This year is being promoted as Bennington’s Quasquicentennial (125 yr.) anniversary. Normally, this type of milestone marks the founding of a city. Once it did for our town but interestingly that was changed by leadership 25 years ago.
Nebraska celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 1967 (1867-1967) which also marked Bennington's 80 birthday. Bennington honored both events with a Centennial Days celebration in 1967. The town's history was accurately portrayed in a booklet developed for the event entitled: "History of Bennington Nebraska, 1887-1967".
For some reason, Community leaders failed to follow up with a Centennial (1887-1987) celebration 20 years later. Instead they chose to celebrate the Centennial (1892-1992) of the town's incorporation (1892) in 1992. That was when the village's population reached 200, triggering recognition from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners that Bennington was a town.
Why the change? Was it planned or a political response to failed planning? The answer might lay in the fact that Bennington might be the only town in Nebraska that celebrates its incorporation rather than its founding.
Many believe the actual work of our founding families to create our Community should be the reason we celebrate, not the final paperwork recognizing their accomplishment 5 years later.
That is the reason we celebrate our Nation's Independence on July 4th rather than September 3rd (1783), when the British finally recognized our independence. We celebrate the human sacrifice in taking our Independence rather than the final paperwork.
While the Community celebrates our Quasquicentennial Anniversary, please remember; Bennington is celebrating its 130 Birthday. Let's remember the human accomplishment rather than the paperwork.
What do you think?
Nebraska celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 1967 (1867-1967) which also marked Bennington's 80 birthday. Bennington honored both events with a Centennial Days celebration in 1967. The town's history was accurately portrayed in a booklet developed for the event entitled: "History of Bennington Nebraska, 1887-1967".
For some reason, Community leaders failed to follow up with a Centennial (1887-1987) celebration 20 years later. Instead they chose to celebrate the Centennial (1892-1992) of the town's incorporation (1892) in 1992. That was when the village's population reached 200, triggering recognition from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners that Bennington was a town.
Why the change? Was it planned or a political response to failed planning? The answer might lay in the fact that Bennington might be the only town in Nebraska that celebrates its incorporation rather than its founding.
Many believe the actual work of our founding families to create our Community should be the reason we celebrate, not the final paperwork recognizing their accomplishment 5 years later.
That is the reason we celebrate our Nation's Independence on July 4th rather than September 3rd (1783), when the British finally recognized our independence. We celebrate the human sacrifice in taking our Independence rather than the final paperwork.
While the Community celebrates our Quasquicentennial Anniversary, please remember; Bennington is celebrating its 130 Birthday. Let's remember the human accomplishment rather than the paperwork.
What do you think?
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