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Foxcatcher Hounds, Inc. / Fair Hill, Inc., 1930-1946

 Sub-Series
Accession: 2317Identifier: 2317-II.-VII.-K.

Dates

  • Creation: 1930-1946

Historical Note

Foxcatcher Hounds, Inc., was incorporated in Delaware on January 21, 1938 as a subsidiary of the Stockford Farms, Inc., for the operation and rental of farm lands and the promotion of fox hunting in the neighborhood of Fair Hill, Maryland. The company leased the premises acquired in February 1938 from Stockford Farms, Inc., to individual farmers and to the Foxcatcher Hounds Hunting Club, the Cecil County Breeders' Fair, and the Delaware Steeplechase and Race Association. In April 1939, Foxcatcher Hounds, Inc., started providing management services for the Foxcatcher Hounds Hunting Club, the Cecil County Breeders' Fair, Inc., and six other subsidiaries of Stockford Farms, Inc.: Center Square, Little Elk, New London, Springlawn, Tri-State and Turkey Town corporations, collecting money for these services in the Account "C" with the Delaware Trust Company. Account "B" was designated for expenses of the operation of the hunt club, except taxes.

The name of the corporation was changed to Fair Hill, Inc., on April 17, 1940 (not to be confused with Maryland corporation of the same name incorporated in October 1945), and its payroll was taken over by the Stockford Farms, Inc.

The Foxcatcher hounds pack was established by William du Pont, Jr. in 1912 and was recognized in 1926. In 1936, du Pont and his friends and business associates organized the Foxcatcher Hounds Hunt Club. As an unincorporated club, it paid Foxcatcher Hounds, Inc., all received club duties and hunting fees.

In 1946, all of the land owned by the company, together with all of the other physical property and equipment, was transferred to the other Stockford Farms, Inc.'s subsidiary, Center Square, Inc., for its Cattle Feeding Plant Project. With all the remaining assets and liabilities transferred to the parent company, the Delaware corporation Fair Hill, Inc., formerly Foxcatcher Hounds, Inc., was dissolved on December 30, 1946.

William du Pont, Jr. was the company president, and Guy E. Sawyer served as treasurer for it, as well as for the six other subsidiaries of Stockford Farms, Inc., organized in 1938: Center Square, Little Elk, Foxcatcher Farms, Springlawn, Tri State, and Turkey Town corporations.

Scope and Content

Company papers encompass the entire period of it existence, 1938-1946, and include documents from 1930-1941 regarding prior activities related to the Foxcatcher hounds pack and Foxcatcher Hounds Hunt Club, which were continued by the company. The materials include administrative, financial and banking papers, tax return and operation reports, correspondence and subject file, and invoices and receipts which cover the business of the company in detail, while the material of Foxcatcher Hounds Hunt Club and financial papers related to the turkey purchase project describe fox hunting activities started by William du Pont, Jr. before organization of the company. Papers are divided into ten groups.

General Physical Description note

6 linear feet, 8 volumes.

Extent

From the Record Group: 339 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

These records are located in remote storage. Please contact staff 48 hours in advance of research visit at askhagley@hagley.org

Related Names

Creator

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400