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ward peyronnin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Devareaux Emmet, Winterthur, and Biderman CC
« on: June 09, 2016, 12:21:57 AM »
Shout to whoever is into E. Demmet

I have lost track of who in the treehouse is the resident E Demmet authority but I had the wonderful experience of receiving a photo via text from my daughter of the signature on a nine hole layout commissioned by Francis Henry Dupont on his estate of Winterthur where she is employed.

DuPont was an hugely energetic steward of his legacy and was personally involved, as with so many other complex and interesting pursuits, with installing golf in his orbit.

He prepared for the transfer of the many collections and assets of his and arranged to transfer his private nine whole course, which had its own exclusive professional for 40 years, to the biderman club. The club website does not mention Demmet but cites Dick Wilson as designer no doubt when they expanded play to 18 holes. I noticed the course on a visit last month and got as far as the Wilson attribution and let it drop; shoulda realized he wasn't practicing in the 20's. My daughter chanced upon the layout while sampling the new "grounds Tour" as the guide carried a photocopy from their archives.

Maybe this is all on the body of knowledge. But what may be of real interest is Addie's discovery of a whole section of golf documents within the poorly catalogued but well organized Winterthur archives. My point in raising this is that I understood that as a consequence of his clientele, era of design, and the ephemeral state of his work Demmet is not well represented in discoverable examples of his work or physical records.

While the remaining relict of his course may be "Wisonized" beyond a good reconstruction of his work the Winterthur archives may have an abundance of detail available to shed valuable light on his legacy.

Therefore i can offer up my daughter as a resource for someone on this site who is working on Demmet; I would be glad to travel to Philly and research the archives in behalf/collaboration with someone or also take any direction and embark on my own possible pursuit of Demmet's legacy. I welcome your thoughts or information that this source has already been tapped and I can move on.

Cheers

"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication w/o the hangover; stimulation w/o the pills. It's price is high yet its rewards are richer. Some say its a boys pastime but it builds men. It cleanses the mind/rejuvenates the body. It is these things and many more for those of us who truly love it." M.Norman

Joe Bausch

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Devareaux Emmet, Winterthur, and Biderman CC
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2016, 02:38:50 AM »
Happy to help, Ward.  Winterthur is a neat place.
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Devareaux Emmet, Winterthur, and Biderman CC
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2016, 08:48:30 AM »
Isn't GCA-er Mark Chalfant our resident D. Emmet authority?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIXMF2eXlYk
« Last Edit: June 09, 2016, 08:51:07 AM by David_Tepper »

ward peyronnin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Devareaux Emmet, Winterthur, and Biderman CC
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2016, 06:08:22 PM »
Thanks David

I tried emailing Mark but after I hit send the message flashes that I am denied access to this section so I am unsure he is copying

Joe I will give you a call this weekend.
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication w/o the hangover; stimulation w/o the pills. It's price is high yet its rewards are richer. Some say its a boys pastime but it builds men. It cleanses the mind/rejuvenates the body. It is these things and many more for those of us who truly love it." M.Norman