Seth E. Thomas, Jr., Master
Spring Valley Hounds first began in New Jersey in 1915, when a draft of hounds was sent from England to Seth Thomas Jr., 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, Mr. 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 Mr. 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, Jr. passed on his MFH first to his daughter Josephine, in1929, and then his daughter, Emily Agusta,in 1930In 1932, Seth Thomas, Jr. 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 of 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 toJ. 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 visitors 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. Valerie DiCristina became Joint Master in 2000.In 2007, Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski and Mr. Paul Opdyke joined Mr. Frank Gibbs and Mrs. Valerie DiCristina as Joint Masters. Mr. Paul Opdyke resigned as a Joint Master due to relocation to California in 2009 and Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski was named Huntsman. In 2011, Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski resigned as Master and Huntsman. In 2011 Dr. David Schroepfer was appointed as huntsman. Ms. Emily R. Berthoud was joint-huntsman during the 2011 & 2012 seasons when Dr. Schroepfer was unable to hunt hounds. Dr. David Schroepfer continues to hunt the hounds into the 2014 season. In 2014 Dr. David Schroepfer joined Mr. Frank Gibbs and Mrs. Valerie DiCristina as Joint Masters.
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, Mr. 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 Mr. 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, Jr. passed on his MFH first to his daughter Josephine, in1929, and then his daughter, Emily Agusta,in 1930In 1932, Seth Thomas, Jr. 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 of 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 toJ. 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 visitors 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. Valerie DiCristina became Joint Master in 2000.In 2007, Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski and Mr. Paul Opdyke joined Mr. Frank Gibbs and Mrs. Valerie DiCristina as Joint Masters. Mr. Paul Opdyke resigned as a Joint Master due to relocation to California in 2009 and Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski was named Huntsman. In 2011, Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski resigned as Master and Huntsman. In 2011 Dr. David Schroepfer was appointed as huntsman. Ms. Emily R. Berthoud was joint-huntsman during the 2011 & 2012 seasons when Dr. Schroepfer was unable to hunt hounds. Dr. David Schroepfer continues to hunt the hounds into the 2014 season. In 2014 Dr. David Schroepfer joined Mr. Frank Gibbs and Mrs. Valerie DiCristina as Joint Masters.
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SVH CHRONOLOGY (1915 - PRESENT) Allamuchy & New Vernon, New Jersey
Master of the 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 1985 - 2020 Frank Gibbs 1993 - 2000 Mrs. Lynn Jayson 2000 - 2020 Mrs. Valerie DiCristina 2007 - 2009 Paul Opdyke 2007 - 2011 Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski 2014 - present Dr. David Schroepfer 2020 - present Dr. Louise Barbieri Kennels - Established 1915 as a private pack 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 Kennels located in Mendham, New Jersey 1973 Kennels moved to Greendell, New Jersey 1975 Kennels moved to Tranquility, New Jersey 1993 Kennels located in New Vernon and Allamuchy, New Jersey 2001 Kennels located in Allamuchy, New Jersey |
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 Barry Jayson, MFH 1998 - 2000 Mrs Eva Smith (hon.) 1998 - 1999 Mrs. Lynn Jayson, MFH 1986 - 2011 Frank Gibbs, MFH 2000 - 2009 Mrs.Valerie DiCristina, MFH 2009 - 2011 Mrs. Jenny Kobilinski, MFH 2011 - Present Dr. David Schroepfer, MFH |