The Bulldog Club of New Jersey was
founded in 1936.
Its stated purpose was first printed
in 1938 as follows: To stimulate wide interest in bulldogs as pets and as show specimens;
To study the breed with the aim of producing specimens as close to the bulldog
Standard as possible; and To work for better judging at our specialty shows.
These purposes continue to remain standing objectives.
Club members welcome visitors to their
club's monthly meetings and to their private kennels.
Officers
were Norman Brown, president; H. J. McCruden, vice president; W. F. Washburn,
Jr., secretary; and A. Bayne, treasurer. They directed the new specialty club
during its infancy. The founding member's list is still retained by the club
historian, Ann Howd.
The club was founded by a large group
of bulldog enthusiasts from the northern section of New Jersey, who did not
want to travel to club meetings of the Bulldog Club of Philadelphia. The
membership list once numbered as many 177 members.
BCNJ hosted a specialty show from
April 1939 (except for 1943 and 1945), until the present. World War II kept the
group from fulfilling its goals and objectives during the early years.
The first specialty show was judged by
Mr. Harry Rawes in April 1939. His best of breed selection was Ch. Berton’s
Jack Tar owned by Mrs. C.L. Norton. It was held in conjunction with The Ramapo
Kennel Club. The club also hosts puppy matches and a futurity.
BCNJ's membership list of past and
present members includes the last names
of breeders and owners like Hubbard, Horne, Hugo, Howd, Bernfield, Averill,
Hetherington, Arnold, Deutsch and Eisenberger.
Most of the members, past and present,
are noted in the club's 50th anniversary booklet assembled by Ann
Howd (historian) and presented to the membership in 1986. This booklet contains
many letters and articles written by the members, bylaws, past specialty
winners and much more.
Among those listed as past presidents
are: Norman Brown,1936-1937 and 1940;
Frank Carolin, 1940-1942;
Steve
Averaill, 1946 and 1951; Cyril Bernfield, 1958-1960; Ernest Hubbard, 1961-1963;
Sheila Schneider, 1965-1967: Betty Rae, 1967-1968; Elenore Hendolwich,
1968-1970; Steve Averill III, 1970-1972; Lee Silva, 1972-1973;
Phillip
Schneider, 1975-1977; Betty Wilson 1978-1980; Roberta Arnold, 1980-1982; Ann
Howd, 1982-1984; and Edward Eisenberger, 1984-1985.
These historical references were
assembled by Ann Howd and Paul Thornburg.