A BRIEF HISTORY OF
SPRING VALLEY HOUNDS

The Spring Valley Hounds first began in New Jersey in 1915, when a draft of hounds was sent from England to Seth Thomas, by the Duke of Beaufort. They were kenneled in Green Village with Percy Drury as huntsman, who was also sent over from England.
In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, Mr. Thomas sent the pack to Virginia. They returned to Morristown in 1919, their number greatly reduced by heartworms. The remaining hounds were sent to Watson Webb, who had a pack of English Foxhounds in Shebourne, VT.

In 1922, Seth Thomas bought a draft of English Harriers from the pack of Lord Erwin in England who was being sent to India as Viceroy. Redgate was built at this time with a large brick kennel and stable in the woods behind the house.
The Spring Valley Hounds were run as a “private pack” by invitation of Seth Thomas, and regular guests included Henry Colgate (who was later master), Howard Bayne (donor of Bayne Park and the Horse Show grounds), Hartley Dodge, Leon Freeman and Dr. F.T. Van Beuren, Hon. Secretary for over a decade.

At this time the Spring Valley Hounds and the Essex Fox Hounds held a number of joint meets each year.
Seth Thomas passed on his MFH first to his younger daughter Josephine, in 1929, and then his older daughter, Emily Agusta, in 1930.

In 1932, Seth Thomas died, and Manning Jacobs, his son-in-law became MFH. The Spring Valley Hounds first became a subscription pack in 1933, when it became financially impossible to maintain the hounds as a private pack. Rates were $50 for a single person, $100 for a family or 2 or 3, and $150 for a family of four or more.

In 1934, the hounds moved to the Bates property from Redgate with James S. Jones as huntsman. Also at this time the Spring Valley Hounds changed to a drag pack, with hounds purchased from James Brady, MFH of the Essex Fox Hounds at the time.
Before 1934, the Spring Valley Hounds hunted imported Belgian and Polish Hare, and until about 1935, were usually called the Spring Valley Harriers. In 1938, the Spring Valley Hounds were officially “recognized” by the Masters of Foxhounds Association.

In 1939 Manning Jacobs passed on MFH to J. Spencer Weed and Henry Colgate jointly. IN 1943, Mr. Robert Fairburn assumed MFH with Mr. John Hays until 1951 when Mrs. Gustav Koven took Mr. Hay’s place. Mr. Fairburn resigned in 1972 and Mr. Gustav Koven became joint MFH.

In 1985 Mr. and Mrs. Koven appointed Mr. John Casey, Mr. Frank Gibbs and Mr. and Mrs. Barry Jayson. Hounds were kept at the kennels at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Barry Jayson located on Pleasant Plains Road in NJ and known as Weatherlea Farm currently the vistors center for the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Jayson died in 1998 and Mrs. Jayson, now Kurdzialek, retired in 2000. The hounds were then moved to the kennel at Gibbs. Mrs. Val DiCristina became Joint Master in 2000. In 2007 Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski and Mr. Paul Opdyke joined Mr. Frank Gibbs and Mrs. Val DiCristina as Joint Masters.



SPRING VALLEY HOUNDS
ALLAMUCHY AND NEW VERNON, NEW JERSEY
CHRONOLOGY- 1915 - PRESENT

MASTERS OF FOXHOUNDS

1915-1932 Seth E. Thomas, Jr.
1932-1939 Manning Jacob
1939-1941 Henry A. Colgate
1938-1943 J. Spencer Weed
1949-1951 John H. Hays
1943-1972 Robert G. Fairburn
1951-1985 Mrs. Gustav H. Koven
1972-1985 Gustav H. Koven
1985-1989 Mrs. Lynn Jayson
1985-1991 John G. Casey
1985-1998 Barry Jayson
1993-2000 Mrs. Lynn Jayson
2000-present Mrs. Valerie DiCristina
1985-present Frank Gibbs
2007-present Paul Opdyke
2007-present Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski

HUNTSMEN

 

1936-1938 George Crocker
1938-1939 Manning Jacob, MFH
1943-1949 Robert G. Fairburn, MFH
1949-1951 W. Eugene Lasher (pro.)
1951-1972 Robert G. Fairburn, MFH
1965-1984 Mrs. Gustav H. Koven, MFH
1983-1984 Clarence Nagro
1972-1985 Gustav H. Koven, MFH
1984-1986 Miss Nancy Jones (hon.)
1986-1989 Mrs. Lynn Jayson, MFH
1986-1991 John G. Casey, MFH
1986-1998 Frank Gibbs. MFH
1986-1998 Barry Jayson, MFH

1998-2000 Mrs Eva Smith (hon.)
1998-1999 Mrs. Lynn Jayson, MFH
1999-present Frank Gibbs, MFH
2000-present Mrs.Valerie DeCristina, MFH

KENNELS

1915 Established as a private pack and known as the Spring Valley Harriers
1915 Kennels located in Morris County
1932 Name changed to Spring Valley Hounds
1935 Registered
1936 Became a non-profit association supported by hunt subscriptions
1938 Recognized
1949-1973 Kennels located in Mendham, New Jersey
1973 Kennels moved the Kennedy Road, Greendell, New Jersey
1975 Kennels moved to Tranquility, New Jersey
1993 Kennels located in Allamuchy and New Vernon, New Jersey
2001 Kennels located in Allamuchy, New Jersey

 

One of the best introductions to foxhunting is "Riding to Hounds in America,"  by William P. Wadsworth, MFH

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