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  • Brief History of Bennington
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Bennington's Handbook

In order to help you understand how these standards work, the Town of Bennington has produced Time & Place in Bennington: A Handbook for the Central Bennington Historic District.

This handbook is organized into several sections which help the use to identify the architectural and streetscape features which define central Bennington's special character; to look closely at the Central Bennington Historic District; and to decide what to do when repairs, alterations or improvements are needed.

This book is available free online as a complete pdf document** (entire 16.9MB file of the book) , available for review at the town office and Bennington Free Library, and available for purchase at the town offices.

**You may also download individual sections (below) that are relevant to your project.

SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Three ideas behind this handbook: It's Got to Be Practical; You Can't Freeze Time; There Is No Bad Guy

PLANNING & ZONING/HISTORIC CHARACTER
Background on what gives central Bennington its special character, and the role of use, planning and zoning in protecting - or changing - this character.

THE CENTRAL BENNINGTON HISTORIC DISTRICT
The nature and boundaries of the Central Bennington Historic District as identified by the Bennington Historic Preservation Commission

HISTORIC PRESERVATION GUIDELINES
Specific advice on what is appropriate - and not appropriate - for repairing, changing, adding, demolishing or building in central Bennington

• Porches & Stairs
  
• Doors & Entrances
  
• Windows
  
• Wall Materials & Surfaces
  
• Materials - Historic © New
  
• Roofs
  
• Chimneys
  
• Cornices, Gutters, Flashing
  
• Site & Landscaping
  
• Service Structures
  
• Additions
  
• Paint Colors
  
• Storefronts
  
• Business Signage
  
• New Buildings
  
• Demolition
  
• Streets & Traffic Signage
  
• Archeology
  

APPLYING THE GUIDELINES
A format for thinking about changes, and examples of what might be done to help - or hurt - specific Bennington buildings.

A GUIDE TO VERMONT ARCHITECTURE
An illustrated guide to architectural styles in Vermont, with a short dictionary of terminology for architecture, construction and historic preservation.

INFORMATION SOURCES
Other published sources for background information on historic preservation.

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