Museum Changing to a New Theme: "Our Veterans"

Approximately 250 people have visited our museum room, located on mainstreet.  The Society is in the process of changing those displays to ones that tell the history of the service of our men and women veterans.  The new displays should be finished and open for viewing this coming month.   If you missed seeing our first showing, here it is.  Don't miss the new one.

Antique Bennington Farm Tools

Portable Dentist Chair used in Bennington, NE

Articles included books, documents and photographs of Edna Mohr.

Old Bennington School Desk and Coal Stove

Old Singer Sewing Machine and 1925 Ladie's Aid Quilt

1906 German Army Uniform

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Maps on Bennington Lot Businesses

Presidential Land Grants

Immigration from Schleswig Holstein (Germany)

ANTIQUE APPRAISAL SHOW!!

Don't Miss Out!

Antique

Appraisal Show

At: St. John’s Fellowship Hall

322. N. Molley, Bennington

Tuesday, October 29

5:30 to 9 pm

Featuring:

Jeffrey Spencer & Gene Mueller

Antique and Rare Coin Experts

Bring a maximum of 2 items.

For more information, call

402-614-7509

Sponsored by:

The Bennington Historical Society

Irises Developed by Hans and Jacob Sass

Sass Irises

Throughout the Bennington area, especially on old farmsteads and homes are irises; many were developed by Hans and Jacob Sass in the 1920s and 1930s.  These brothers developed a new technique to hybridize irises.  As a result, they created several dozen new types and color variations.  Sass irises were developed here in Bennington and are World renown.   More information on the brothers and their flowers can be found at: http://greateromahairissociety.org.  The Greater Omaha Iris Society established the Sass Memorial Iris Garden in the 1970's at the Mahone State Park.  

Sass Memorial Iris Garden, Mahone State Park, Nebraska

The Bennington Historical Society has started a new project under the leadership of Lyle Sass; a relative of Hans and Jacob to reacquaint the Community with Sass Irises.  Lyle working with the Douglas County Historical Society and Greater Omaha Iris Society has acquired  several dozen types of Sass irises.   The varieties of many of these plants are unknown.  The project involves planting these flowers and when they bloom the plants will be identified by their flower.  It will take one or two years for the plants to bloom.  The clones of these plants will be used to develop iris gardens by the City of Bennington and others.     

Lyle Sass preparing iris plants originated by his ancestors in the 1920s & 1930s.

Lyle with the help of Linda and Gordon Mueller planted around 200 iris plants on the Mueller's farm.  Other plants are being planted by Society members and residents in town.  Lyle will be tracking the progress of these plans and will be coordinating with local experts to have the plants identified when they bloom.  

Lyle Sass and Linda Mueller overlooking an experimental iris bed.

Anyone in the Community having an area open in their garden or flower patch for some irises is more than welcome to join in on this endeavour while supplies are still available.  Just give Gordon and Linda a call at 402-614-7509

Bennington's Historical Society celebrates the Battle of Bennington

The Bennington Historical Society is going to be celebrating the Revolutionary War victory at the Battle of Bennington.  Bennington was named in remembrance of that important battle for independence.  Come join us to celebrate Sunday, August 18 from 6 to 9 pm at Centennial Park in Bennington.  Festivities start with a covered dish picnic in the park.  Admission is one covered dish, beverage and your own plates and hardware.  There should be quite an assortment of food.  This will be followed by three video presentations starting at 7:30 in the Library Community Room and the opening of the Society's Museum.  One video presentation describes who and what was here before Bennington was dedicated in 1887; another about the business district that established in the late 1800's, and the last is a centennial rememberance of the 1913 fire that destroyed much of the business district.  Come, bring the family and friend and celebrate our heritage.  For more information, call 402-614-7509 or 402-238-2145.

The Battle of Bennington:
An American Victory

(Collections of The Bennington Museum, Bennington, Vermont) D uring the summer of 1777, the British put in motion an ambitious campaign designed to isolate New England from the rest of the colonies and thereby crush the American rebellion. For two months, General John Burgoyne led his army down the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor toward Albany with apparent ease, capturing several American forts along the way. In August, however, he found himself in desperate need of provisions, wagons, cattle, and horses. Burgoyne then made the fateful decision to send an expeditionary force to the small town of Bennington, Vermont to capture these much needed supplies. At the Battle of Bennington, which took place between August 14 and 16, the British army and its Canadian, Indian, and Loyalist supporters faced Patriots defending their newly proclaimed independence. What might have seemed like a minor victory for the Patriots contributed to the British defeat at Saratoga a few months later and thus helped decide who would win the American War of Independence.

Reminders of Bennington's Past

Bennington Business Ghosts

How many of you remember the "Silver Dollar, Braesch Trucking, Bennington Plattdeutscher Verein, Almquist Feed Service?"   Our community recently lost a dear lady; Dorthy Sass.  Her smile and laughter were contagious!  Her family was going through some of her things and remembered the Bennington Historical Society and donated these items.  My, how they brought back memories!

I vividly remember the folks collecting the dollars bill dues when a member of the Plattdeutscher Verein passed away.  I remember the hamburgers and cigarette smoke in the Silver Dollar.  I remember how good the molasses smelled when Howard came to grinding feed on our farm.  I remember scooping and raking eared corn when Darrell came over to shell.  Good memories.  

These items will be added to our museum collection.  What memories do they trigger for you?  We have a few other museum items that might do that too; or, you just might learn something about the community you live in.  

The Bennington Historical Society Museum is now open every 1st and 3rd Sunday from noon to 2 pm and also my appointment.  Give us a look.  If you run across any memorabilia, please keep us in mind.  

Thanks to the Dorthy Sass family.   

Bennington Museum Open to Public

The Bennington Historical Society is proud to announce scheduled hours for its museum.  Doors will be open the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from noon to 2 pm.  The Museum is located on the northwest corner of Stark and Main Street. Volunteers will be there to answer your questions.

Come visit after church or bring the family after lunch and learn something about Bennington.  You may also contact the Society to make appointments for their club or group to tour the museum.  

We are also looking for old (pre-1980) Bennington Photos, business advertising and memorabilia.  Especially railroad, Plattduetsche Verein, Harvest Festival and Dutch Hall photographs, articles or stories.  Please share these items with your community.

For more information, please contact Linda Klabunde at 402-238-2145 or Gordon Mueller at 402-614-7509.  

A Grand Opening Success!!!

The Bennington Historical Society had the Grand Opening of their Museum on Saturday, June 16 on Bennington Daze.  About 125 people attended and viewed our displays.  The Museum is located on the NW corner of Stark and Main Street in the original, old, 1888-built hardware store operated by Augustus Witte.  Bob and Jan McKelvie now own the building and have graciously donated the use of the old drugstore portion of the building to the Society.

Bennington Historical Society Museum Grand Opening.  6,16,2013

The museum features displays on the local history, such as the Presidential land grants giving 160 acres of land to veterans who volunteered to serve in the War of 1812.  Items were also displayed from old Bennington business, old farm tools, school and church items and a little bit of everything to make it interesting.  

Linda Klabunde (right)

Special thanks goes to Linda Klabunde who was the project leader and to Society members and friends who helped organize and loaned items for display.  

As always, the Society is looking for old photographs and community related items.  If you have any, please consider sharing with us.  If anyone, has old photographs they would give or loan for us to scan it would be much appreciated.  We are looking for anything, pre-2000.  

We are also looking for ANY PICTURES of the old Harvest Festival, The Dutch Hall, and any Business photos.  

Once again, the Society had an entry in the Bennington Daze Parade; a 1918 Ford Model T pickup.  Tally-Ho!!

Come join us at the next meeting, the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 at the Library Community Room, east door.