Bennington Celebrates 125 Years!

The Bennington Historical Society celebrated the 125th Anniversary of Bennington's founding on November 18 at the Library Community Room in Bennington.  Bennington's town site was dedicated November 15th, 1887.  The celebration included an open house that featured historical displays, artifacts, refreshments and a presentation.  Approximately 40 attended.  

Guests and refreshments at Bennington's 125th Celebration

Guests were treated to displays featuring a presentation of founding family names, artifacts from the Bunz family, old photographs of town, artifacts found at the Bennington Roller Mill site, and maps showing ownership of lands and City lots.  

Society Members:  Julie Dunn, Diane Warrick, and Linda Mueller

Society Members; Clarence Laaker, Jan and Bob McKelvie, Ginger McGurk and Linda Klabunde

A power point presentation entitled; "What and Who was Here Before Bennington?" was given at 1:30 and 2:15.  The presentation featured a summary of the Great Plains landscape, the forces which shaped its settlement by humans and how the local area became one of the most important travel corridors for Westward expansion.
Bennington is located within 10 miles of river boat traffic which traveled up the Missouri River as far west as Montana; the Mormon trail where pioneers traveling by  wagon trail came through this area and the Union Pacific Railroad which laid its tracks just 10 miles to the south of us that completed the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.

Gordon Mueller presenting
"Who and What was here Before Bennington?"

A good time was had by all.