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- Andrew Somers (2)
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- Celebrating Andrew L. Somers (3)
- Celebrating Valerie Somers (1)
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- Drew Somers (3)
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- Family History (9)
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- January 14, 2012: Cindy's Memorial
- July 13, 2011:
- June 20, 2011: Edward McCormick Somers 1924 - 2011
- March 9, 2011: Cindy
- March 1, 2011: Marilyn Johnson
- November 22, 2010: Memorial Service for Andrew Somers
- October 19, 2010: Andrew L. Somers II
- February 14, 2010: Drew
- February 14, 2010: To Our Valentine!
- October 24, 2009: The Old Ice House
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Archive for the Family History Category
The Old Ice House
October 24, 2009 by pamela.
The cottage and ice house as seen from Lake Garfield
I’ve been told that the Monterey News received quite a few comments - all positive 
on The Somers Men of Monterey. I was contacted by Mike Freundlich, who sent me this picture of the cottage that his family owns on the old Somers property. Mike says:
Thank you for the story in the October Monterey News. I was the one who suggested that they do more stories about the old houses on the lake. One that came to mind was “Indian Cove”, which is on the left side entering the small lake.
There is a common road running down to the lake from the big house at the top on Rte. 23. My parents bought the house at the bottom of the hill. I think they bought it from a teacher who just got married and wanted to buy or build a motel in Conn. The Staples originally owned Lakeside Terrace (Glen Fern) as well as the boat house. The Staples sold Lakeside Terrace to the Oislanders. The Erdas bought the boat house and their daughter sold it the new owners from Australia. The boat house is now a family house with the boat part being a living room.
My father bought our property about 50-55 years ago. The “downstairs house”, as we call the cottage, has not changed in that length of time. On the property there was also an ice house on the hill above the cottage. We made the ice house into my house. It was getting too crowded in the cottage with 2 bathrooms and 4 adults and my Dad did not want kids running around the “downstairs”, so he sent us “upstairs”.
Wallace Tryon built the first version of the ice house to house myself. Wallace wrote a book about the people of Monterey, which makes interesting reading. The Tryons ran the “tea house” in the village, where we used to go for ice cream.
The ice house has since been changed and is now a 4-bedroom house with the center being the original ice house. We built around the ice house. The small cottage (”mouse house”) where my parents lived is where my sister now lives during the summer, while I and my family live “upstairs”. I found this picture of the cottage and the old ice house taken from the lake.
–Mike Freundlich
The Ice House rules!
In our day we used the ice house as a playhouse, but back when it was built (I guess in the 1920’s) it was actually used to store ice: Ice houses were buildings used to store ice throughout the year, prior to the invention of the refrigerator. During the winter, ice and snow would be taken into the ice house and packed with insulation, often straw or sawdust. It would remain frozen for many months, often until the following winter, and could be used as a source of ice during summer months. In winter months, ice was chopped from a lake surface and often dragged by sledge to the ice house, and in summer months, was delivered from local ice houses to residences in ice wagons or ice trucks, where it would be stored in an ice box, which was used much like a modern refrigerator. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_house_(building))
Coincidentally, last summer I had the chance to meet someone else who shares memories of the cottage and ice house as a kid - Arthur Lawrence Somers, my second cousin. I had the pleasure of meeting Larry when he stopped by for a visit while on a trip north from Texas in August. It turns out that Larry and I both lived in the cottage, at different times of course, and our paths never crossed, but we both actually attended first grade for a time in the one-room schoolhouse in the Village of Monterey!
On the lawn by Lake Garfield
Larry said that he had met Valerie back then, and remembered her whizzing by in a red speedboat with some older kids, leaving Larry far behind! Larry and his brother Doug (Douglas Goffe Somers) were the sons of Arthur Lawrence Somers, who was the son of Great-Grandpa Arthur Sylvester Somers, and the brother of Grandpa Andrew Lawrence Somers. That made Larry and Doug first cousins of Aunt Valerie, as well as my father, Arthur Sylvester Somers II.
Doug and Larry Somers
Larry and I have discussed our childhood memories of Monterey, and how lucky we were to have had that magical experience. I sent Mike this picture of the cottage that I received from Larry, which was taken in 1937. The cottage still looks the same today, according to Mike:
Mouse Manor 1937
And here are some pictures of my birthday celebrations that I needed to show Mike in order to prove that I was a Somers by blood and not by marriage (unless I was a child bride…)
Below is my sixth birthday party, held on the lawn outside the cottage. You can see the boathouse in the background. That boathouse has been renovated into a home as well.
Pam, Cousin Steffi, Sister Cindy, Brother Artie
And this is a picture of an earlier birthday party which was taken on the big lawn by the beach on Lake Garfield. Lucky me — I was the one who got to celebrate my birthdays in Monterey since I was born in August
(back) Andy Somers, Pam Somers, (front) Cindy Somers, Steffi Ross
Like how we’re all smiling at the camera? That charming redhead is my Cousin Steffi!
Posted in Monterey, Family History | No Comments »
Monterey
October 1, 2009 by pamela.
When they weren’t living on President Street and Sterling Place in Brooklyn, they were staying in Monterey, Mass, either at Somerset (the Big House) or at Glen Fern (the Cottage) or in Mouse Manor (the tiny cottage). Later, some of them lived on Hupi Farm and Rock Ridge Farm. They were the “I Love Monterey” crowd!
I wrote this bit of history about the Somers Men of Monterey , which I’m happy to announce, has been published in the October issue of The Monterey News.
Posted in Monterey, Family History | 7 Comments »
Somers Camp
July 23, 2009 by pamela.
Arthur Somers selling hot dogs for charity at a ball game in Brooklyn
Folks, Aunt Valerie and I have spent the last 3 weeks in intensive Somers Camp (or maybe we should call it Ancestor Camp, since much of our ghost chasing this time involved the Lawrence family as well). We were excited to make the acquaintance of 2 Lawrence relatives, Andrew Lawrence from Long Island, and Andrew Lawrence from Manhattan (who turns out to be my next door neighbor!). We also made contact with Larry Somers (Arthur Lawrence Somers, grandson of Arthur Alexander Somers, who was the brother of Andrew Lawrence Somers). Larry has promised to send photos and family tree information which we’ve been eagerly awaiting.
So who are the Lawrences? In case you didn’t know, Arthur Sylvester Somers married Virginia Augusta Lawrence on Halloween, 1887. It became a tradition in the Lawrence family to marry on Halloween, and they began that tradition. Their son Andrew Lawrence Somers was our father, grandfather or great-grandfather, as the case may be. So that makes Virginia Lawrence our grandmother, great-grandmother or great-great grandmother.
We’ve been learning all sorts of interesting things about the Lawrence family, including the fact that there is a Park in Queens called Lawrence Triangle, which is located in front of Flushing Hospital, and was built in honor of our relative Dr. Enoch Pink Lawrence. There are quite a few doctors in the Lawrence line. Looks like we’ll have to plan trips to Queens now, in addition to our trips to Brooklyn! The latest on Somers park is that it has been “demoted” to playground status, having been renamed Arthur S. Somers Playground (guess that’s what happens when you share a park with Abraham Lincoln). But we kind of like the idea, and we think he’d like it too, because Arthur Somers was so into children. As you all know, he had a school in Brooklyn named after him (see the graduation post below). And when he wasn’t busy thinking of ways to improve their education, he was riding around the streets of Brooklyn in his horse and buggy, giving out silver coins to children. He was well-loved by many, as you can tell by the following report of the Arthur S. Somers funeral.
We’ve now acquired Family Treemaker and are in the process of transcribing the extensive geneological work done by Uncle Ed and Aunt Nancy Somers to the computer, with the help of Sheila Somers, who has done a great job of organizing everything from the original index cards. It is hoped that soon more of us will have access to this important family information.
Stay tuned for much, much more to come on the family tree…
Pam & Val
ps - Just so you don’t think it was all work and no play, here’s a picture of Cindy Koeppel with Valerie, when she and her husband Henry took us out to dinner in Chinatown.
Posted in Family History | 1 Comment »
Andrew Lawrence Somers
May 3, 2009 by pamela.
This year we are celebrating the life of Andrew L. Somers on the 60th anniversary of his death in 1949. Visit the Andrew L. Somers page
Posted in Celebrating Andrew L. Somers, Family History | No Comments »
Wyman Conference 2008
May 3, 2009 by pamela.
They Spoke Out: American Voices for Rescue from the Holocaust
Andrew L. Somers was honored at the
Sixth National Conference of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, which was held on September 21, 2008 at the Fordham Law School in New York City. Members of the Somers family present were his son Andrew L. Somers Jr., his daughter Valerie Somers, and his grandchildren Pamela Somers, Laura Gonzalez Murphy, Victoria Gonzalez and Victor Gonzalez.
Representative Somers, who was a U.S. congressman between 1925-1949, was honored for speaking out against the holocaust at a time when it was neither politically correct to do so or politically convenient for a democratic congressman to go up against a popular democratic President (Franklin Delano Roosevelt), who had thus far been ignoring Hitler’s genocide against the Jews.
This particular conference focused on selected people who acted as whistle blowers at the time when the Jewish orthodoxy chose to turn blind eyes and deaf ears to the plight of 6 million Jews abroad. Congressman Somers,to his credit, was among those who did speak out. He is counted among those few who were had the courage to take a stand and attempt to raise consciousness in order to help rescue the Jews.
“Courageous Among their Generation”
Here is a commentary from the time:
One is a Statesman
Andrew L. Somers, Democrat, of the Eleventh District of New York, does not satisfy himself with paying lip service to the cause of humanity; with expressing fine words of sympathy and compassion. He took upon himself the burden of the fight for freedom for the Hebrew people, with all its unpleasant concomitants: being perpetually subject to pressure, being harassed by skeptics, antisemites and professional Jews.
When asked why he does it, he answers simply and directly– “Well I don’t do it for the Jews; I do it because this is an urgent task for all of us in the interest of peace and international security. This is not a problem of this or that Jewish group in this country; this is a problem of all of us.”
There might be another reason for his deep understanding of the Hebrew Freedom Movement. He is an American of Irish descent and is thoroughly acquainted with all the vicissitudes lf the tragic fight for Ireland’s independence. But he probably finds many parallels and similarities in both situations. He is a firm believer in the sacred right of all the peoples– to self determination.
And then there might be one more reason. He himself a courageous veteran of the last war and his two sons being heroes and aces of the present one, he is impressed by the unflinching spirit and the heroic deeds of the Hebrew Freedom Movement.
And then there is above all Andrew Somers’ native goodness and nobility of character. You will seldom find a man as courteous, as loveable, as pleasant, with such a fine sense of humor as Andrew Somers, and apart from all his talents and skills (and they are many and diverse) , he is also an artist, and his woodcuts merit general admiration. If he were dedicating himself to art, he would definitely find great renown.
On this 60th anniversary of his death, we are proud that our relative Andrew Lawrence Somers has been honored by this organization that is dedicated to keeping the concepts of courage and heroism alive, lest we forget. We hold the memory of our relative as a model for ourselves and our future generations. And thank you to the David S. Wyman Institute and Dr. Raphael Medoff, the organizer of the conference, for making this celebration possible.
Congressman Somers’ Statement
Note: Coming in September 2009:
“The Failure to Bomb Auschwitz: History, Politics, Controversy,” will be theme of this year’s national conference of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.
This will be the first-ever conference to focus in depth on the history and implications of the Allies’ failure to bomb Auschwitz or the railways leading to it. The landmark event will be held at the Fordham University Law School, 140 West 62 St., New York City, on Sunday, September 13, 2009, from 10 am to 4 pm. Register here.
The Wyman Institute has issued a report titled Not New, Not Evidence: An Analysis of the Claim that Refugees and Rescue Contains New Evidence of FDR’s Concern for Europe’s Jews.”
Posted in Celebrating Andrew L. Somers, Family History | No Comments »
History Lessons
November 11, 2007 by pamela.
Amazing, in just the last few months I’ve learned of two books written by or about BOTH my grandfathers!
The Outdoor Heritage of New Jersey
My maternal grandfather, Captain Harry J. Burlington co-authored The Outdoor Heritage of New Jersey, while he was serving on the Board of the New Jersey State Fish and Game Commission. The book explains his vision for the land: he was a great lover of nature, a conservationist and an early environmentalist. You can find it on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Heritage-New-Jersey/dp/B000DZG0YW/ref=sr_1_1/104-5668244-0159955?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188927552&sr=1-1
A Race Against Death: Peter Bergson, America, and the Holocaust
by David S. Wyman and Rafael Medoff
My paternal grandfather, Congressman Andrew L. Somers (D-Brooklyn), is shown in A Race Against Death, to have aided in rescuing Jews from the Holocaust during World War II. The book documents his role in the formation of U.S policy as well as in the creation of the State of Israel. Of course we always knew that he played a key role in that, but we can now read about it in this book, which contains previously unpublished documentation. You can read the reviews and purchase the book at:
http://www.amazon.com/Race-Against-Death-Bergson-Holocaust/dp/156584761X
Quotes from Amazon reviews:
This is the story of Peter Bergson, whose
“efforts to rescue European Jews were instrumental in changing American policies; they led to the saving of hundreds of thousands of lives–and possibly to the establishment of Israel.”
…
“Before Bergson’s work, saving Jews was simply not a priority for the US government. After Bergson succeeded in persuading FDR and Congress, it became a war aim.”
The Forgotten Irish-Jewish Alliance for Holocaust Rescue
Many thanks to my cousin Bob Burlington for contributing this link to a fascinating bit of New York history:
http://www.wymaninstitute.org/kochremarks.php
In the above link, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch talks about the parts played by Congressman Andy Somers and his good friends Bill and Paul O’Dwyer in “the forging of an Irish-Jewish alliance in support of rescue from the Holocaust and creation of a Jewish State” that “not only helped the cause of the refugees and creating Israel but also helped reduce antisemitism in the Irish community.”
Andrew Lawrence Somers (Wikipedia)
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Memorial Day
May 28, 2007 by pamela.
Remembering those who gave their lives on Memorial Day 2007, the Veteran’s History Project wants families to spend some time recording their veteran’s story. There are already some 50,000 stories in the archives. They say: “Since World War II veterans are dying at the rate of about 1000 per day, we’re losing this collective memory of the most cataclysmic event in world history.”
Today, as we honor those who have fallen in service to their country, let’s also remember our family members who served. www.somersfamily.net/military.html
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Family History
May 22, 2007 by pamela.
More Corrections. I think that first picture on Ruth Edna’s page is actually not her. First of all, the pose and the dress seem to be a bit old-fashioned for her time period. Then, comparing the picture of her when she was quite young (in the photo of her and her parents with the two men, one of whom is a priest) her arms and hands look slender and delicate. Whereas the arms of the woman in this portrait, who looks close to the same age, are a good deal plumper, which was probably the fashion in an earlier time. So I think it may actually be her mother!
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Family History
May 15, 2007 by Vali.
Corrections. Edna was born in Brooklyn. she hated Great Barrington, said she only went there for funerals. Mother had 6 children. Ruth Edna died at around age 2. I was born after she died. Mother’s doctor wanted her to name me after my sister but mother said no, it would be too painful. Sooooo because they delayed finding a name for me, my name on my birth certificate is BABY GIRL SOMERS! Val
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