In celebration of the Centennial anniversary of Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds this fall of 2012, the Hunt has published Scarlet on Scarlet, 100 Years of Foxhunting with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds – an anecdotal history of the fabled Hunt, written by local writer and foxhunter Prue Draper Osbor

The history unfolds from the moment in 1911 when transplanted Marylander Plunket Stewart first drove up what is now Rt. 82 North past Unionville and came to a top of a hill and knew he had found his perfect Foxhunting country. He bought up small and large farms, returned the planted fields to open grassland and replaced barbed wire with jumpable post-and-rail fencing. He imported and bred the finest English foxhounds and enticed like-minded friends to come hunt with him and eventually buy property from him. In a few short years he had created a legendary foxhunt that continued to thrive under the leadership of his stepdaughter Nancy Penn Smith Hannum and continues on without diminish since her death in 2010.

Anecdotes from Hunt members through the years, news clippings, diary entries and lots of photos tell the 100-year history and make clear the absolute passion that drives this sport into the future. Scarlet on Scarlet will be available November 1 by calling 610-347-0415. The price is $100. All proceeds go to the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy.

For more information, please contact Prue Draper Osborn, 610-608-5255 or prueosborn@gmail.com or by calling the Hunt office directly, 610-347-1918.