The national museum of fox hunting is at Morven Park, Leesburg, Virginia, if you want to contact them.
It seems Mr Davison lived at Altamont Farm and was pretty well known;
He attended Yale and Cornell and was a vet; http://books.google.com/books?id=jcAZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA654&lpg=PA654&dq=Mr.+G.H.+Davison+Millbrook+NY&source=bl&ots=mrf4GbHa4X&sig=3iIqG4OBJA4Gv9PYP3cs3biNzbY&hl=en&ei=nnrDStG0O5eqtgerh7HjBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Parties; http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9802E5D91730E033A2575AC1A96F9C94659ED7CF
and was a VP of the NY State Agricultural Society;
http://books.google.com/books?id=t2YZAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1320&lpg=PA1320&dq=Mr.+G.H.+Davison+Millbrook+NY&source=bl&ots=o0wWQY6nAe&sig=jy2JYCg7W5qRKkYZfrb5vbe9ilM&hl=en&ei=0nnDSoilNuGPtge28OXyBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#v=onepage&q=&f=false
He has an entry in the Biographical directory of New York 1900; http://books.google.com/books?id=LeoaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=Davison+Altamont+Farm+Millbrook+New+York&source=bl&ots=iEregStNBF&sig=YOxiPXxGf6fKxI33OxC8JptpuLY&hl=en&ei=AofDStfsOtOwtgem88DoDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=Davison%20Altamont%20Farm%20Millbrook%20New%20York&f=false
Family Tree (type hi name in); http://www.chesebro.net/
Once again, I think this offers the perfect inspiration for a mystery novel (remember the ghost pack thread a few weeks ago?)
What is in the coat … a ring thought stolen, an incriminating note, a locket with a portrait?
Something that sends someone back to the hunt area from Idaho to stir up matters someone wants to stay hidden …
This is a report of a hunt ball G Howard Davison attended where he may have worn the coat. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E03EFDA1139E133A25751C2A9669D946395D6CF
Mr F W Chesebrough’'s father Robert Augustus Chesebrough invented Vaseline and was Mr H G Davison’s father-in-law. His entry in the “Social Register” http://books.google.com/books?id=pBQJAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA71&lpg=RA1-PA71&dq=Howard+C+Davison+Millbrook+NY&source=bl&ots=pf9oRfbAbV&sig=ZDr6v5lx4sPlbCXx6lYxWw4vuBs&hl=en&ei=cYTDSouuKdGLtgePzpHuBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6#v=onepage&q=Howard%20C%20Davison%20Millbrook%20NY&f=false
New York Times, Sept. 9, 1933:
“SPRING LAKE, N. J., Sept. 8 - Robert Augustus Chesebrough, former President of the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company, makers of Vaseline and other petroleum products, died here at 6 o’clock this evening at his home in Prospect Avenue, at the age of 96. A general breakdown due to age was the cause of death. He came down stairs for dinner last night. Today he sat up for luncheon in his room, but felt ill afterward and went to bed. In recent months he had been able to take short walks, and two years ago he dived from the springboard into the pool of the Beach Club.
The near relatives who survive are a son, Frederick Woodhull Chesebrough of Millbrook, N. Y.; a daughter Mrs. Charles Davison of Millbrook, and two grandchildren, Howard C. Davison of Millbrook and Mrs. Margaret W. Davison Johnson, wife of Dr. Vansel S. Johnson of New York City.”
You have a PM. Great news, Millbrook is very interested!
It would depend on the cut of the coat. Riding in a tailcoat is now pretty uncommon outside the hunter-jumper or dressage arena, but fashions change in the course of a century.
The company is still called Chesebrough-Pond’s!!! (Or was the last time I bought a jar… :uhoh:)
I think Unilever own it now.
PS: There is a difference between evening “tails” and a morning coat;
"The first thing to note is that there is a difference between the evening tail coat worn as a part of white tie and the morning coat. They both have tails, however, the evening tail coat is double-breasted and cut small so that the fronts don’t fasten even though there are three buttons on either front. (The morning coat is invariably single-breasted now, has one button – which may well be a double-button – and does fasten.) Furthermore, the evening tail coat has a facing to its lapels (as a dinner jacket does) – the morning coat doesn’t. Don’t confuse the two.
Weren’t people generally smaller in the 19th century? Even if a coat, etc. is in good condition, is a great deal of tailoring usually required to fit most 21st century types?
[QUOTE=FatDinah;4410027]
Once again, I think this offers the perfect inspiration for a mystery novel (remember the ghost pack thread a few weeks ago?)
What is in the coat … a ring thought stolen, an incriminating note, a locket with a portrait?
Something that sends someone back to the hunt area from Idaho to stir up matters someone wants to stay hidden …[/QUOTE]
Love this!
I too have some wonderful old hunting clothes, and also have been an antique dealer including clothing and jewelry, as with the items from family members, Hunts, Greek Societies, DAR etc., I always contact current staff and let them know I’ve found these things.
Many times it’s just good manners and better karma to notify and let them know. You’d be surprised how people have responded to this in generous ways.
Years ago (1970) I had a new pair of Dehner’s sitting in the laundry room on a mat, because I took my boots off there so I wouldn’t track mud through the house.
They were there when I left for work at 7am, and when I got home, I noticed they weren’t there. I thought they were in the laundry closet where I had a ‘tack room’. No they weren’t there. They were picked up buy the garbage crew when they came to collect. Apparently they were ‘moved’ out on to the carport with the bags.
I checked everywhere and finally found that they turned up at the thrift shop and sold within an hour. Never found them. They were a month old, hunting boots with my name inside as with all custom boots. I had two children at the time, and had just started back riding. It took me a year to save for these boots.
I would have paid someone $50 (at the time that was a good chunka) to say they had them…
I’d contact Millbrook and let the Secretary know. All the hunts I’ve know, worked for or ridden with have a ‘history’ room at the clubhouse. This would be a great find.
Photos?
Would love to see a photo of this coat.
There’s been a lot going on here while I was gone!
I’ve put up a picture of the coat on my COMH page - no small thing as I haven’t been able to figure out how to do anything else with that page (smiles ruefully):
http://www.chronicleofmyhorse.com/profile/JZ
The coat IS very small. I am a size 8, about 5’5, and it fits me. Before Equibrit did all that research I was sure Mr. G.H. Davison must have been a teenager, but I’m told that clothing that old is often quite a bit smaller than we are used to. There was a pair of gloves in the pocket that are so small I can’t imagine any adult getting their hands into them.
After a slow start I’ve gotten a lot of expressions of interest in the coat over the last few days. I’m trying to work out a good solution that will please most of the people, most of the time. As soon as it’s settled I’ll post it.
And if anyone wants to write FatDinah’s mystery novel I’ll be happy to give them the deep background on Idaho thrift stores.
It’s a morning coat - so would have been worn out hunting with a top hat.
that’s lovely. Does look like a tail coat for hunt ball type occasions. Thanks for posting the photo.
Please tell Barbara Meyer that Liza Sibley says hi. She was my DC at Millbrook Pony Club when I got my A in 197?.
I’ll definately tell Barbara “Hi!”
that is so cool…once in a while you find the coolest things in the strangest places. I found a pair of 1960’s vogels at the local DI(thrift store) in a southwestern idaho town, which is very strange, because this was in the middle of cowboy country…they where in exellent shape and fit my skinny calves and big feet…and the best part…$7… i wore them till they fell apart…i loved them…i still am looking for that great deal again…
I knew it was Lindisfarne!!!
Great News!
Mr. Davison’s coat is back at home.
The new owner is Barbara Wadsworth of Horse Leap Tack in Amenia (near Millbrook). Barbara intends to preserve the coat and make it available for local display. She said she would welcome inquiries from the Millbrook Historical Society, Millbrook Hunt, and the Millbrook Pony Club.
After Thomas posted his (as always) excellent suggestion about checking into the market for equestrian antiques, I contacted Barbara. She had several buyers who were very interested in the coat. When she heard about all the community interest she decided not to resell the coat, but to keep it in the pubic domain as a part of Millbrook history.
Thanks to Barbara’s generosity the coat will be cared for and available for loan to all the interested parties in Millbrook. Anyone who is interested in seeing the coat should contact her. She received it yesterday and is very excited about it. I think this is a very happy ending and hope all of you do too.
