From the Somers Historical Society Archive: A descendant of an early 19th century menagerie owner shares a family legend about the elephant Old Bet.

This story has been condensed and edited from a longer interview.

Elephant in the Basement

The Sound and Story Project, a non-profit organization, builds community memory and sense of place by recording and sharing our stories and regional sounds. We record oral histories of everyday people for radio programs, cell phone tours, web presentations and podcasts. Each person's unique voice is like a thread woven together into a tapestry of stories reflecting the diversity and rich heritage of the Hudson River Valley.

Our stories come from many places. Some are in library and museum oral history collections. Some come from recordings we have made. Some have been found by people like you in shoe boxes in the backs of closets. And some have yet to be told. Share with us your story or favorite sound of the Hudson Valley.

The Sound and Story Project of the Hudson Valley is a program of the World Sound Foundation, a tax exempt non-profit organization.

Contact Us
soundandstoryhv@gmail.com
The Sound and Story Project of the Hudson Valley
PO Box 919 
Stone Ridge, NY 12484

Somers Historical Society, founded in 1956, is a 501(c)(3) which holds an Absolute Charter as an educational corporation from the NY State Dept. of Education.  In addition to its education mission, Somers Historical Society collects, preserves, cares and advocates for local historical resources,  as well as for its early 19th century collections pertaining to the travelling menageries in America.  The society's archives and offices are located in the Elephant Hotel, a National Historic Landmark in Somers, NY.. 

The New Rochelle Public Library is a community resource that seeks to improve the life of every citizen in our city. It is dedicated to encouraging learning in all stages of life, to protecting intellectual freedom and to providing fair and equal access to information.

The New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL) offers a comprehensive collection that includes retrospective and current materials; up-to-date technology by which information can be accessed; and a wide range of community services and programs tailored to a diverse audience. Chartered in 1894, NRPL is a school-district library with its own operating budget and a Board of Trustees comprised of seven elected members. It has served the 72,000 residents of New Rochelle from its main library building in the downtown business district since 1979.  A smaller branch, located in the park in front of the New Rochelle High School, was restored through a grassroots effort and reopened as the Huguenot Children’s Library in 1997. 