Somers Historical Society became involved in a 1966 controversy over the issuing of the circus stamp, claiming Somers’ precedence to Delavan Wisconsin’s involvement in the early American circus. As a result the stamp design was given an unveiling to record crowds in Somers, previous to being issued in Delavan. Numerous events over the years celebrate Somers connections to the circus – including a recreation of Tom Thumbs wedding during the bicentennial celebrations.
The Somers Historical Society’s collection of circus and menagerie memorabilia rivals other major circus collections, if not in size, then in rarity and vintage. Along with descendants of many of the early menagerie & circus families in Somers, Dr. Hugh Grant Rowell, circus scholar, and collector, bequeathed his collections to the Somers Historical Society. His miniature circus is in on view in the building. The collections include early circus prints and advertisements, P. T. Barnum memorabilia; Tom Thumb’s court suit; portraits, original documents, bills and route books pertaining to the early menagerie companies, rare pamphlets and early 20th century material. Many of these materials are now housed and displayed in the Society’s Museum of the Early American Circus. Elements of the rich menagerie and circus history adorn the Elephant Hotel building, which has been nominated as a National Historic Landmark. It has fittingly become the repository for the documents and artifacts that tell the tales of Hachaliah Bailey and the Somers menagerie men who had seminal roles in the creation of the American circus. |
