° 12.772′ W. Marker is in Bennington, Vermont, in Bennington County. It is in Old Bennington. Marker can be reached from Monument Ave., on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bennington VT 05201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 20, 2010
More about this marker. The church building is across the green from, and easily seen from Vermont Rt. 9 (West Main Street). The Marker is mounted on the north side of the church, which faces the adjacent cemetery which is know as "Vermont's Sacred Acre."
Regarding Vermont's Colonial Shrine. Build Dates: from June 25, 1804 to January 1, 1806. Architect: Lavius Fillmore. Church founded 1762; affiliated with Congregational Church 1832; first meeting-house erected 1766; moved to new site in 1806. Reverend Jedidiah Dewey, first pastor. Ethan Allen, Revolutionary patriot, attended church here. Reverend Vincent Ravi-Booth, pastor of church 19-19-1944, was founder of Bennington College, and also was responsible for restoration of the church in 1936-37.
The
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 4, 2009
3. Vermont's Colonial Shrine Marker
The marker is on the side of the church, seen between the fence posts.
First Congregational Church of Bennington, Vermont is currently associated with the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. This building has been documented in the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record as the First Congregational Church, Monument Avenue, on Bennington Green at State Route 9 in "Old Bennington", Bennington, Bennington County, VT also know as The Old First Church.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 4, 2009
4. Vermont's Colonial Shrine
The First Congregational Church of Bennington, Vermont.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 24, 2008
5. Vermont's Colonial Shrine in Autumn
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 4, 2009
6. Vermont's Colonial Shrine
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 24, 2008
7. Vermont's Colonial Shrine
This informative sign is on the front of the church which faces Monument Ave.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, February 4, 2009
8. Vermont's Colonial Shrine - Front Detail
Frame with clapboard and corner quioins, three-bay front x five bays, two stories with three-stage tower over projecting center bay. Fine example of early-19th C. New England church. Built 1804-05; altered 1849, 1851, 1964, restored 1936-37. Lavius Fillmore, designer; Dennison Hall, restoration architect.
Photographed By Habs/haer, 1940
9. Vermont's Colonial Shrine
This building has been documented in the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record as the First Congregational Church, Monument Avenue, on Bennington Green at State Route 9 in "Old Bennington", Bennington, Bennington County, VT also know as The Old First Church.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 24, 2008
10. Robert Frost, 1958 Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress
Robert Frost's remains are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. Although he was not a member of the church, he read his poem, The Black Cottage, at the rededication of the church building in 1937, after its restoration to the original interior design. At that time, the state legislature designated the church as "Vermont's Colonial Shrine" and the cemetery, "Vermont's Sacred Acre." Frost bought two lots in 1940 for a family burial place.
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 24, 2008
11. Robert Lee Frost
"I Had a Lover's Quarrel With the World."
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, October 24, 2008
12. View from the Robert Frost Grave
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 1,433 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on March 6, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.