thanks to the friends of the penn-marydel

Issue 37
February 2011
THANKS TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PENN-MARYDEL
by Fred Berry, MFH & Huntsman, Sedgefield Hunt
The other day we took 16 ½ couple
of hounds to our smallest, tightest country.
A coyote was viewed, hounds laid on, and
they ran full cry for the next hour with
deer flying everywhere. Almost everyone
in all the flights saw the coyote, some more
than once. And they were stimulated. We
finally stopped the hounds in the forty acre
field because our horses were about worn
out, as was the coyote-but not the hounds.
It was a great day by any measure; but not
a rare day. We have them like that now.
The Sedgefield Hunt and I want to
thank all the people who helped us get
into the Penn-Marydel business. Seven
years ago I went around with my hat in
my hand seeking contributions and many
of you put a hound or two in the collection
basket; some still do. Help was universal
and I can’t name everyone. However, I
have included our hound list to give an
idea of the bloodlines in our kennel now.
Our members can’t thank you enough,
especially Lloyd Lyons. Lloyd is a whip
who is 86 and who still rides hard--so
hard I have a time getting people to ride
with him (he can’t hear a lick). Lloyd has
hunted with hounds all his life; he once
had a great pack of Plott hounds and has
killed a lot of bears. We were riding in
the other day and Lloyd, with a big grin,
says, “I can not believe we have a pack of
hounds this good.”
The thing is our pack is not
extraordinary, at least for a PMD pack.
Here in North Carolina, Red Mountain
and Moore County have really good
packs. Don’t take my word for it: Fred
Cockerill, the famous English huntsman
who recently celebrated his 90th birthday,
hunted the Red Mountain hounds for 20
years and who still follows the hounds in
continued on Page 2
Please submit items for publication to Kris Bartosiak at [email protected]
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Page 2
Thanks, continued from Page 1
his truck, said that one of their recent hunts was one
of the best he ever heard. Coming from someone
who was in hunt service over 50 years, that is saying
something. And by all accounts Moore County is
having the best sport in generations-maybe everwith Jody Murtagh’s Rose Tree hounds.
The sport is the thing, but the easy, lowmaintenance way the hounds behave and keep is
sure an added bonus. All our hounds, bitches and
dogs, live together with minimal fighting; and most
are good eaters who don’t take special feeding.
We did have to adjust our ideas about beauty and
conformation. It’s a rare Penn-Marydel that is
graceful. Other than that the only negative seems
to be the high expectation of our members, and me,
for loud, fast entertainment. The expectation has
risen to the level of addiction-we’re crack heads.
Blank days, when they happen, are hard. The only
effective treatment is a screaming run.
So, again, friends, thanks. See you in
therapy.
(Thanks also go to Kristi Short, whose photos
accompany this article.)
Sedgefield Hunt - 2010-2011 Hound List
PHOTOGRAPHER ‘03
YARDBIRD ‘03
Yuppie ‘03
Eggplant ‘04
POPPER ‘05
POSSUM ‘05
Pogo ‘05
Maverick ‘05
PLOWBOY ‘06
Plain Jane ‘06
Prism ‘07
Valley ‘07
Vanessa ‘07
VETO ‘07
VACUUM ‘07
YUGO ‘07
MOLSON ‘08
EARL ‘08
NIMROD ‘09
MUSIC ‘09
MAILBOX ‘09
ECHO ‘09
HAMBONE ‘09
HAGRID ‘09
HARRY POTTER ‘09
BUDWEISER ‘09
UTTER ‘09
MONTANA ‘10
MOOSEHEAD ‘10
MOBSTER ‘10
Money ‘10
Mowgli ‘10
RICKY ‘10
RIVER ‘10
RIPTIDE ‘10
Ricochet ‘10
VODKA ‘10
VOLTAIRE ‘10
Voodoo ‘10
School Girl ‘10
Sweet Pea ‘10
SIRE
DeLaBrooke Flipper ‘97
DeLaBrooke Flipper ‘97
“
DeLaBrooke Lumberjack ‘02
DeLaBrooke Iver ‘99
“
“
Addis’ Legionaire ‘97
Addis’ Planet ‘02
“
Photographer ‘03
DeLaBrooke Hamlet ‘99
“
DeLaBrooke Hooligan ‘02
“
DeLaBrooke Lawnmower ’03
Rose Tree Mouse ‘01
Kimberton Flash
Moore County Riddelen ‘06
Red Mt Vamoose ‘05
“
Moore County Riddelen ‘06
Red Mt Hooligan ‘02
“
“
Radnor Wizard ‘09
Rose Tree Noble ‘02
Maverick ‘05
“
“
“
“
Red. Mt. Rocky ‘08
“
“
“
Red Mt. Bullwinkle ‘07
“
“
Red Mt. Mojo ‘06
“
DAM
Prudence ‘00
Red Mt. Yellow Jacket ‘02
“
DeLaBrooke Likeness ‘02
Addis’ Patience ‘00
“
“
Addis’ Mimic ‘03
Addis’ Penelopy ‘02
“
Yuppie ‘03
Addis’ Virginia ‘02
“
Addis’ Voodoo ‘02
“
Thorton Hill Yogurt ‘02
Sedgefield Off ‘03
Kimberton Edie
Red Mt. Yodel ‘06
Red Mt. Merrie ‘06
“
Red Mt. Ellen ‘04
Sedgefield Pogo ‘04
“
“
Kimberton Betty ‘05
Mr Stewart’s Laughter ‘03
Valley ‘07
“
“
“
“
Red Mt. Violet ‘05
“
“
“
Red Mt. Vespa ‘07
“
“
Red Mt. Slipper ‘07
“
A COLD START TO A NEW YEAR
by Justin Shupp, Huntsman, Rose Tree Foxhunting Club
The weather in Rose Tree the first
two weeks of the year have been very cold,
windy and we have had several inches of
snow that seem to go away but a few days
later we get some more. Here are a couple
of stories I put together of our great hunts
in this weather.
After a blank day on New Years,
the foxes have recovered from the holidays
and have been running great. Tuesday
January 4th, Linda Kelly, Lynn Thompson
and I hunted from the pig barn. We had a
great day. Finding the first fox in Lydia’s
pines by the old cars, we headed across
the open fields through Trout’s yard and
crossed over at the hard turn. It was really
neat to watch them work the line across
the open with the wind carrying the sent
away. The hounds really had to work to get
it across the field. Swinging left and then
swinging right , I watched them all gather
at one spot, open up, and move forward.
After making several loops from the hard
turn, to Lydia’s pond, across the road, back
to Trout’s, to the hard turn again, they lost
it down along Muddy Creek. He must have
run down the icy creek and crossed spots
where the hounds would have fallen in.
I gathered them up and headed back to
Trout’s. The hounds struck again behind
Trout’s barn. The fox made two loops
around Trout’s and then headed to Sue
Green’s old house. Around Steve’s, he
then crossed the road and headed behind
the development. I caught up to them
crossing the next road straight behind the
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Cold, continued from Page 2
development. They had made a check
in a field that had just been limed. That
seemed like a great place to gather them
up and head back to the truck, which was
over two miles away. Back at the meet,
Lynn and Linda were trying to call my
cell phone and getting ready to head out
in their trucks to find me.
Thursday the sixth, the ladies-Linda, Debbie, Lynn, and Ginny and
the men--Bob in the truck, Marshall and
I, hunted from the kennels. I hunted 10
couples of old hounds and 1 couple of
two miles away, and I would cross over to
the cell phone tower. At the tower, a fox
didn’t want to play. It made one loop in the
treetops and went right to ground. After
that we headed to the kennels for well need
Irish Coffee and a slice of keish.
Saturday the 8th we cancelled
because of the wind and snow. Tuesday
the 11th, Dad, Pat, Linda and I hunted the
game lands. We ran two different foxes
and Linda and Pat viewed another fox at
the mailbox that we weren’t running. Very
glad to see lots of signs there and glad the
foxes stayed in the game lands.
Thursday
the 13th
at Lydia
M a n i f o l d ’s
was a day
where you
wonder how
the hounds can
smell: four to
five inches
o f s n o w,
20 degree
temperature
and winds
gusting up to
20 mile per
Justin Shupp and the Rose Tree Hounds on Jan 1, 2011.
h o u r. Wi t h
Photo by Billie Carnes
Marshall in
puppies, Voice and Venus. The ladies the truck, Ed Franco, Jane Long, my
viewed the fox coming out of Kierkegaard, Dad, and I went out at Lydia’s, dressed for
and the hounds were off. They ended the weather. Drawing a blank in Lydia’s
up splitting behind Danielle’s, one pack and Steve’s, we crossed over behind the
headed back to Kierkegaard’s and the development. Hounds struck a fox and
other headed for Skips. Marshall and made a couple of loops behind the new
I got the pack stopped at Skip’s and barn before the fox headed across the
headed back to the pack running towards open field for Muddy Creek. Ed and I
Kierkegaard’s. Bob and the ladies viewed viewed the fox running across the open
a second time, and the pack was back on field. Somehow the hounds followed the
one fox. After making a second loop just line to the other side and into the woods.
like the first one, I thought we finally had They had to be following the tracks in
the right fox that might stay in the area. the snow, because I could barely keep my
I was wrong! The fox crossed over into eyes open because of the wind. I have no
Tyson’s, crossed the open field to the idea how there was there any scent on the
long woods, went behind Tarry’s, down ground, as the wind was very strong at that
to the cabin, and crossed the road towards point, but they worked it across the field
Good’s. I caught up to them in the field and hit the woods screaming. Hounds
across from Good’s house. Even both crossed over the creek and headed in the
the puppies had made it this far on that direction of another fixture called the
long hard run. After drawing the hounds brown cow. They almost crossed Muddy
around the field and not picking anything Creek Rd. before turning and making their
up, I told everyone to head for Tyson’s, way back towards the creek again. At that
Page 3
Debbie Dow & Anne Kraybill brave the
Rose Tree weather.
Photo by Lori Swanson
point, the fox either went in a hole or we
lost him crossing a field. Ed and I picked
the hounds up and made our way back
to the development. I hunted behind the
development towards Veach Rd. Hounds
started to speak as we drew to the end of
the cover. I sent Ed back behind us incase
the fox doubled back. Sure enough, the
fox did just that but the hounds couldn’t
smell him. I took the hounds to where Ed
had viewed. Trainwreck picked up the
line and worked it for a good two hundred
yards until the whole pack chimed in. We
made five loops from the new barn back
towards Veach Rd. but always staying
behind the development. The fox made
the hounds work, crawling on toppled trees
and going through some really thick brush
and making sharp turns. I asked my dad
after they were running this fox for close
to an hour “How can these hounds run so
well in these conditions?” He had a oneword answer: “Penn-Marydels.” Even in
the cold, snowy, and windy conditions, the
hounds are running great.
Rose Tree Quake
Photo by Lori Swanson
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Page 4
THE E-MAIL HUNT
by Dr. Todd Addis
Sadly, with only a thought directed
to our sailors and soldiers killed on
Pearl Harbor Day, my son Todd coaxed
me to brave the frigid weather and
join him at Maryland’s Patuxent Park
on December 9th, 2010. We called on
the 8th to try and delay the meet not
because of the temperature, but the
devilish 35 to 40 mph wind gusts. An
important work meeting at his Prince
George’sCounty Department ended that
thought. This meeting was between his
office and County (Prince George’s)
lawyers attempting to satisfy United
States Justice Department lawyers
subpoenas of 27,000 E-mails produced
by the county police department. The
P.G. mounted police may have used
excessive force with horse and baton
in removing a demonstrator from a
riot scene.
The Warwick Village [PA] hounds
joined the Bright Leaf [Maryland]
hounds at the river-side parking lot at
eleven a.m. With the horses directed
correctly around the mounting block,
we were helped on by timely numerous
wind gusts.
When we entered the manicured
woodland trails, the wind seemed to
subside. It was at least twenty minutes
before a Bright Leaf hound spoke. Like
an explosion, thirty-five hounds raced to
that spot. For nearly the next two hours
we galloped on and over the most rockless paths that I have ever experienced.
Yes, we occasionally stopped, so Todd,
Jr, could radio-communicate with his
ace-whipper-in and wife,Molly. When
hound music would fade in this sizable
6000 acre park, Molly’s direction soon
put us on the right path. Ex-Master of
Marlborough Hunt Paul Herring, with
his feet nestled closely to his car heater
and window cracked, helped the ‘deaf’
riders keep with hounds.
While on a long gallop and hounds
running to our right, I noticed my
‘greying’ son on a very lengthy cell
phone call. What in the hell could be
so important to talk so long and not
pay any attention to that crushing Penn
Marydel hound music?
Apparently a conference call
with four Prince George’s County
lawyers sitting in his office, who were
in the process of screening all the
police E-mails to satisfy the Justice
Department and their pending charges.
The background noises these lawyers
must have been hearing was baying
hounds with a mix of thundering hoof
beats. The contralto noise of young
Todd’s thoroughbred must have been
reinforced by my Gladiator’s weighted
percussions. (Gladiator’s shoe size, I
do not know, but were he the police
horse involved in the demonstration,
that rioter would have had two squashed
feet accompanied by a torn spleen.)
By the time that phone call ended, we
actually had passed the running pack.
After another long gallop we
reached some open fields and with
some perfect timing caught the sight
of the last hound. We continued the
gallop to another field just in time for
a view.
The host huntsman called it a day
because the next block of territory
had no paths and from his experience
we would be hours trying to end this
hunt.
With all this activity we were
also communicating with our daughter
Beth, getting up-to-date reports on Jody
Murtaghs’ Moore County hounds at
Virginia’s Thornton Hill and Keswick.
Apparently the biting winds dampened
the scenting.
This shortened account of this
Patuxent River hunt was waiting
patiently on my dining room table
waiting to be typed when, by chance, I
pulled a little quarter inch thick paper
back book from my library shelf. No
kidding--its title: Patuxent Days, poetry
by Warren Elliot Thompson. Neither
my wife nor I remember buying the
book of poems, but I find it a fitting
conclusion to present the readers
with its introduction and first poem
“The Great Southern Maryland Field
Trial.”
INTRODUCTION
TO PATUXENT DAYS
by Warren Thompson
The Patuxent River and it’s tidal marshes
are a very important component of that great
estuary, Chesapeake Bay. The crown jewel of
the Eastern United States! The Patuxent flows
entirely within the State of Maryland, forming the
boundary between several southern counties.
In the Colonial period small towns began
to appear up and down the river. They ,were
mostly ports where tobacco arrived by oxcart for
shipment to England.
The small towns not only served as centers
of business and commerce but also centers for
social activity. At Nottingham, in Prince George’s
County, horse racing became a popular pastime.
It most certainly would have led to wagering,
friendly or otherwise! The course was a long
sandy strip along the Patuxent River. Those early
days also found racing at Upper Marlboro. In
later years modem racing facilities were built at
Bowie and Laurel, further upstream. The raising
and training of Thoroughbreds became an
integral part of the Maryland economy.
Fox hunting is also a very important chapter
in the story of the Patuxent Valley. Small packs
of hounds were often kept by private plantation
owners. Also, formal and informal hunt clubs
began to appear and continue to this day.
After World War II pleasure horses became
very popular and fashionable. Western, English
hunter and dressage shows are going on year
round, up and down the Valley. There has been a
rebound in the popularity of driving horses, draft
horses and pulling contests.
As tobacco farms began to lose the
battle with urban sprawl, small horse estates
and boarding stables became prominent. The
proliferation of the horse industry has beenn an
essential element in the economic well-being of
the area.
Fortunately, the Maryland Patuxent River
Watershed Act and local open space zoning
laws will allow some of the old ways of life to
survive.
A life time of riding, hunting and fishing
in the Watershed has inspired me to put to verse
some of the stories and myths that have grown
over the years.
Some of the poems are exaggerated
accounts of actual events, such as the “The Great
Southern Maryland Field Trial.” There really was
a “Big Stride” entered in a field trial in 1968.
Most of the poems are intended to be humorous,
some are meant to be sobering.
Whether it makes you laugh or cry, I hope
you find some enjoyment in my first attempt
at poetry. I am grateful to Bob George for his
delightful illustrations.
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Page 5
“The Great Southern Maryland Field Trial”
from the book PATUXENT DAYS by Warren Thompson
Dedicated to the memory of Bill and Iona Herbert
The legend began, it’s been widely told,
The Autumn Big Stride turned three years old.
A similar canine will never be found,
Cause the wily “Stride” was a mighty hound.
All bloodied and spent and racked with pain,
For the fox and the hound, it was now Abel and Cain.
At the end of the grueling and long second day,
The great fox turned east, toward Chesapeake Bay.
He was big and strong, likely take the lead,
Keen of scent, and of the Walker breed.
His owner was Loveless, a lovable old cuss,
And he never doubted “Stride” would raise a fuss.
As they continued on and the pace did slow,
Out of the North, a wicked wind would blow.
“I’ve enough reserve,” thought Scar, to swim that bay,
“But for that despicable hound, there is no way.”
But before very long, his dream would end,
An awesome pack of hounds was rounding the bend.
He paused and listened, and cried “oh my,”
The horses and hounds now in full cry!
Scar could hear Big Stride’s thundering bark,
But he wasn’t concerned, merely a lark.
Under a huge Elm tree stood Judge Clyde Rose,
When the fox waltzed by, he thumbed his nose.
When Scar neared the water, the waves were churning,
For the fox and the hound, their souls were burning.
The great fox had now become pitifully thin,
But when he reached the bay, he plunged right in!
From a hundred yards out, he paused to look back,
That damnable hound was still on his track.
Scar reasoned, “this hound has gone off his rocker,”
For he will surely perish in the Davey Jones Locker.
This would be too much, even for Big Stride,
Because at Piney Point, the Bay is six miles wide!
Just when he thought he could struggle no more,
Scar found himself on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Loveless boasted and bragged, “there was not alive,
A hound could match “Stride’s” speed and drive.”
But others ventured to the trial that day,
Determined “Stride” would not lead the way!
But the chase raged on and the pack shed pounds,
Now the great fox knew these were not novice hounds.
It had become quite clear this pack was no joke,
And could not be shaken with one clever stroke.
From all over they came to enter their pack,
Even Huey Windsor with One-Eyed Jack.
There were the Herbert hounds, the Halterman’s too
And Randy Bradford’s great Moody Blue.
As Scar raced on, he devised in his mind,
A scheme that would leave this pack far behind.
He would head due south, where the Patuxent River bent.,
Where browsing deer would distort the fox’s scent.
Sam Hudson came with Sweet Rosie Jane,
Buckler entered mighty Midnight Train.
Horses and riders observed from a crest,
That solemn occasion when hounds are blessed.
Scar was quite pleased as the river drew near,
For standing on the bank were several large deer.
They scattered and ran and flashed white tail,
Twenty foolish hounds went hot on their trail!
The tension grew as they stood on line,
They could hardly wait for the sun to shine!
But Big Stride was calm as he swelled with pride,
That fox could run, but he could not hide!
Scar was relieved as Lady Fortune changed his luck,
Horses and riders were far behind, and that pesky truck.
The continuing torrid pace, set mostly by “Stride”,
Sent one ancient hound over to the other side!
The sun finally shone, so long at last,
The word was given, sixty hounds were cast.
Across marsh and meadow, and new mown hay,
They could not know they were in harm’s way!
The drive stalled slightly, for Scar a good sign,
So he turned southeast, toward the Charles County line.
As they crossed that murky old Beantown Creek,
Two hounds drowned swimming cheek to cheek!
Early that summer there appeared on the scene,
A giant red fox, he was crafty, he was mean!
No one knew where the creature came from,
From further down South, according to some.
And down in a thickset Scar reeled for a fight,
Six hounds fled in a state of pure fright.
On the edge of a swamp, he expired four more,
With the help of a cougar he’d known long before.
His scars would never heal, not now, not later,
They came from a fight with a Carolina gator.
His new found home was right up his alley,
He would spend his days in the Patuxent Valley.
The former great pack had now dwindled to two,
Of course there was “Stride” and fading Moody Blue.
“This evil fox will kill us,” thought tired old “Blue.”
So he turned his head, lowered tail and he quit too.
“Stride” battled cruel waves with every fiber in his bone,
But when he crawled upon the sand, he was not alone!
On the morning of the third day, under the eastern sky,
The great fox turned on the mighty hound, blood in his eye!
An autopsy was performed by veterinarian John Hayes,
His medical finding does still, to this day amaze.
He was not absolutely certain but could only interject,
The gallant fox and noble hound expired from mutual respect!
Hounds are always running across the Great White Way,
Somewhere up in Heaven old Loveless is heard to say.
Up there in Glory, the old cuss exclaims with pride,
“I raised the pup that became Mighty Big Stride.”
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Page 6
Six Years Have Flown By
by Sandy Dunn, MFH & President FPMD
They say that it takes a village to
raise a child; it also takes a village to
run an organization! In April of 2005 I
was elected as president of the Friends
of the Penn-Marydel. Little did I know
that six years later I would be still sitting
as president and wondering where the
time had gone. Many things have been
accomplished during this time and I have
many people to thank for all of their help
in these tasks. A look at our timeline is a
look at the breed of the Penn-Marydel and
its sky rocketing success.
As I said, in April 2005 I was
elected as the president; it was a very
short time later that I realized I needed
some help. I enlisted my daughter Barb
Mueller (Kimberton Hunt) to assist this
tech-neophyte with e-mails and secretarial
work. Up until this point Beth Opitz
(Thorton Hill Hounds) had served as
treasurer, secretary, membership chair, and
newsletter editor; mainly I think because
her Dad, Doc Addis, (Warwick Village
Hounds), helped start up the FPMD
and daughters always seem to fill in the
empty spots for their dear ol’ Dads. In
September of 2005 Beth had realized she
was doing too much. At the first meeting
of the FPMD under my tutelage I asked
Debbie McKechnie (Kimberton Hunt)
to serve as treasurer and membership
chairperson. If there is anyone that can
keep our pennies and paperwork in order
it’s Debbie! At that point we had 21 paid
members with $3741.90 in our bankroll.
As of January 2011 we have a total of 247
members of the Friends with a whopping
$10,758.33 on the books. Many of these
new members are a result of the two
historical newspapers that Todd ‘Doc’
Addis reprinted and distributed to FPMD
members. This was a huge boost to our club
and the Penn-Marydel hound throughout
the states and Canada. As our club grew
the Board decided that we should become
incorporated so in March of 2007 Debbie
McKechnie and Ed Gallen, Esq.(Warwick
Village Hounds) filed the appropriate
paperwork to officially change our title
to The Friends of the Penn-Marydel, Inc.
Since we were making everything official
Debbie started to work with Harper Meek
(Radnor Hunt, Kimberton Hunt) to revise
our by-laws with the official revision
being accepted in April 2008.
I think that the biggest
accomplishment of the Friends of the
PMD in the last few years is the addition of
the Penn-Marydel hound in the Masters of
Foxhounds Studbook. This has been a very
long time in the making and finally came
to fruition with the help of many people
including Fred Getty, MFH (Middlebrook
Hounds), Cameron Slade, MFH (Moore
County Hounds), and all of the masters
that mailed letters requesting the PMD
hound be added to the studbook. This is
certainly an example of the squeaky wheel
getting the grease! In May of 2008 PennMarydel were added to the studbook.
Now more work is being done by Jody
Murtugh, (Moore County Hounds) David
Raley (Red Mountain Hounds) and Steve
Harris (Andrews Bridge Hounds) by going
through the tedious process of looking at
the genealogy of each and every hound.
Does anyone else remember their X and
Y chromosome lessons from high school
biology class?
Our small club of hunting
enthusiasts and hound lovers is certainly
very liquid and we have used our finances
to benefit others. In May 2007 we donated
$2000 to the Museum of Hounds and
Hunting and $2000 to the Hunt Staff
Foundation. In September 2008 we
donated $2000 to the MFHA for the
purposes of helping cover expenses of
adding our Penn-Marydel hound to the
studbook. For the last three years the
FPMD had donated a total of $4000 to the
Kimberton Hound Show for prize money
to be awarded throughout the day. Finally
at our biggest adventure and most popular
event, Poole’s Fox Pen, the organization
now pays the way for our hardest workersthe hounds! The FMPD has paid the $200
fee for kenneling and running hounds at
Poole’s so that the individual clubs do
not have to incur the costs for all of our
enjoyment.
As I finish up my second term as
president I want to thank the many people
that helped to make my six years a success.
This job is not done alone and your support
of the club, the Penn-Marydel hound and
me has been greatly appreciated. Our
hound is moving onward and upward
in the eyes of huntsman and masters
and mostly in the hunt field! We have
known all along that the Penn-Marydel
is the hound to have and now others have
stopped to listen- not to us but to the voice
we all recognize- our hounds!
If you have read this and began to
think well “I could do that” or “He should
have done this” now is your turn! Elections
for the next three year term will be held at
Poole’s Fox Pen in April. Please contact
a member of the nominating committee
to voice your desire to run for election.
The nominating committee consists of
Donald Philhower, Jane-Louise Rhoads
and Bobby Reber.
Save the Date:
Poole’s Pen 2011
April 7-10
Rooms will be
available at
Holiday Inn Express
Emporia, VA
434-336-9999
Group name
“Foxhunters”
$61/night
(same rate as last year)
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Page 7
In Memoriam: CARL E. SHAFFER
Carl Edward Shaffer Sr., the
Master and former huntsman of the
Mount Carmel Hounds, died of heart
disease on Oct. 24, 2010 at his ShaHill Farm in Parkton, MD. He was
83.
Born at his parents’ home in
Upperco, he developed a love of
horses while harvesting crops as a boy
on workhorses on neighbors’farms.
He was a Sparks High School graduate
and played on its basketball team.
He later showed and trained horses.
Family members said he trained Billy
Blitz, a winner of working hunter
division championships, including
at the Harrisburg Horse Show in
Pennsylvania
While training show horses, Mr.
Shaffer worked at Black and Decker
Corp. in the products service division.
He was also a 4-H Club leader, a
part-time farmer and a member of the
Hereford Volunteer Fire Department,
where he was honored for more than
60 years service.
Mr. Shaffer retired from Black
and Decker in 1982 and then farmed
full-time alongside his son, Carl E.
“Jay” Shaffer Jr. Mr. Shaffer remained
active in 4-H work and took a week off
yearly for the Maryland State Fair at
Timonium, where he visited exhibits
and enjoyed the thoroughbred racing. He
was also a member of the Manor Race
Committee from 1971 until his death.
His hunting pack, the Mt. Carmel
Hounds, consisted of 17 couple of Penn
Marydel Fox Hounds. “His biggest thrill
was having a champion Penn Marydel at
the Radnor [Bryn Mawr] Hound Show
two years ago,” said his wife, the former
Mary Pearce. “Carl inherited his love
of hounds from his father, who hunted
with beagles.”
She said her husband started fox
hunting on horseback in the local area
in the 1960s. His group was originally
known as the “stump jumpers” and
evolved into the Mount Carmel Hounds,
a farmer’s pack 6 whose members
hunted two days a week. The kennel of
34 hounds is at the Shaffer’s farm. Mr.
Shaffer used a cow’s horn instead of a
traditional hunting horn.
After his 1970 marriage, Mr.
Shaffer began fox hunting with the
Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club, where
his wife had been a member
He was huntsman of the Mount
Carmel group and retired from
actively hunting in 1996. Family
members said he then would ride out
on horseback and observe the chase
from hilltops.
“He finally hung up his tack and
rode his blue pickup truck instead to
follow the hounds,” his wife said. “On
the day of his passing, Carl was with
his hounds, who made loud, beautiful
music for him on a spectacular chase.
He viewed the fox and his hounds
right behind. He stepped out of his
truck and sat down on a bench and his
heart stopped.”
In addition to his wife of 40
years and son, survivors include two
grandchildren.
(Edited from the 11/1/2010
Baltimore Sun, by Jacques Kelly)
Huntsman’s Interview
with Sandy Dunn, MFH & Huntsman, Kimberton Hunt (PA)
by Barb Mueller
How long have you hunted and who started you hunting? I’ve hunted hounds for 40 years. I first hunted with Harry Graham of
Kimberton Hunt as a whip in 1970. Albert Crosson of Pickering Hunt gave me my first 3 puppies in 1973 and later a few old hounds
to get them started. In 1978 Harry Graham quit as the huntsman of Kimberton Hunt and I took over. Kimberton Hunt was founded in
1870 and I am only the fourth huntsman.
What is the primary quarry in your country? Fox only. Coyote has passed through and live nearby but thankfully don’t settle in
areas we hunt
Describe your hunt country? Hardwood forest, hilly, some areas are very rocky, prolific with fox and houses.
How many hounds do you typically hunt? 17 couple
How many members in your club? 47 including social members
The FPMD newsletter would love to publish an interview with your huntsman or master. Huntsmen and masters are invited
to answer these (and any other questions of interest) and forward to [email protected] for publication. Thanks!
Page 8
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
In this October 1982 photo, courtesy of Dr. Todd Addis, Dr. Addis and his son Wm. Todd Addis take part in
a Chester county Park anniversary celebration organized by Mrs. John B. Hannum, who was then a member of the
Chester County Parks Board of Directors. Fourteen packs, both recognized and private, participated in the event.
There is talk of repeating the event on Thanksgiving Day, 2011.
Friends of the Penn-Marydel
Deborah S. McKechnie
2061 Miller Road
Chester Springs, PA 19425