Somers is a town located in northeastern Westchester County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 18,346. The Metro-North Commuter Railroad provides service to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan with an average commute time of slightly over an hour to Manhattan (while the railroad doesn't pass through the town, several stations, such as Purdys and Goldens Bridge, and Katonah are located just outside the town).
History of Somers
The town was established as Stephentown in 1788. Confusion with another New York town named Stephentown led the town to change its name to Somerstown. In 1808, the name was changed to Somers to honor Richard Somers, a naval captain from New Jersey who died in combat during the Tripolitan War. Somers grew most rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s, after International Business Machines and Pepsi built large corporate facilities within it.
Somers is known for being the "cradle of the American circus." It gained this notoriety after Hachaliah Bailey bought an African Elephant, which he named "Old Bet". Bailey intended to use the elephant for farm work but the number of people it attracted caused Bailey to take her throughout the northeast. Bailey's success caused numerous others to tour with exotic animals, and during the 1830s the old style circus and Bailey's attractions merged to form the modern circus. Old Bet died on tour in 1827. Bailey later erected the Elephant Hotel in Somers in honor of Old Bet, and it was purchased by the town in 1927. It is a town landmark and was recently dedicated a National Historic Landmark. The elephant remains a symbol of the town to this day, with the High School sports teams nicknamed "Tuskers". The Elephant Hotel is currently the Somers Town Hall.
Geography of Somers
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.3 square miles (83.6 kmē), of which, 30.0 square miles (77.8 kmē) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 kmē) of it is water. The total area is 6.88% water.
The north town line is the border of Putnam County, New York.
US Route 202 and US Route 6 both pass through the town.
Somers in Popular Culture
Somers has been used as a location for a handful of prominent movies. In 1923, famed silent film director D. W. Griffith recorded portions of the historical drama "America" in Somers, NY which was released the following year (1924). More recently, the 1987 movie "The Secret of My Success" (starring Michael J. Fox) was filmed in Lasdon Park & Muscoot Farm. Muscoot Farm was also used as the location for the orphanage scenes in the 2007 movie "August Rush" (starring Robin Williams among others).
Somers has also been used as a location for television production. The episode "The Arena Family" of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which first aired on May 15, 2006, was filmed in the Purdy's section of Somers.
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Bill Frattarola, Jr. · Licensed Associate Broker Houlihan Lawrence · 129 Route 6 · Mahopac, NY 10541 (845) 628-2400, ext. 234 · frattarola@aol.com
