14
T. B. was a student of the principles of genetics. He had already applied those principles in working out actuarial tables based on life expectancy at Sun Life. At his farm, he began applying those principles to other animals and plants. He explored the scientific breeding of plants (maize, soybeans) so that they could be adapted to the short growing season in Canada. He considered the breeding of horses (Clydesdales, Shetland ponies), cattle (French-Canadian, Short-horns), hogs, geese, and even elk in those early days at the farm.15
FIRST HOLSTEIN COW Oakhurst Colantha Abbekerk (first Holstein cow).1927
16
However, the gentleman farmer got serious when he bought his first Holstein cow - Oakhurst Colantha Abbekerk - for $900 in 1924. Five other prize cows followed. He got really serious when, two years later, he bought a Holstein bull - Johanna Rag Apple Pabst - for $15,000.17
JOHANNA RAG APPLE PABST Johanna Rag Apple Pabst (Old Joe).1927
Mount Victoria Farm, Hudson, Quebec
18
NATIONAL DAIRY CHAMPIONS Old Joe at National Dairy Championship. Video by Oregon State University.1924
National Dairy Championship, U.S.A
19
Holsteins were not highly regarded in the dairy community. There was no doubt much snickering about the hobby of this gentleman farmer. However, T. B. believed, on the basis of his close study of genetics, that by intensive line-breeding and in-breeding from a proper foundation (Old Joe and his Big Six cows), he could achieve the goal of 4% butterfat in the milk (a sort of bovine equivalent of the four-minute mile) and the desired tight, well-shaped udders.20
JOE E. CHANDLER, FARM MANAGER1930
21
One of T. B.'s many skills was the recognition of talent and the enlisting of this talent in his various projects. In 1924, he had hired Joe E. Chandler, who already worked with him at Sun Life, as his Farm Manager. It was Joe, who also recognized talent when he saw it, who went to Wisconsin to 'hire' that Holstein bull, affectionately known as "Old Joe", to help in 'their' project.22
Old Joe was born on 24 January 1921 in Hartford, Wisconsin. Joe Chandler went to Wisconsin, bought him on behalf of his boss, and brought him home to Mount Victoria Farm. (A local resident, Walter Seguin, still remembers the excitement when Old Joe arrived at the railway station.) Old Joe died in late August 1933 as a result of a leg injury. However, in the interval, he had produced 51 daughters and 44 sons, who in turn produced most of the currently existing pure-bred Holstein herds in the world today.23
MORT W. BUTCHERS WITH HOLSTEIN COW Mort Butchers and Holstein cow.1940
Mount Victoria Farm, Hudson, Quebec
Credits:Jim Rose
24
Joe Chandler resigned as Farm Manager in 1937, rented a stone house just West of Mount Victoria Farm from T. B., and started a Holstein herd of his own at Meadow Wood Farm. (His house at 796 Main Road is now the home of Andrew and Jennifer Hasegawa.) Chandler was replaced by Mort W. Butchers, another example of T. B.'s genius for recognizing talent. The 'cow man', as he was fondly called, like his predecessor, became outstanding in his field. He was ably assisted by another fine find, John Buist.25
WILLIAM NUSSEY WITH CLYDESDALES1922
Mount Victoria Farm, Hudson, Quebec
26
The farm managers were not the only ones who worked and lived on the farm. There were many houses on the property for the families of the various workers on the estate - the gardener (Kennedy) and the blacksmith (Mallett), the chauffeur (Fellows) and the truck-driver (Seguin). The famous William Nussey, in charge of the horses and ponies, lived in a renovated school-house at the bottom of Macaulay Hill on Main Road. There was even a Social Club building at 69 Mount Victoria, which is now the home of John Manning.27
PRIVATE PETROL PUMP Private petrol pump at Mount Victoria farm.1930
Mount Victoria Farm, Hudson, Quebec
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