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Hachaliah Bailey's Old Bet/Elephant Hotel LbNA #31637

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jun 6, 2007
Location:
City:Somers
County:Westchester
State:New York
Boxes:1
Planted by:suzietoots
Found by: a knitwit
Last found:Jun 26, 2013
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Jun 6, 2007
Replanted as of October 21, 2007 New Clues and new spot....
As of July 30, 2007 this box is MISSING. I will recarve soon and replace with slightly different clues.....Too much wildlife: 2 woodchucks running in and out of the wall. A big turkey and lots of chickens just past the green fence, they were very noisy and came over to see what i was doing. It might have been swiped by one of them. The stone wall is currently under re-construction.

Hachaliah Bailey, who founded the original traveling menagerie in 1807, built a stagecoach inn at the intersection of the Croton and Peekskill turnpikes. Completed in 1825, Bailey named it the Elephant Hotel in honor of the source of his wealth and success. In 1827 he added a statue in front of the hotel to memorialize his first elephant, known as Old Bet. The Elephant Hotel is a National Landmark.
Old Bet was the second elephant, imported into Boston by Edward Savage in 1804, and acquired by Hachaliah Bailey of Somers within the following few years. A document in the Somers Historical Society shows that by 1808 Hachaliah Bailey was selling off shares in his elephant to two other partners for $1200 each.
Old Bet was moved from town to town on foot by night -- so curiosity seekers could not see her for free -- and displayed in tavern yards and barns during the day. Unfortunately, while in Maine, Old Bet was killed in 1816. Some staunch supporters of the Blue Laws (sinful to be entertained on a Sunday) decided to end the matter once and for all. As the elephant was being led into town just before daylight, on July 26, 1816, the group waylaid the party and fired a half dozen shots that killed her.
Old Bets' death did not stop her from going on exhibition. A mere 9 months later, advertisements started appearing in New York newspapers that relate that the owners had the remains of Old Bet stuffed and preserved. For the next four years, Old Bets' remains toured New England. In 1821, the American Museum in New York announced that they had bought Old Bet and she would now be on permanent display at the museum.

BRIEF ELEPHANT HOTEL HISTORY:
The Elephant Hotel was built and owned by Hachaliah Bailey, the first American to tour exotic animals in the United States for public entertainment. Mr. Bailey, an early Somers, NY resident, invented and refined what became the traveling menagerie as an attraction in the United States. Old Bet was the focal point of his menagerie collection and the Elephant Hotel was built to memorialize him when he died. Hachaliah purchased land at the crossroads of the Croton and Peekskill Turnpikes in 1807, and built the Elephant Hotel, which opened in 1825. In front, he erected a wooden statue atop scrolled ironwork and a granite pillar in front to honor his elephants. The building became the meeting place and symbolic center of menagerie promoters in the early 19th century in America. In 1835, the Zoological Institute, a monopoly of menagerie and circus owners, was incorporated at the Elephant Hotel. The 181-year old building now serves as Somers Town Hall, as well as headquarters for Somers Historical Society and Museum of the Early American Circus.
Hachaliah’s fame inspired a young P.T. Barnum, part of the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs, who relates meeting Hachaliah in his Bethel store, in his 1855 autobiography. He also tells the tale of an unscrupulous partner whom Hachaliah confounded by threatening to shoot his half of their jointly owned elephant.
Other menageries formed in the area, and soon partnered with the small traveling circus companies. A canvas tent was first used by a Somers man, Joshua Purdy Brown, to provide shelter for the outdoor events.
Hachaliah acquired a second elephant, Little Bet and a third, Columbus 1817. Hachaliah sold the Elephant Hotel and moved to Fairfax county Virginia in 1837, purchasing 536 acres in a place which became known as Bailey’s Crossroads. Hachaliah’s son Lewis, who had toured as a clown, and wife Maria, a former equestrienne performer, operated an inn there for many years, known as the Moray mansion. Hachaliah deeded over his ownership to his daughter-in-law Maria, and returned to Somers in 1845. While here, he was kicked by a horse and died. He is buried in Ivandell Cemetery. His large obelisk marker has three simple words on it, “Enterprise, Perseverance, Integrity”

To the letterbox:
Drive into Ivandell Cemetery and park off to the side. Behind the stone of Teed is where you want to start your journey. The stone of Young should be directly behind Teed. Walk towards the right and you will see the vault of Benjamin Lent. The vault has a iron gate that looks somewhat like a baby’s crib. You will see a obelisk on your right. Walk to front to read Hachaliah’s stone. 3 words are inscribed on the front: “Enterprise, Perseverance, and Integrity.”
From H. Bailey's grave head westerly down the small hill to the lone evergreen that sits just off the roadway. The Wilson-Ritchie stone sits below on the left. On the right side is an old birdseed feeder. Above in the arms of the tree is the Bailey box. Please replace carefully and make sure it is snug in the branches of the tree. If you find any fall leaves to camo it that would be great. Thanks...

Continue to the Stone House letterbox.