Somers Hamlet Historic District (Tour) - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Mt. Zion Methodist Church

Originally built with one story in 1794, Mt. Zion Methodist Church was expanded to its present size of two-and-a-half stories about 1860. The church was used for regular worship until 1897, and was used only for annual anniversary services until 1930. Neglected for several decades, the church was restored by the Somers Historical Society in 1973, at which time its ownership was transferred to the Town of Somers, which maintains it today. Surrounding the church is a burial ground with tombstones dating from 1797 to 1959.

2. West Somers Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery (Tomahawk Chapel)

Often referred to as "Tomahawk Chapel," West Somers Methodist Episcopal Church was constructed circa 1837 by Thomas Tompkins Miller, a local builder and trustee of the church. It is an excellent example of a mid-19th century rural chapel. Although it has been moved about 22' south of its original location, the church retains much of its exterior and interior integrity. Adjoining the church is a cemetery that was used by the congregation from 1831 to 1977.

3. Ivandell Cemetery

Ivandell Cemetery is an historic burial ground located in Somers, NY. It was formed in 1866 by leading members of the Somers community who purchased a seven-acre plot of land next to two existing burial grounds surrounding the Union Meeting Church on Somerstown Road. The Union Meeting Church had been built in the early 1800s to serve the Episcopal and Presbyterian congregations of Somers Plains, and the Union Meeting Burying Ground and the Public Burying Ground sprang up around it about the same time. These two burial grounds merged with the Ivandell Cemetery in 1894. In 1896, the Ivandell Cemetery increased in size again after acquiring land from Somers School District where its old schoolhouse had once stood, and an adjacent plot. In addition to its historical significance, Ivandell Cemetery is also recognized for the notable people buried here, including military heroes.

4. The Stone House (Gerard Crane House)

Thaddeus Crane Jr. and Gerard Crane, came to Somers in 1807. They were entrepreneurs, who made their fortune in the early years of the circus industry. Thaddeus Jr. purchased a large farm and was an active member of the Somers community. The brothers were inspired to join the menagerie business by their neighbor Hachaliah Bailey. The brothers became members of the Zoological Institute in 1835 along with other 128 menagerie proprietors. Nearing his retirement in 1849, Gerard decided to construct a home and named it the Stone House. It was designed in the Greek Revival Style. Gerard Crane died in 1872, and the home was sold in 1880 to another prominent Somers resident, William N. Todd. After his death 1922, it has had several owners. The Beshars sold the residence in 2017 and today, the Stone House is a private residence and is not open to the public.

5. Elephant Hotel

Somers, New York, is regarded as the “Cradle of the American Circus,” due to Hachaliah Bailey and his elephant, Old Bet. Bailey brought Old Bet to Somers around the year 1805, and thus caught the attention of many as this was the second elephant in history brought to the United States. This prompted the start of the traveling menagerie which brought much delight to those who came to see it. Bailey's work was a precursor to the modern circus, and inspired P.T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey to create what we now know as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Elephant Hotel was completed in 1825 to commemorate Old Bet. The building would later become the town center for the people of Somers. As of today, the Elephant Hotel unfortunately is not open to the public unless given permission to tour by contacting the Somers Historical Society.

6. St. Luke's Episcopal Church

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located on Route 100 in Somers, NY. The main church building was completed on July 9, 1841 and has been in continuous use. It is a historically significant site because the congregation is one of the earliest for the Episcopal Church in the United States. St. Luke's Episcopal Church is included in the Somers Hamlet Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 2004.

7. St. Joseph's Cemetery

St. Joseph’s Cemetery is a burial site in Somers, New York. It is part of the parish of Saint Joseph’s, which was established in 1845 by Archbishop John Hughes. The land for the cemetery was purchased on March 24, 1893 for $1500 from Addie J. Whitlock of Somers. However, the earliest interments date back to 1845, because burial remains had to be relocated to the present location when the original Saint Joseph's burial ground was condemned to build the New Croton Dam. The cemetery is operated by Saint Joseph's Catholic Church located at 95 Plum Brook Road in Somers and is open and available to the public. St. Joseph's Cemetery is included in the Somers Hamlet Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 2004.

This Tour is a Virtual Museum or Site Tour.

Somers Hamlet Historic District

Created by Westchester County Historical Society on October 27th 2021, 2:32:28 pm.

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Description

The Somers Hamlet Historic District, in the town of Somers, New York, encompasses approximately 56 acres, and includes 46 contributing and 11 non-contributing buildings, sites, structures, and objects. These varied resources serve as visual reminders of Somers' early development in the years following the Revolutionary War, when two rural transportation routes, including a major regional turnpike, intersected in Somers. The conjunction of these routes brought the area population and business growth. Also on display throughout the hamlet is the image of Old Bet, the “mascot of Somers,” who was the second known African elephant to arrive in North America. She was associated with the menagerie of Hachaliah Bailey, an early advocate for the circus industry and a Somers pioneer. The Somers Hamlet Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 2004.

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