Fox Hunting 120 years ago!! Delco was the place

 

This rare postcard is from about 1906 is of the Upland Boro Fox Hunting Club. The exact location is unknown. The Crozer Family of Upland promoted fox hunting for their friends etc.

Note: Delaware County was a summer home only for many people 130 years ago. People summered in Delco enjoying the lakes, horse back riding, boating, numerous golf courses etc. Fox hunting was an extra for many men. Fox hunting groups were in Radnor, Upland and every where in between. 

CHESTER TIMES 

 December 24, 1903

            FOX HUNTERS HAVE FINE DAY OF SPORT 

Three Clubs Get Into Chases After Some Saucy Foxes 

 Tricks Played on Hounds 

 Reynard Shows Himself to the Hounds, Smiles in a Foxy Way at the Dogs and Scoots Away to Save His Brush – Ladies Take Part In the Chase and Enjoy the Hunt

            All three of the fox hunting clubs in middle section of the county enjoyed fine chases yesterday.  The beaming sun which caused a thaw offered a fine basis for the scent, and the going, although a trifle treacherous in the early morning, later gave the mounts a good foothold, and all the huntsmen were covered with mud at the end of the chase.

            In all five brush tails were driven to earth, and in the fields were several lady riders.  Of the Rose Tree and Hilton clubs only the regulars participated, but the field who rode with the Lima club, was augmented by fifteen invited guests from the Radnor Hunt, in whom were included Mrs. John R. Valentine, Miss Debson and Mrs. Robert E. Strawbridge.  The gentlemen with the mounts and attendants drove over from Radnor Tuesday evening and spent the night at the historic Black Horse Inn, the ladies joining them yesterday morning.

            ROSE TREE RIDERS – The Rose Tree Hunt with a small field enjoyed a fine three hours run during which time they chased a very saucy fox, who did not hesitate to try his tricks on the hounds.  During the three hours chased, Reynard did not get out of the radius of three farms, and several times showed himself to the pack in all deliberation imaginable, as if confident of his fleetness of foot.  He was started in Heacock’s Hills in Edgmont, and ran in a zigzag fashion, finally crossing onto Marple, where some maneuver, he threw the hounds entirely off the track.

            Huntsman Rogers after a deliberation cast the pack into Nathan Pratt’s thicket, after the hunters had about decided to go home, and a bunch of red dashed out immediately in front of the leaders.  The chase was then fast and furious and Reynard was pursued toward Evans’ rocks, on Crum Creek, which he had twice refused to enter.  Here the pack force him to earth, close after his brush.

            THE HILTON HUNT – The Hilton Hunt had an exciting chase among the Brandywine Hills, during which the pack started and forced two foxes to earth.  One was started in Penrose’s thicket and driven to earth in Turner’s woods, in less than a half hour.  A second quarry was driven from cover in Leeds’ woods, in less than a half hour.  A second quarry was driven from cover in Leeds’ woods, and after an hour’s run was holed in Harvey’s thicket.

            THE LIMA HUNT – The Lima Hunt entertained their guests with a drop hunt from the club house, but Reynard evidently realizing that his scent held too firmly, made all haste to get back to the vicinity of his home.  He was holed in about a half hour, IN Darlington’s Hills, near the place from which he was taken.

            After fox was subsequently driven from cover and gave a long run until sundown, when he was driven to earth.  Some of the hunts returned in the moonlight.

            With the Lima Hunt were:  M.F.H., Dr. Charles Dohan, Joseph Dohan, Miss Kathryn Dohan, Fred Okie, M.Z. Paul and Huntsman John Yarnall.  The guests from Radnor included:  Mr. and Mrs. John R. Valentine, the Messrs. Chew, W.A. Charter, Mr. Wheeler; Miss Dobson, Mr. Hare, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Conway and Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Strawbridge.

FINALLY!!!

   A very special thanks to a number of people this week. Lisa Liberi, a friend of 50 years, was so nice she typed all of the W.P.A. Historic Survey from 1936. Literally over 600 pages with a paragraph on each page. I needed a good clean copy for my work.

Thanks Lisa!!

 But getting it printed was another thing. The best deal I could get was 10 cents a page. I asked a number of friends but they could not do anything at work. Ellie, President of Ridley Park Historical Society did several of the W.P.A. Townships. But Phil Babiak really came thru!!. He has his own business and said he would do everything. I offered to pay for the paper etc. but he said not to worry about it. A real friend.

Please visit my website. delawarecountyhistory.com
Lots of great Delco stuff!!