| Beasts and Ballyhoo, The Menagerie Men of Somers by Terry Ariano, continued, page 6 |
| Town of Somers History |
| Timeline - Elephant Hotel - Hachaliah Bailey - Menageries - Wright-Reis Homestead - Historic Properties Somers Historical Society Home Page - Somers History Page |
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(31) Thayer, Annals, II, 27.
(32)
(33) Stuart Thayer, Annals of the American Circus, 1830-1847, Vol. II (Seattle WA: Peanut Butter
Publishing, 1986), 38.
(34) Articles of Incorporation of the Zoological Institute�, 1835, collections of the Westchester County
Historical Society, copy in Somers Historical Society.
(35) Neil C. Cockerline, “Ethical Considerations for the Conservation of Circus Posters,� Bandwagon,
Vol. 46 No. 6 (Nov. – Dec. 2002) 6.
(36) The History of the Elephant Hotel (Somers NY: 1958).
(37) Broadside in collections of the Somers Historical Society.
___________
(31) Thayer, Annals, II, 27.
(32)
(33) Stuart Thayer, Annals of the American Circus, 1830-1847, Vol. II (Seattle WA: Peanut Butter
Publishing, 1986), 38.
(34) Articles of Incorporation of the Zoological Institute�, 1835, collections of the Westchester County
Historical Society, copy in Somers Historical Society.
(35) Neil C. Cockerline, “Ethical Considerations for the Conservation of Circus Posters,� Bandwagon,
Vol. 46 No. 6 (Nov. – Dec. 2002) 6.
(36) The History of the Elephant Hotel (Somers NY: 1958).
(37) Broadside in collections of the Somers Historical Society.
| Lewis B. Lent, c. 1870 Artist unknown, Oil on Canvas, detail SHS 97.40 Gift of Arthur McElroy |
Of the next generation of Somers showmen, Lewis
Lent (1813-1887) was born and schooled in the town,
his father Benjamin having been a partner of
Hachaliah Bailey’s. Lewis grew up around
menagerie animals and his early shows featured many
animals, including the first troupe of camels in
America. At age 13 he was already employed in the
family business, and soon after is recorded as working
for June Titus and Angevine. In 1834 he invested in J.
R. & W. Howe, Jr., & Co.’s menagerie (of North
Salem). Using his money, the firm purchased a half
interest in June Titus & Angevine’s rhinoceros,
polar bear, leopard & their cages. In 1835, at the age
of 22, he joined Brown & Co. circus, with Oscar Brown,
brother of and successor to J. Purdy Brown. He
became partner in Brown & Co. in 1836, most likely
with funds from father Benjamin. Lent was a partner
to Richard Sands, an English equestrian, in 1846, and
managed Barnum’s traveling menagerie in 1853-
1854.(31) Lent is one of the early menagerie
participants who crossed over to the circus business.
Lent has been described as a jovial man and a huge
one (over 300 pounds at his death), who insisted on
being in charge of every aspect of his business
operations- almost a sure sign of a successful man.
(32)
Lent (1813-1887) was born and schooled in the town,
his father Benjamin having been a partner of
Hachaliah Bailey’s. Lewis grew up around
menagerie animals and his early shows featured many
animals, including the first troupe of camels in
America. At age 13 he was already employed in the
family business, and soon after is recorded as working
for June Titus and Angevine. In 1834 he invested in J.
R. & W. Howe, Jr., & Co.’s menagerie (of North
Salem). Using his money, the firm purchased a half
interest in June Titus & Angevine’s rhinoceros,
polar bear, leopard & their cages. In 1835, at the age
of 22, he joined Brown & Co. circus, with Oscar Brown,
brother of and successor to J. Purdy Brown. He
became partner in Brown & Co. in 1836, most likely
with funds from father Benjamin. Lent was a partner
to Richard Sands, an English equestrian, in 1846, and
managed Barnum’s traveling menagerie in 1853-
1854.(31) Lent is one of the early menagerie
participants who crossed over to the circus business.
Lent has been described as a jovial man and a huge
one (over 300 pounds at his death), who insisted on
being in charge of every aspect of his business
operations- almost a sure sign of a successful man.
(32)
Lent partnered with Rufus Welch, the great circus entrepreneur from upstate New York in 1856. He
operated a successful railroad circus from 1866-1874 and was the proprietor of L.B. Lent’s New
York Circus in 1871, quartered on 14th Street in New York City. P. T. Barnum bought out his circus on
14th Street in 1872, but it burned to the ground in the first season. Lent went on to produce his New
York Circus, Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Zoological Garden at the site of Madison Square Garden
on 26th Street, also predating Barnum at that site. He died in New York City in 1887, and is buried in
Ivandell Cemetery in Somers.
operated a successful railroad circus from 1866-1874 and was the proprietor of L.B. Lent’s New
York Circus in 1871, quartered on 14th Street in New York City. P. T. Barnum bought out his circus on
14th Street in 1872, but it burned to the ground in the first season. Lent went on to produce his New
York Circus, Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Zoological Garden at the site of Madison Square Garden
on 26th Street, also predating Barnum at that site. He died in New York City in 1887, and is buried in
Ivandell Cemetery in Somers.
The menagerie men of Westchester and
Putnam Counties came to dominate the
outdoor exhibition business in the northeast.
(33) On January 14, 1835 at Somers, the
menagerie men gathered at the Elephant
Hotel to form a capital stock company
called the Zoological Institute. Its stated
purpose was “to more generally diffuse
and promote the knowledge of natural
history and gratify rational curiosity.�
One hundred and thirty-five signatures are
on the articles of incorporation.(34) The
list contained virtually all of the active
menagerie owners and managers in the
Northeast, as well as individuals whose
businesses relied on the shows, such as
Richard Hoe, a New York City printer who
made advertisements and posters for
circuses and menageries.(35) The
organizers of the Zoological Institute set
routes and performance schedules,
monopolizing the business in the East.
Putnam Counties came to dominate the
outdoor exhibition business in the northeast.
(33) On January 14, 1835 at Somers, the
menagerie men gathered at the Elephant
Hotel to form a capital stock company
called the Zoological Institute. Its stated
purpose was “to more generally diffuse
and promote the knowledge of natural
history and gratify rational curiosity.�
One hundred and thirty-five signatures are
on the articles of incorporation.(34) The
list contained virtually all of the active
menagerie owners and managers in the
Northeast, as well as individuals whose
businesses relied on the shows, such as
Richard Hoe, a New York City printer who
made advertisements and posters for
circuses and menageries.(35) The
organizers of the Zoological Institute set
routes and performance schedules,
monopolizing the business in the East.
| Zoological Institute Association Certificate, February 21, 1833, Charles Wright entitled to 120 shares in Zoological Institute stock The Caroline Wright-Reis Collection, Town of Somers |
With more than one hundred investors, the appraised value of the animals, equipment and real estate
was $329,325. They purchased a performance space in New York at 37 Bowery, which served as
winter quarters. The equipment and animals were organized into 12 companies, five of which included
circuses. The Association exercised a virtual monopoly on the animal show business. Some members
were known as “The Flatfoots� by those who challenged their leadership “because they put
their foot down flat against any competitor bringing a show into the eastern territory.�(36) The
company disbanded after the financial panic of 1837, and its property was sold at an auction that took
place at the Elephant Hotel on August 22nd and 23rd, 1837.(37) The name Zoological Institute was
used for a number of years after by exhibiting companies.
was $329,325. They purchased a performance space in New York at 37 Bowery, which served as
winter quarters. The equipment and animals were organized into 12 companies, five of which included
circuses. The Association exercised a virtual monopoly on the animal show business. Some members
were known as “The Flatfoots� by those who challenged their leadership “because they put
their foot down flat against any competitor bringing a show into the eastern territory.�(36) The
company disbanded after the financial panic of 1837, and its property was sold at an auction that took
place at the Elephant Hotel on August 22nd and 23rd, 1837.(37) The name Zoological Institute was
used for a number of years after by exhibiting companies.