A Hunting They Will Stay (In Middleburg)
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By Emma Boyce
wo bronze hounds, suspended mid-chase in front of 301 East Washington Street, mark the new Middleburg location for the Master of the Foxhounds Association & Foundation. Formed in 1907, it’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a goal of preserving the sport of mounted hunting in its various incarnations across the United States and Canada. “There were a lot of places that they could have chosen for their headquarters,” said Middleburg resident Penny Denegre, MFHA’s second vice president and, for over twenty years, Master of Fox Hounds for the Middleburg Hunt. “Perhaps one reason they chose Virginia is that out of 150 recognized hunts under their purview, 25 are in Virginia. From that standpoint, it makes sense that it’s here.” (Pennsylvania, with ten hunts, comes in a distant second.) Before making its home in Middleburg, the MFHA had an office in Millwood. At one time, it was even located in Boston. The Middleburg move now seems permanent. As the nexus of American fox-hunting, the Middleburg area has dedicated its stores and restaurants to the sport. It’s nearly impossible to walk down Washington Street without encountering the village’s most famous staples, the fox and the hound. While some states consider fox-hunting antiquated, for many of the denizens of Northern Virginia, it’s a way of life.
Two bronze hounds, suspended mid-chase grace the front of the Middleburg based Master of the Foxhounds Association & Foundation.
Penny Denegre (right) with her husband John Denegre.
“We Virginians are very grateful and proud that it’s here. It means a lot to us,” said Denegre, noting the symbol of the town of Middleburg is the running fox. “Historically, many famous Virginians were avid fox-hunters, George Washington being probably the most famous.” The impetus behind the move to Middleburg came from former MFHA President Dr. John R. van Nagell, who believed in the importance of having a brick-and-mortar facility devoted to the sport. “He felt very strongly that we needed a presence, some place where people could come and learn about fox-hunting and where there could be an exchange of ideas,” said Denegre. Following through with Nagell’s vision, the new headquarters aims not only to be a haven for participants, but also for those new to it.
In the future, the MFHA hopes to have a foxhunting library, as well as educational brochures for newcomers. On view now are bronze sculptures and portraits, excluding one painting by Ellen Emmet Rand, temporarily on loan to the National Sporting Library & Museum. The building itself is something to see. Erected in 1830, it served as the home of Lorman Chancellor, mayor of Middleburg during the Civil War. Confederate raider Col. John Mosby often joined him for dinner there on Sundays. It also was the long time residence of the Allen family, who founded and still own The Fun Shop. Today, the building is looking to make history again as the permanent location of the MFHA. “The MFHA now has a home,” said Denegre, “and that is a wonderful feeling.” The MFHA building is open to visitors Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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