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March
17, 1937
The
Day Spring
by
Don F. Cochrane
Transcribed
for the internet
By
Emma Thornburg Sefcik – 11/2001
__________________________
Leaders
of Jersey Cattle Industry
Are
Guests of Dr. P.A. Thomas Here
At their new home “Thomasonia,” the beautiful mansion that tops a
sightly knoll at Thomas Farms on South Center Street, Dr. and Mrs. Paul
A. Thomas yesterday entertained a group of members of the Southwestern
Michigan Jersey Parish association.
Meeting with the Jersey enthusiasts were H.E.
Dennison of East Lansing, field secretary of the American Jersey Cattle
club, and George Cooper, president of the Michigan Jersey Club and
manager of Oakland Farms at Ann Arbor.
One purpose of the meeting, and another held the day
before at Ionia, was to promote the Jersey Parish show, comprising a
group of western and southwestern Michigan counties and held annually at
Wayland.
When Secretary Dennison reported that the state
department of agriculture had appropriated $250 for the Wayland show
this year, Dr. Thomas countered with an offer to give $500 if the show
is held in Hartford instead of the Allegan county town.
Before going to “Thomasonia”
where a delightful luncheon was served at noon, the guests inspected the
ultra modern dairy barn at Thomas Farms where 29 registered Jersey cows,
13 of them imported from the Isle of Jersey, are quartered.
Secretary Dennison called them one of the finest, if not the
finest “small heard” in Michigan, and Michigan ranks sixth among the
states in Jersey cattle.
The visitors also viewed “X of Oaklands,”
the aristocratic gentleman who heads the Thomas Farms Jersey heard.
He is also imported from the Isle of Jersey, and is said to be
one of the finest Jersey bulls in America.
Enroute to “Thomasonia”
the visitors passed through the modern horse barn that Dr. Thomas is now
building. It is about the
last work in equine domiciles. C.C. Young of South Haven is the builder.
He also built the ultra modern home into which Dr. and Mrs.
Thomas moved only a few weeks ago.
Along the winding driveway that leads to the home Dr.
Thomas described the landscaping plans, now only partially completed,
that will enhance the beauty of the scene when spring again dresses
shrubs and trees in their livery of green. He
also pointed out three wells being driven at the edge of the woodlands
that skirt the driveway and which will deliver 5,000 gallons of water an
hour for lawn sprinkling purposes.
Arriving at the home Dr. Thomas demonstrated for the
amusement of his guests the radio controlled doors of his basement garage.
Stepping into his car he turned on the radio. The garage doors rolled up to
the ceiling. After the car was backed out the doors rolled down. Approaching
to the proper distance, wit radio on, the doors rolled up again. They are controlled by an intricate mechanism suspended from the garage
ceiling. “I don’t believe
it yet,” commented
Secretary Dennison.
That these Jersey breeders are convinced that they have the finest
cattle in the world was demonstrated in the round table discussion that
followed the bountiful luncheon which was graciously directed by Mrs.
Thomas. And not least of
the Jersey enthusiasts is Dr. Thomas himself.
The Jersey situation today is the most promising in
the history of the American Jersey Cattle club, declared Secretary
Dennison who presided. The
demand for Jerseys is heavy, he said, and the herds are increasing.
He described new organizations and testing programs being
sponsored by organized Jersey groups for the further perfection of the
breed.
Incidentally, Mr. Dennison paid a tribute to Dale
Dean, herdsman at Thomas Farms. He
observed Mr. Dean and his brother as they grew up as 4-H club boys in
Ohio, he said, and had watched their successful careers.
The brother is now herdsman at Cornell University.
President Cooper,
of the state club, and Clarence D. Cook of Lakeside, Berrien County,
president of the Parish group, also spoke – about nothing but Jerseys,
of course.
Leaving the luncheon tables, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas
conducted their guest on a tour of the new 24-room mansion, which is the
final word in modernity. Gorgeously
furnished, but all in exquisite taste, air conditioned and providing
every modern convenience, it is a beautiful country home over which Dr.
and Mrs. Thomas preside most graciously and hospitably.
Besides Messrs. Dennison and Cooper of the American
and state organizations, guest at yesterday’s luncheon were Mr. And
Mrs. W.C. Harder and Mr. And Mrs. C.L. Harder, of Three Rivers; Mr. And
Mrs. Ray G. Thomas of Tulip Vale Farm at Three Oaks; Mr. And Mrs.
Clarence D. Cook of Lakeside, where Mr. Cook is superintendent of the
Harold G. Swift Estate; Mrs. Clara Needham of Albion; Clarence A. Smith,
herdsman at the Chikaming Farm at Lakeside; Earl Dawson, herdsman at the
James C. Sturges farm at Cassopolis; James P. Hoekzema of Centerville,
St. Joseph county agricultural agent; County Agent John Woodman of Paw
Paw; Kenneth and Paul Overton. well known Jersey breeders at Bangor; and
the editor of the Day Spring. The
latter was not qualified by any knowledge of Jerseys, but he learned a
lot. Jersey “fans”
apparently dwell in a delightful realm of satisfaction, as rich in
island lore as Jersey milk is in cream.
About those “parish shows.”
That’s because in the Isle of Jersey the subdivisions are
called “parishes” not counties.
There will be six instead of four, the state having been
re-divided into six parishes.
Continue
on to other articles about the Thomas Mansion, please click here:
Quicksand Halts Construction of New Thomas Home
Leaders
of Jersey Cattle Industry are Guest of Dr. P.A. Thomas Here
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