Somers Town House
Also known as: Elephant Hotel
Why it's listed
Standing beside a small green at the main crossroads of Somers, New York, this three-story brick hotel was built between 1820 and 1825 by Hachaliah Bailey. It has a hipped roof, granite foundation, Flemish bond brickwork and a portico with paired Doric columns. Inside, the woodwork survives largely intact, and a central hall features segmental arches. A smaller earlier dwelling stands at the rear, and later additions include a Vault Room and a Meeting Hall. Bailey imported an elephant named Old Bet and helped start the American circus business, and in 1835 about 130 showmen met here to form the Association of the Zoological Institute. The town's prosperity also rested on farming and on droves of cattle and sheep travelling the turnpike toward New York City. The hotel's elegant, axial design was unusually sophisticated for rural Westchester County. The Town of Somers bought it in 1927 for use as its town hall, and a gilded elephant figure still stands out front.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the building reflects the prosperity of Somers during the first three quarters of the 19th century, when the town thrived on cattle drove traffic, turnpike travel and the circus industry. Hachaliah Bailey, called the 'Father of the American Circus,' launched Somers' circus business, and showmen meeting at the hotel in 1835 formed the Association of the Zoological Institute. Its sophisticated neo-classical design was unusual for rural Westchester County.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001323, listed August 7, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of U.S. 202 and NY 100, Somers |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | August 7, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001323 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Hachaliah Bailey (builder/owner); later additions by Harold Baldwin (Vault Room, 1944) and LeRoy VanLent (Meeting Hall) |
| Architectural style | Early 19th century neo-classical |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Town of Somers since 1927; town offices occupy the first and second floors and the Somers Historical Society operates a museum on the third floor. Condition is listed as excellent, though altered. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.32835, -73.69183 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001323.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5359324
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.