Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Morris Essex Dog Show 1927-1957




This panoramic vintage photo is on display at Harding Township Town Hall and the event took place just up the street from my cottage. The man who built my house was born in the home of Marcellus Hartley Dodge (his family was in service there). In adulthood, he purchased the land to build his own home from Mr. Dodge as shown on my deed and I am the second owner. The lot was much larger back then and provided income in later years as he sold off land for new houses but was still able to maintain a smaller private lot for his cottage, now mine.

The inscription below the photograph: 
Morris and Essex Dog Show 1927-1957
An international event spanning thirty years, the Morris & Essex Dog Show was hosted and sponsored by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, daughter of William and niece of John D. Rockefeller, and her husband, Marcellus Hartley Dodge, owner and Chairman of the Remington Arms Company. In 1939, the show exceeded records previously held by Crufts, UK and Westminster shows, becoming the largest one-day dog show in the world, With over 65,000 attendees and 4,456 canines arriving in 10,000 automobiles, it required four times as many tents as the Barnum & Bailey's Circus. No other dog show has ever matched this one for its elegance and standing.

Click on each photo to enlarge and see how formally the people were dressed for this event.

4 comments:

Mama Pea said...

What an interesting bit of history for you to know about your area. And house and property!

Penelope Bianchi said...

How elegant everyone looked! The good old days. Now we live in "Slobbovia" predicted by the cartoonist Al Capp in the fifties and sixties!

But we are lovely people, Americans! Slobby or not!

Unknown said...

Guess we just missed seeing this event as my family and I moved to New Vernon in 1958. A beautiful area then, as I am sure, it still is. Someday soon I am going to visit it. Thanks for sharing! Beautiful photos.

The Queen Vee said...

What a treat to hear about your cottage history, perfect history for you with your love of animals.

I agree with Penelope's comment, we have become such a sloppy people....tis sad.