In Vermont, a bid to save some waterlogged history

Boston Globe

05-04-2025

Moisture has been seeping into the monument since it was built in 1889, slowly filling voids and crevices in its walls and steadily weakening its masonry. If something isn't done to remove the water and reinforce parts that are already damaged, experts say, the monument will eventually collapse.
State officials say they are committed to restoring the obelisk so that it will last another century — because of its historical significance commemorating a key Revolutionary War battle and because it is one of Vermont's most popular tourist destinations. But they also
recently announced that a full restoration would cost
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'Historic preservation is important,' Orton said, 'but when it becomes a fool's errand we should hit the pause button.'
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State officials are now trying to figure out a way to raise enough money to restore the monument without using tax revenue. They say it's still structurally sound and will be ready to receive visitors when it opens for the season in May,
The state has spent about $1 million over the last few years to make
the most urgent repairs and assess the damage from water. For a full restoration, officials said removing the trapped water alone would cost $10 million and another $30 million would be needed for repairs to strengthen the foundation and walls. Tearing down the monument, which officials said would be a logistical and safety nightmare, would cost about $20 million, they said.
Among the arguments for restoring the monument is economics. The monument annually brings 40,000 visitors, and untold tourism dollars, to the Bennington area, according to James Duggan, the director of preservation for Vermont historic sites. The site's visitor logs show people from all 50 states and 34 countries have visited. But many say the most compelling reason is simply the history it represents.
'If we don't know our history, we don't know who we are or how we got here,' said Marylou Chicote, the monument's site administrator.
The monument commemorates a pivotal victory over British forces in August of 1777, one that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War in the favor of the Americans. The American forces were led by General John Stark, a native of New Hampshire, who was a hero at the Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston two years earlier. (The Bennington monument is similar to the Bunker Hill Monument but 85 feet taller.)
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At Bennington, Stark led his charges into battle, telling them, 'There are your enemies, the Redcoats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow.' That famous quote adorns a statue of General Stark that stands at the foot of the monument.
Stark's wife, Molly, who raised 11 children while her husband was off fighting, is as revered around here as much as the general. There's a statue of Molly Stark in nearby Wilmington. There's also a Molly Stark Elementary School in Bennington.
The monument itself pervades local culture, appearing on signs of shops and businesses around Bennington, from an antique shop to a window cleaning company.
'The monument resonates deeply with Vermonters, and it's very important locally, to our region and our state,' said Laura Trieschmann, the state's historic preservation officer.
She said she appreciates 'the same thoughts the naysayers have: How could it cost this much?'
'But,' she added, 'over the decades we have been reactive. We've only taken the repairs so far. Now we've looked at it for two and a half years, we know what needs to be done.'
She said officials are exploring a combination of foundation and grant money, and fund-raising. Tax money is not in the mix, she said.
'The reaction we're getting is overwhelmingly positive,' she said.
When construction of the monument was first mooted a century-and-a-half ago, Hiland Hall, a Bennington-born, former Vermont governor lobbied to build it so high that it would draw travelers passing through the area. Chicote said a sizable portion of visitors show up for that reason.
On a recent spring-like day, Bruce and Susan Guarino, visiting Vermont from Mystic, Conn., were driving through Bennington when they spied the monument in the distance and drove to see it up up close.
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They said learning about the history of the battle, and how it helped turn the tide in a war that gave birth to this country, was revelatory.
They said they'd be willing to contribute money to restore the monument.
'There is no price tag for our history,' Susan Guarino said. 'We have an obligation to keep these important historic sites for future generations.'
Kevin Cullen is a Globe reporter and columnist who roams New England. He can be reached at