| Beasts and Ballyhoo, The Menagerie Men of Somers by Terry Ariano, continued, page 9 |
| Town of Somers History |
| Timeline - Elephant Hotel - Hachaliah Bailey - Menageries - Wright-Reis Homestead - Historic Properties Somers Historical Society Home Page - Somers History Page |
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.
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.
Terry Ariano is curator of the Somers Historical
Society, located on the third floor of the Elephant
Hotel, and for the Town of Somers, specifically their
Wright-Reis Homestead. This article is based on a
presentation to the Circus Historical Society
convention in 2004, and appeared in the Jan-Feb
2005, vol. 49(1) issue of their publication,
Bandwagon.
Society, located on the third floor of the Elephant
Hotel, and for the Town of Somers, specifically their
Wright-Reis Homestead. This article is based on a
presentation to the Circus Historical Society
convention in 2004, and appeared in the Jan-Feb
2005, vol. 49(1) issue of their publication,
Bandwagon.
| Bowery Amphitheatre, June, Titus, Angevine & Co., January 27, [1840] Broadside SHS 75.1.20 The William & Nancy Bailey Collection |