Zimmermann honored for preserving Somers history

SOMERS, N.Y. - A protector and promoter of all things historic in Somers has gotten some well-deserved recognition.

Presented with a proclamation by the town was Jeff Zimmermann, who also recently received an award for community service from the county.

According to the document, he has “demonstrated exceptional dedication as a member of the Somers Historical Society,” by “generously sharing his technology and expertise” in order to preserve the town’s history.

Now retired as an engineer with Kraft Foods, he and his wife, Grace, have both been leaders in the Somers Historical Society, an all-volunteer nonprofit that offers free cultural and educational programs as well as guided tours of historic properties in the town.

(Grace, who was also honored by county Legislator Erika L. Pierce in August, had been named a Woman of Distinction by state Assemblyman Matt Slater in 2024.)

Somers’ treasured sites include the Wright-Reis Homestead, Mount Zion Church and Cemetery, Tomahawk Chapel, and The Elephant Hotel. The last three are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Zimmermann’s technical abilities and his contributions as a videography assistant during important town events such as parades were noted in the proclamation read by Supervisor Robert Scorrano at the Town Board’s Sept. 3 work session.

He was also the producer of an award-winning mini documentary about the restoration of a beloved local landmark, the Old Bet statue.

(Old Bet was the star of a traveling menagerie owned by Somers entrepreneur Hachaliah Bailey in the 19th century. After the elephant was shot dead by an irate farmer in Maine, Bailey erected a granite monument in her memory. It stands in front of Town Hall, aka The Elephant Hotel, to this day.)

Saturday, Sept. 5, was declared Jeff Zimmermann Day in Somers and his name was up in lights on the town’s message board at Reis Park.

He and the historical society were also credited for creating a new tradition: displaying an American flag that had flown over the nation’s capital in the Bailey Park gazebo on special occasions, such as the town’s annual Patriots Day Remembrance Day.

Zimmermann, who thought it was “very nice” to be recognized, joked that when he asked what privileges having a day named after him might involve was told: “Free parking at any metered spot.”

(There are no metered parking spots in Somers.)