Plan to light up Bennington Monument draws some opposition

12:00AM / Wednesday, November 28, 2001Print Story | Email Story

A group of citizens in Bennington, Vt. would like to illuminate what they consider the townâ€™s most visible asset, the Bennington Battle Monument, for all to see. But the monumentâ€™s neighbors, in the separate village of Old Bennington, are largely opposed to the idea, saying it would compromise the rural New England character of their historic district. Earlier this month a group of citizens calling themselves Friends of the Monument held a hearing with members of the Old Bennington Board of Trustees â€” the villageâ€™s equivalent of a select board â€” to support the lighting project, which they say will be more tastefully designed than a similar proposal that was brought up, and defeated, a decade ago. At the meeting, Frank Waterman, chairman of the Old Bennington Board of Trustees, told the group that lighting the monument would have a â€œnegative impactâ€ on the ambiance of his neighborhood. He criticized them for not having a specific plan or proposal for the monument, and said it was not in their jurisdiction to decide on an issue that falls within the boundaries of Old Bennington. Waterman was out of town and could not be reached for subsequent comment. Those in favor cited an online survey done by the Bennington Banner, in which the vast majority of respondents favored lighting the 400-foot-tall obelisk that memorializes the victory of the Battle of Bennington. The monument lies at the top of a hill where the Colonial army kept a stash of food and supplies, a destination the British Army never reached, after being defeated in battle some seven miles to the northwest. The Bennington Area Chamber of Commerceâ€™s Board of Directors released a statement Nov. 17 saying board members voted unanimously that â€œbased upon the information provided to the community to date, the board supports the concept of lighting the Bennington Battle Monument. Further, it encourages the continued exploration and research of the concept.â€ Chamber Executive Director Janet Weyers, in a prepared statement, said, â€œThe monument is an important community resource. The board is in support of the general idea and eagerly awaits more information as the process continues to unfold.â€ Yet no matter what the public opinion is, it is up to the Old Bennington government to decide. Old Bennington, a separate, incorporated village, has its own bylaws, Zoning Board of Adjustments, Planning Board and administrator. It may take some time for residents to come up with a viable plan to get through those boards. It still remains unclear how the situation will be solved â€” if it requires a village-wide vote, trustee approval, or both. According to Stuart Hurd, Benningtonâ€™s town manager, the issue rests with Old Bennington. â€œAt this point, the monument lighting issue remains as a citizens movement. It has not yet risen to either board level, either the town or the village.â€ â€œWe understand the group may be asking our board to put it on the March Town Meeting ballot as an advisory issue. I also understand that a group from the [Friends] committee wants to make a brief presentation to the [Bennington] Select Board at its Dec. 11 meeting.â€ â€œIâ€™m not sure whether [the movement] is gaining momentum or if itâ€™s just moving,â€ said Hurd. Elaine Witten, a former board of trustee member who opposed lighting the monument a decade ago, said an online poll is hardly the way to bring up an issue. â€œI know that there are people interested in lighting it, and people who donâ€™t want it lit,â€ she said. She added that the issue is complicated because the monument itself is on state-owned property. Ten years ago, when a proposal was brought forward, it was the state that backed out. â€œThey wanted to be good neighbors,â€ recalled Witten. â€œIt wasnâ€™t their proposal.â€ Those who support lighting the monument say it would be a visible sign of the Bennington areaâ€™s heritage. They want it to be lit for only five hours every evening, roughly from dusk until midnight. They say using energy-efficient spotlights would only cost $5 a day, a cost that would be easily made up through a modest increase in the $1.50 fee visitors pay to take the elevator to the top of the monument. The Friends of the Monument add that other measures can be taken to improve the monument as a tourist attraction. They would like to improve the grounds and better record the number of visitors on the site each year. They also propose to put a web camera at the top of the monument, so the panoramic view could be seen online in real time. â€œThis issue is not going to be resolved any time soon,â€ said Mike Bethel at the Nov. 14 hearing. But he added that if the group persevered, the issue would have to be brought to the table.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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