2009 ethan allen days - colonial fair

Ethan Allen Days

Colonial FairJune 20 & 21, 2009

Colgate Park • Route 9, Bennington,Vermont

Vermont News Guide •TriState Pennysaver News

COMPLIMENTARY

Homemade Fudge • Maple Creamees From our Bakery... Fresh Fruit Pies, Breads, Muffins & Cookies!

We Offer a Great Selection of Pottery, Seeds, Potting Soil,

Manure, Peat Moss & Mulches

A full line of Produce, Our own Maple Syrup, Pancake Mix, Jams,

Jellies, Apples & Sweet Cider

Farmer’s Choice of Vegetable Plants

Routes 11/30 • Manchester Center, VT • 802-362-3083Route 30 • Newfane, Vermont • 802-365-4168

Route 9 West • Brattleboro, Vermont • 802-254-0254

Hanging Baskets • Annuals • Perennials

Asparagus • Scallions • Lettuce • Peas

2009 Ethan Allen Days A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication 3

Saturday6 a.m. - Reveille

10 a.m. – Camps open to public

11 a.m. – Mistress Davenport’s School in session

12:30 p.m. – Young Patriots Call to Arms

1:30 p.m. – Troops muster & safety inspection

2:00 p.m. – Battle reenactment

5:00 p.m. – Camps close to public

Sunday

10 a.m. – Camps open

10:30 a.m. – Ecumenical services

Noon – Young Patriots call to Arms12:30 p.m. – Troops muster & safety inspection

1:00 p.m. – Battle reenactment

3:00 p.m. – Troops begin to break camp

Ongoing throughout the day: reenactors

in period dress, crafts & cooking, military drills & artillery demonstrations

Welcome to 18th Century Life in a Military CampBrought to you by the 25th Massachusetts Regiment and the Living History Association

Photos courtesy Lee Krohn

Ethan Allen Days

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A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication

Susan Coons, cover & page designSusan Coons, Editor

TriState Pennysaver News109 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201

802-447-3381

Vermont News Guide99 Bonnet Street, Manchester, VT 05254

802-362-3535

Renee Tassone, General Manager

4 A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication 2009 Ethan Allen Days

Stephen Fay migrated to Bennington from Hardwick, Mass., and built the Green Mountain Inn during the year of 1766. Stephen was a prominent and influential citi-zen and showed a great capacity for business.

Stephen Fay was a leading spirit and exer-cised a powerful influence in the long contest with New York and also during the period of the Revolutionary War. He was often referred to as “Landlord Fay”.

His Inn quickly became the meeting place of those who opposed the intrusion of New York State on the New Hampshire Grants. A Catamount (rare mountain lion) was slain and stuffed by a farmer nearby. Several rowdy patrons of the Inn raised the stuffed carcass high on the Green Mountain Inn sign, facing it west toward New York, in defiance of any who would intrude.

The Tavern was soon home to Ethan Allen. The Bennington settlers asked Allen to defend their rights in the Albany courts. Governor Tryon of New York state soon put out an award of 50 pounds for the capture of Allen and any of his captains of the “Bennington Mob” where he planned and directed, along with his Green Mountain Boys, the suc-cessful expedition to Fort Ticonderoga.

Several of the united Councils of Safety met at the Tavern discussing battle strategies. Over the mantel in the council chamber were carved

the words “Council Room”. A council of war was held at the Catamount Tavern by General John W. Stark on August 13, 1777, when plans were made to go out and meet the Hessians. This was one of the most critical battles in the Revolutionary War. Burgoyne was headed for the stores in Bennington in order to replenish his troops with food stuffs and other ameni-ties as well as ammunition. His plan was then to go on to Saratoga after a brief respite.

The battle raged and by the second engage-ment, the British cannon was taken as well as several hundred prisoners. They were bound two by two and taken to the First Church. As they passed by the Catamount Tavern, Landlord Fay, who lost his son, John on August 16, in the Battle of Bennington, stepped out and greeted the prisoners with a gracious bow, and told them that their dinner, which Colonel Baum, now defeated, had ordered by messenger for them the day before, was ready!

The meals were prepared and the prisoners were served at the Dewey House, which is now known as the Walloomsac Inn.

John Fay served with the second Bennington company of militia, which later became part of Colonel Samuel Herrick’s Vermont Regiment of state militia. He is buried at the Old First Church Cemetery.

The Catamount Tavern burned down in 1871 and was never rebuilt.

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The Dewey House, often called the Dewey Tavern and now known as the Walloomsac Inn, was built c. 1764 by Captain Elijah Dewey and his father, Rev. Jedediah Dewey, pastor of the Old First Church, just across the road. The home was built large in order to accommodate paying guests who would then join the family at the dinner table. By the mid 1770s, it was licensed to sell “spiritous liquors”. The tavern attracted many Revolutionary War heroes such as General Ethan Allen, General John Stark and Colonel Seth Warner. The woodshed behind the Inn housed several hundred British soldiers during the Battle of Bennington. It is said they tried to set fire to the shed in order to escape.

The Dewey House and the Catamount Tavern traded off sessions of the newly formed Vermont Legislature.

After a succession of several owners, Walter Berry purchased the Inn in 1991 and changed the name to Walloomsac Inn. Berry ran the inn as an essential center during the stagecoach heyday. Travelers would stop at the inn for lunch and be on their way!

The Walloomsac has been serving guests as a Bed and Breakfast establishment until perhaps the past 15 or 16 years. They were forced to stop due to the challenge of meeting state codes. Old Bennington zoning now forbids commercial use in the area, and would have to change in order for it to become an inn again. It would seem, to this

writer, that it would behoove the Town Fathers to rethink their stand regarding this stately structure so steeped in the history of the founding of our country. I can name many historic towns in New England and New York that find a way to allow their precious landmark buildings continue to function.

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591 Richville Rd.Manchester Ctr, VT 05255

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CRAFT/ SKILLS TENTSaturday, June 2010:30-11:25 Norma Peebles : “The Amazing Herb” Herbs for eating, for jelly, for ills, for tea...and more. 11:30-12:25 Jim White & Mike White: “Ethan and I both heated our homes with the same fuel.” What I’ve learned in 40 years about burning wood. 12:30-1:30 James Dassati: “Take Notice!” A program presented in period attire which shows the equipment of a colonial soldier and many of the mannerisms of the time.2:30-3:25 Peter Sansone: “Scrimshaw” One way to fill the little free time in a settler’s life.3:30-4:30 Charles Gray: “The Art of Making Leather Moccasins”. Learn the history of choosing hides, tanning, and using leather.Sunday, June 2110:30-11:25 Sadelle Wiltshire: “Spinning Strands Into Gold” Spindle and wheel spinning.11:30-12:30 Jeanne Davis: “Sweet As Honey - Then and Now”. Compare a colonial hive with a modern one. Watch a live hive. Uses for bees and their honey. A chance to buy a bit of combed honey.2:30-3:25 Tabitha Aldrich: “A Flair for Writing - with Quill and Ink” How did colo-nists make ink? Try to make a quill pen. 3:30-4:30 James Dassati: “Take Notice!” A program presented in period attire which shows the equipment of a colonial soldier and many of the mannerisms of the time.

HISTORICAL SPEAKERS TENTSaturday, June 2010:30- 11:25 Vincent Feeney: “Mad Matt, the Democrat” Matthew Lyon was one of the most colorful characters in Vermont’s early history. 11:30-12:25 Richard Smith: “Revolutionary War Events and Sites in Bennington” A description of Ethan Allen’s 1775 march to Fort Ticonderoga from Bennington and the 1777 events in Bennington involving the Battle — the prelude to Saratoga. Specific sites are described and a free self-guided tour map will be handed out.12:30-1:30 Raymond Rodrigues: “Ethan Allen — Living on the Edge” Leader? Traitor? Atheist? Plagiarist?

2:30-3:30 Vincent Feeney: “The Allen Brothers: Original Vermont Developers” Early real estate development, the grants system, how the Allens acquired thousands of Vermont acres with little cash and how it crashed.Sunday, June 2110:30-11:25 Richard Smith: “Revolutionary War Events and Sites in Bennington” Ethan Allen’s 1775 march to Fort Ticonderoga and the 1777 events in Bennington. Specific sites will be described and a free self-guided tour map will be handed out.11:30-12:30 Raymond Rodrigues: “Ethan Allen - Living on the Edge” Leader? Traitor? Atheist? Plagiarist?2:30-3:30 Tyler Resch: “Anthony Haswell is Jailed!” Haswell, a local printer, postmas-ter and publisher of Bennington’s “Vermont Gazette”, challenged the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts by supporting Matthew Lyon. Come to know these men and their impor-tance to Freedom of the Press.

COLONIAL MUSIC TENTSaturday, June 2011:30-12:30 Rustan Svenson: “Fifes and Drums” Find out the history behind the Fifes and Drums and the part they played in colonial warfare.3:30-4:30 Thomas Hanford: “In the Good Old Colony Days” Songs of Trades, Professions, Courtship and Children of the thirteen colonies (and VT) For family audi-ences.Sunday, June 2110:30-11:25 Matthew Christian: “Irish-American Fiddling” Hear lively fiddling and learn how the Irish-American tradition has contributed to colonial music.11:30-12:30 Burt Porter: “The British Ballad Tradition in New England” A program of Vermont ballads with a commentary on the history and art of balladry. Singing accom-panied with fiddle and mandolin.2:30-3:30 Burt Potter: “New England Fiddle Music” Jigs, hornpipes, clogs, etc. An explanation of the definite characteristics of the music, illustrated with lively fiddling and a discussion of the geographic, economic and cultural factors that have shaped it.

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ReenactorsVolunteers

Vendors

GENERAL ADMISSION — ROUTE 9 — EMERGENCY EXIT

HubbellHomestead

Battle Site Encampment

PrivateProperty

Parking

RestaurantRow

Children’s Activities

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Start at the Monument (site of the Storehouse). From the statue of Seth Warner, drive south down Monument Avenue 0.2 miles to Catamount Tavern (General Stark’s headquarters).

Leave Catamount Tavern, heading south on Monument Avenue, 0.1 miles to the stop sign at Route 9. Across the intersection on the left is where Ethan Allen lived from 1769 to 1775.

Turn right onto Route 9 and proceed past Colgate Park on your 2.5 miles (2.8 miles cumulatively), to a marker where Dimick Tavern (Stark’s camp August 9-13, 1777) stood.

Leave Dimick Tavern, turning north onto Dermody Road, proceed 0.9 miles (4.1 miles) to the stop sign. Turn left on Walloomsac Road. Continue for 0.5 miles (3.9) to Whipstock Road. Turn right. Continue 1.2 miles (5.4) to the corner of Airport Road where a sign on the northwest corner marks the location of Harmon’s Tavern. (Where General Stark had break-fast on August 14th)

Leave Harmon’s Tavern, driving south on Vail

Road 0.3 miles (5.7), turn left onto Austin Hill Road. Continue 0.8 miles (6.5) to the end. Turn left onto Murphy Road. Continue north on Murphy Road 0.3 miles (6.8) to a marker at the Breakenridge Farm (Birthplace of Vermont).

Leave the Breakenridge Farm, continuing on Murphy Road another 0.2 miles (7.0), just around a sharp right hand turn to a marker on your left, locating the Warner Farmstead.

Leave the Warner Farmstead, continuing on Murphy Road over the Henry Covered Bridge 0.2 miles (7.2) to Harrington Road. Turn left. Continue 1.2 miles (8.4) to a large stone on the hillside to the east, marking General Stark’s Encampment on August 14-16, 1777.

Leave the Encampment and continue northward on Harrington Road, 0.8 miles (9.2) to a road. Turn left onto that road. Continue 0.2 miles (9.4) to a marker on the right, where General Baum died at a farmhouse near this marker.

(The Green Mountain Boys camped at Harwood Hill on August 15, 1777.)

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There will be many activities for children at the Ethan Allen Colonial Fair. We will offer several different toys and games that were popular with colonial children such as: rolling hoops, jacks, marbles, whirli-gigs, Jacob’s ladder, Jackstraws, checkers, tops, and more. Children will have the opportunity to wear clothing fashioned from the 1700’s and have their photos taken. Crafts that were made long ago will be offered such as tinsmithing, paper quilling, yarn dolls and more. Some storytelling and music will be offered throughout the day. There will be riddles and tongue twisters for you to try and even some “butter-churning.” The school bell will ring at various times and a “Colonial School” will take place with a costumed school teacher. Beware of the dunce cap!

Battenkill River Pottery — selling potteryThe Soap Man — hand made soaps

Revolution Wear— apparel honoring our historyBennington Potters — pottery

Bennington Museum — history exhibitorBenninton Historical Society — history exhibitor

Noel Schweissinger Colonial Kids Art — dolls, quiltingWhispering Dream Pewter — replica coins

Carol and James Pratt — selling Sutler wares in the Sutler areaPark McCullough House — history exhibitor

Daughters of American Revolution — history exhibitorFriends of the Monument — history exhibitor

Lady Ellen’s Fine WaresFOOD & BEVERAGES

Carmody’s Restaurant — pork sandwichesKevin’s Sports Pub and Restaurant — burgers and more

Man of KentBennington Station

Apple Barn — apple pies and moreSecond Congregational Church — strawberry shortcake

Harvest Moon Natural Old Fashioned Kettle CornMarki’s: Lemonade and Fried Dough

• The Bennington Rotary Information Booth will offer souvenir pint glasses for sale.

• JC’s will be sponsoring the beer tent.• The Bennington Chamber of Commerce

will be selling moose gear, cookbooks and information.

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2009 ethan allen days - colonial fair

Documents

capture of allen

ethan allen daysstephen

intrusion of new york

bennington settlers

bennington mob

green mountain inn sign

green mountain boys

catamount tavern