Two thousand people gathered in Williston on this day in 1896. They came to honor the memory of fellow Williston resident, and Vermont’s first governor, Thomas Chittenden. Today was the unveiling and dedication of a Chittenden monument.

Two years earlier the General Assembly had given Williston $3,000 to erect a granite monument. Henry Root, another prominent Williston native, donated an additional $1,500 and Lucious Chittenden provided information and sketches of his great-grandfather.

The monument, carved from Barre granite, captures the life of Thomas Chittenden in words and images.

At right, The Vermont Book Of Days photo.