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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



Near the centre of the village, and directly opposite the junction of 

 the Pines Bridge and Peek skill turnpike road, stands the Elephant Hotel, 

 a very commodious and handsome brick edifice, under the superintend- 

 ence of Horace Bailey, Esq. 



The large zoological exhibitions which annually visit this State, orig- 

 inated in Somerstown, through the enterprise of Hachaliah Bailey ; who 

 imported about 181 5, the celebrated elephant " Old Bet''' the first ever 

 brought to the United States. Other importations of animals quickly 

 followed, but subsequently the smaller companies became absorbed into 

 one grand traveling menagerie. The present proprietors are Messrs. 

 Thaddeus and Gerard Crane. These gentlemen are associated with 

 the great lion-tamer, Van Amburgh : and in the adjoining town of North 

 Salem, with Lewis Titus and John June. 



St. Luke's Church, Somers. 



The Episcopal church of St. Luke, occupies a fine situation, on the 

 Plain, at no great distance from the hotel. It is a very handsome edifice 

 of wood, in the Grecian style, with a stone basement beneath. The front 

 presents a lofty portico, supported by Ionic columns ; the roof is sur- 

 mounted with a low tower. 



Previous to the erection of this church in 1842, Episcopal services 

 were occasionally performed in the town, by the neighboring clergy. 

 They were held usually in an edifice erected by the liberality of persons 

 belonging to the various religious societies, and others possessing no de- 

 nominational connection, under the name of the Union Meeting House. 

 Here the Churchmen of this section of country were favored with the 



