Third- and fourth-graders from Bennington’s Pierce Elementary School visited the Bennington Historical Society last week to learn about the history of Bennington and about the life of Capt. Francis Butler, a Bennington resident who served in New Hampshire’s 5th Regiment in the Civil War. 

Steven Lord, a descendant of Butler and the author of  "Uncle Frank and the Fighting Fifth: the Story of Francis W. Butler and his Family, Bennington, NH,”  shared Butler’s story with the students. Lord’s nephew, Will Lord,  and guitarist Bill Moreen performed songs written by Steven Lord about Bennington’s history. 

Arnold Cernota, president of the Bennington Historial Society, recited the history of Bennington from memory for the young visitors. 

The field trip was organized by former Pierce School teacher and Bennington Historical Society member Chris McClure, who worked with fourth-grade teacher Valerie Germain to create a history scavenger hunt for the students. 

“Mrs. McClure was a very beloved Pierce School teacher; she’s the reason we visit the Historical Society,” said Historical Society volunteer Melissa Clark. “She was my teacher, and she was also my son’s teacher.” 

Clark said the scavenger hunt was “wonderful for the students.”

“It really got them to explore the Historical Society and examine the artifacts,” she said. “They just loved it.”