In commemoration of National Preservation Month in May, PCSB Bank Somers contributed to Somers Historical Society's local preservation efforts through the purchase of a limited edition giclee entitled The Elephant Hotel, pictured here with the work's artist Susan Slyman, a nationally renowned Somers-based folk artist, and Christopher Boemio, Assistant Vice President and PCSB Bank Somers Manager.
Slyman researched antique maps, photographs and documents from the Society's collection, along with archeology and building studies, to create the 1840 depiction of the National Historic Landmark building. The Society is selling art prints ($40) and signed, limited edition giclee ($300) of The Elephant Hotel.
A portion of the proceeds of each sale benefits ongoing conservation of art in the fine art collection of Somers Historical Society. National Preservation Month is a national public awareness program created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973 to raise public awareness and support for the social and economic benefits of historic preservation in the United States.
Locally, Somers Town Board passed a resolution declaring May as "National Preservation Month in Somers" in support of this initiative. Since establishing a branch in Somers in 1981, its' first outside Putnam County, PCSB Bank has been an advocate for historical preservation and supportive of local history education, in part through its corporate sponsorship of Somers Historical Society. The financial institution's corporate art collection in the Somers branch features original watercolors by regional artist Ned Reade, as well as copies of historic photographs depicting local scenes from the collections of Somers Historical Society. The Elephant Hotel will be added to that collection and may be seen, with the entire art collection, during regular branch hours.
Somers Historical Society, founded in 1956, is a volunteer, 501(c)(3) educational corporation. Its' missions are to educate and advocate for local historical resources, encourage historical research and act as stewards for its' world-class collection of early 19th century traveling menagerie and circus ephemera and local history, as well as to collections belonging to the Town of Somers. The Society maintains local history exhibits in the lobby of The Elephant Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, as well as in four galleries on the third floor; develops and presents free cultural and educational programs and through its seat on the Historic Properties Board, advises and consults with the Town of Somers on care for town-owned historic sites; The Wright Reis Homestead; Mt. Zion Church and Cemetery and Tomahawk Chapel, National Register Sites and The Elephant Hotel, a National Historic Landmark.
INFO: (914)277-4977 Somershistoricalsoc@yahoo.com