Wateree Hounds dedication plaque on their new kennel expansion. Photo by Clare Buchanan.
The Wateree Hounds in South Carolina dedicated their kennel expansion to celebrate family, friendship, and the fox hunting tradition.
The newly expanded Wateree Hounds kennels. Photo by Clare Buchanan.
From the Wateree Hounds dedication:
For centuries, foxhunting has been a beloved sport that has brought people closer together. It’s a timeless tradition that highlights the importance of family and cherishing shared memories. Wateree Hounds in South Carolina recently celebrated a special dedication ceremony that pays homage to two lifelong fox hunters and dedicated members of the Wateree Hounds family.
The Wateree Hounds expanded its kennels this spring in honor of Kurt Krucke and Effie Ellis, two dedicated fox hunters who have made a tremendous impact on the newly formed Wateree Hounds. The dedication was a true celebration of family and friendship, and it was a testament to the way in which fox hunting brings people together. Kurt and Effie have been involved with Wateree Hounds since its establishment in 2020, and their contribution has left an indelible mark on the pack. To commemorate their service and commitment, the newly expanded facilities were dedicated in their name.
The new kennels boast twelve runs and spacious grassy areas for the hounds to exercise. The design offers plenty of room for hounds to move around, with separate sleeping and eating areas as well as a fenced-in yard that allows for fresh air. Temperature control ensures the hounds stay comfortable, no matter the weather. These new facilities will provide an even greater level of comfort for current hounds and enable Wateree Hounds to expand its pack in the future. The dedication was a reminder of the importance of fox hunting in bringing generations of hunters together and creating cherished memories that last a lifetime.
Kurt roading the Flat Branch Hound’s pack in 2007. Photo courtesy of Clare Buchanan.
Kurt William Krucke passed away in 2021. Kurt entered hunt service for the Middleton Place Hounds in Charleston, South Carolina. Subsequently, he was the professional huntsman over the next 29 years at the Camden Hunt (South Carolina), the Aiken Hunt (South Carolina), the Flatbranch Hounds (South Carolina), and the Tennessee Valley Hounds (Tennessee). Spending a day with Kurt as he trained his young hounds was a treasured experience for anyone who loves animals. Kurt was a lifelong learner, a voracious reader, and had a love of languages. He was accomplished in speaking Spanish and German and was learning Mandarin before he passed away. He was an accomplished white-water kayaker, an avid cyclist, and a skilled amateur naturalist.
Kurt with the Camden hounds. Photo courtesy of Clare Buchanan.
Editor’s Note: Kurt was the huntsman at Tennessee Valley the year that I was asked to be Master, and what I knew about being a Master could fill a thimble. He knew more than I did, and his jokes to me about regretting taking on those MFH initials set a nice rapport for the season to come. And the fact that he had a ponytail longer than mine, well, that endeared him to me even more. We knew that we only had Kurt as our huntsman for a year, and in that year I learned a lot from him. He kept our hounds in immaculate condition and the kennels in Strawberry Plains spotless. I’ll always be grateful for his silly side, when he suggested that he get on my 12.1hand pony, Ziggy, to call in the last hounds. Those photos will live in infamy since Ziggy had a blog on eCovertside at the time. Poor Kurt. He was a great sport!
Kurt Krucke in 2011 with the Tennessee Valley pack high up in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.