More information about my ancestors has come to light in the research for the 'Who Do You Think You Are' programme about me.
It would appear that my Great, Great Aunt Lucy visited America in the 1880's and was responsible for two splendid examples of zoomorphic architecture.
Two hotels were constructed by a Mister James V. Lafferty to commemorate her visit to that fair country and the splendid philanthropic work she carried out whilst there.
The first was built in Margate City, New Jersey and named "Lucy The Elephant" She stands 65 feet (19.7 m) high, 60 feet (18.3 m) long, and 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, weighs about 90 tons, and is made of nearly one million pieces of wood.
You can find out more about the hotel
here.
The second to be built, known as the
Elephant Hotel, was built at Coney Island Amusement Park,
in Brooklyn, New York. It was 12 stories (122 feet, 37.2 m) tall, with legs 60 feet in circumference. It held a cigar store in one leg and a dioramic display in another, hotel rooms within the elephant proper, and an observation area at the top with panoramic sea views. Sadly, this grand monument to my Great, Great Aunt was destroyed by fire in 1896.
There is little doubt, going from historical record that Lucy once wined and dined President William E. Chandler at this very hotel/
It is most gratifying to know that I was not the first member of our family to be feted by the President of America.
It would appear that, sadly, the Badfort Crowd have got wind of the impending televisual celebration of my past and have been spreading some
scurrilous rumours - all of which I assure you are exaggerated.
More information about my ancestors has come to light in the research for the 'Who Do You Think You Are' programme about me.
It would appear that my Great, Great Aunt Lucy visited America in the 1880's and was responsible for two splendid examples of zoomorphic architecture.
Two hotels were constructed by a Mister James V. Lafferty to commemorate her visit to that fair country and the splendid philanthropic work she carried out whilst there.
The first was built in Margate City, New Jersey and named "Lucy The Elephant" She stands 65 feet (19.7 m) high, 60 feet (18.3 m) long, and 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, weighs about 90 tons, and is made of nearly one million pieces of wood.
You can find out more about the hotel here.
The second to be built, known as the Elephant Hotel, was built at Coney Island Amusement Park, in Brooklyn, New York. It was 12 stories (122 feet, 37.2 m) tall, with legs 60 feet in circumference. It held a cigar store in one leg and a dioramic display in another, hotel rooms within the elephant proper, and an observation area at the top with panoramic sea views. Sadly, this grand monument to my Great, Great Aunt was destroyed by fire in 1896.
There is little doubt, going from historical record that Lucy once wined and dined President William E. Chandler at this very hotel/
It is most gratifying to know that I was not the first member of our family to be feted by the President of America.
It would appear that, sadly, the Badfort Crowd have got wind of the impending televisual celebration of my past and have been spreading some scurrilous rumours - all of which I assure you are exaggerated.
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