The Farmington Hunt Colors

The Farmington Hunt colors are Belgian Blue and Hunting Pink. These colors were inherited from the Albemarle Hunt, Greenwood, Virginia. In order to wear the colors, members must prove their ability in the hunting field, and must be awarded their colors by the master.

Before World War I, the Albemarle Hunt Club hunted approximately the same country subsequently used by Farmington Hunt Club. Mr. Sidney Holloway, the M.F.H, lived and kept hounds on the Old Ivy Road across from Belfield School.

During the same period, several privately owned packs also hunted separately. Due to the trying times of World War I, the Albemarle Hunt Club had to discontinue operations. This only left private packs to hunt this country which continued for nearly ten years after World War I.

The Farmington Hunt Club was organized in 1929 chiefly by Mr. Randolph Ortman of "Blue Ridge Farm," Greenwood, Virginia, who felt the Old Albemarle Hunt Club should be revived. He set forth conditions that they find two responsible men to underwrite the finances of the Club for two years in the amount of $2,000 per year, that they acquire a good pack of hounds, that Norris Watson and M. Jack Rinehart be made Joint Masters, and that the staff ride in color. Mr. Hollis Rinehart and Mr. P.H. Faulconer agreed to underwrite the finances. A meeting was held in the old "slave quarters" at the Farmington Hunt Club where a motion was unanimously adopted to organize.

Officers elected included: Mr. C.C. Fernsell, President; Dr. J.P. Jones, Vice-President; and Mr. W. A. Rinehart, II, Secretary and Treasurer.

Hunting Staff included: Norris Watson and Mr. Jack Rinehart, Joint Masters; and J.P. Jones, Frank Offord, Jack Carpenter and A.M. Keith, Whips.

With the organization of the club taken care of attention turned to preparing the hunt country. The club acquired permission to hunt over farms and paneled and repaired fences. They acquired a pack of hounds and trained them to hunt and pack together.

At the next annual membership meeting, Norris Watson resigned as Joint Master, and Mrs. J.P. Jones was elected to serve in his place, which she did for twenty years. At this meeting, also, Grover Vandevender was elected Huntsman and agreed to keep the hounds at his place near Ivy. Grover Vandevender remained as huntsman for thirty-two years.