Early French Bulldogs and Breeders in New England
The French Bulldog Club of New England held its first show in 1906 and was active until
the late 1920s. In its heyday, the club’s activities and annual shows were no less important than those of the national club. Attempts to revive the cub were made in 1936 and 1946.
The French Bulldog Club of New England, along with the FBDCA, published the landmark breed book The French Bulldog (AKA “The Blue Book”) in 1926. Here is a quotation from that book:
“The addition of [Nellcote] Gamin to the Purdy Brothers Kennels in Boston, that then contained several other dogs of value and merit, did much to make New England especially prominent as the center from which have come more high grade French bulldogs than from any other part of America. … Activities in behalf of French bulldogs, of an important nature, first centered largely in and around New York, but this condition did not last long, for New England soon took the lead in ownership and breeding, a leadership in both directions that has never since been taken from this section of the country, although now every part of America has its representatives of this breed.”
"Hartford Times Cup Variety Group No. 1, 1st Co. Gov's. Footguard Dog Show"
Photo of the Purdy Brothers with their first Frenchies. Photos of their famous dog CH Nellcote Gamin, winner of the 1910 National Specialty and several of his famous offspring follow.
The Purdy
Brothers’ kennel ad includes a list of some of these famous descendents of Gamin, whose photos follow the Purdy kennel ad.
CH Nellcote Gamin Winner of the 1910 FBDCA National Specialty
One of Gamin's sons, CH Pourquoi Pas, was Specialty BOB in 1911— the year after his sire won. Pourquoi Pas was bred by Frank A. Minard of Boston.
Denault’s Gamin, son of CH Nellcote Gamin, was BOB at the 1913 FBDCA Specialty.
Another of Gamin's sons, CH Dr de Luxe, was BOB at the 1914 National Specialty. His breeder was James T. Schaffner of Malden, Mass.
Dr. Walter Kendall of Boston, “the Dean of Squantum,” imported his first Frenchie in 1899. He owned Rico, the first French bulldog to achieve an American championship. Rico became his inseparable companion until its death. Kendall wrote of Rico: “There was not enough money in any one city to buy from me the only dog I knew had a soul.” Rico’s son CH Maurice was the first French bulldog Champion bred in the US.
At left is a photo of Dr. Kendall’s kennel manager.
Here is a kennel ad for Acceber Kennels in Massachusetts, and below is a photo showing a portion of their "summer run."
The 1926 book The French Bulldog said: “Perhaps no single individual dog has so strongly influenced the shaping of the head properties of French bulldogs than CH Parsque, purchased by Mrs. Fred Edwards of Boston from Mrs. Mary Winthrop Turner of the Never-Never Land Kennels by whom he was bred. … No dog has excelled Parsque in head, and especially in formation and carriage of ears, qualities he so consistently transmitted to his descendants.”
Here are some clips from Mrs Edwards' Bellevue Kennels
CH Tyner’s Parsque Perfection, bred by AM Tyner of Boston, was BOB at the French Bulldog Club of New England show in 1917, and was Winners Dog at the 1918 FBDCA National Specialty.
CH Fenway Frenchman, Bred by John Rocks of Boston and owned by Vincent M. Turley of Brookline, Mass., was BOB at the Westminster KC show in 1913.
CH Marquis Sans Prix, bred by Mrs. F.H. Scheeler of Townsend Harbor, Mass. was BOB at the 1923 FBDCA National Specialty and BOB at the French Bulldog Club of New England specialties in 1921 and 1922
CH Denault's Parsque was BOB at the 1925 FBDCA National Specialty.
CH Denault’s Parsque’s son CH Berbay was a top winning Frenchie of the 1920s, bred by Henry Slade of Springfield, Mass. Berbay Kennels took his name and continued to breed excellent Frenchies for many years.
Sometimes ads for stud dogs got a bit whimsical, as in this ad for CH Bouton.
Herbert E. Young of Boston bred the two dogs shown here, Enchantresse and Sikdar
A famous Connecticut breeder in the mid-1900s was the well known Lavender Lovell. As her daughter-in-law Sara Becker, noted, “That Mrs. Lovell was a “Character” is an understatement. If you met her once you never forgot her. Besides an extremely outgoing personality and love of life she capitalized on her Lavender name with everything from clothes to cars to collars and leads in shades of lavender/purple. The Silk Top Hat she wore in the ring was made by her grandfather — Robert Dunlap, founder of Dunlap Hats, NYC,”
Here are some more pictures of Lavender Lovell and her dogs.
