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Somers, NY, August 2008 - Somers Historical Society will exhibit the historic pottery collection of Somers Town benefactress Caroline Wright Reis, as part of the Westchester Arts Council’s collaborative celebration, “All Fired Up; a Celebration of Clay in Westchester County. “The Clay Collections of Caroline Wright Reis of Somers” will feature approximately 30 pieces of late 18th and early 19th century pottery, which were bequest to the Town of Somers in the late 1960’s as part of the estate of Caroline Wright Reis. Many pieces have never been seen by the public and the collection has never been exhibited in its entirety. Pieces on view will include stoneware jugs, redware, salt glaze pottery jugs and ceramics. Also included in the exhibit will be early 19th century advertisements from regional potteries which are from the collections of Somers Historical Society. “The Clay Collections of Caroline Wright Reis of Somers” will open October 3 and run through November 30 to coincide with other Northern Westchester venues participating in the Westchester Arts Council celebration. Concurrent with this exhibition, Somers Historical Society is planning several community programs for adults and children which will include presentations about historic pottery, collections and processes, as well as hands on activities for children. Among those is the unveiling of a sign designating the site of a 19th century brick kiln which manufactured many of the bricks used to build the Elephant Hotel, now a National Historic Landmark, as well as other architectural features in the buildings within the Somers Hamlet, itself on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1967, Caroline Wright Reis bequest her home, its outbuildings and contents, as well as 84 acres to the Town of Somers. Mrs. Wright Reis, a 1902 graduate of the Pratt Institute, was an avid collector of pottery and textiles, among other historical items, some of which were passed on to her by her father’s family. Members of the Wright family are some of the earliest documented residents of Somers having fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Caroline’s grandfather, Charles Wright, was involved with the early 19th century menagerie business and is believed to be the first lion tamer in America. Somers Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 educational corporation founded in 1956 which collects, maintains, exhibits and preserves materials related to local history, as well as to the development of the early 19th Century American circus. The Town of Somers shares the services of its’ Historical Properties Manager with the Society. Somers Historical Society also presents educational programs for its members and the community; maintains historical exhibits on the Third Floor of the Elephant Hotel and interprets town-owned historic properties. The Society is a member of the Lower Hudson Conference of Museums and Historical Societies, the Westchester Arts Council, the Circus Historical Society, Westchester County Historical Society, Somers Chamber of Commerce and AASLH (American Association of State and Local History). Corporate members are Billingsley Realty, Exxon-Mobil – Somers, Houlihan Lawrence/Somers, the Mexican Shack and Putnam County Savings Bank. Special contributors: The Koegel Foundation and Somers Lions Club. |
| CONTACT: (914)277-4977
Email: president@somershistoricalsoc.org tariano@somersny.com www.somershistoricalsoc.org |
| Historic Pottery Collection
featured in Somers Historical Society Exhibition as part of “All Fired Up” a Celebration of Clay In Westchester County |
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