Cherry Valley HistoryDid You Know?
Cherry Valley CC History
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Unknown
Have you ever wondered about the large converted barn and charming farmhouse nestled among the homes in the Cherry Valley community? Exactly who is that distinguished gentleman in the portrait hanging in the main clubhouse lobby? What is the significance of the headstone in the front hall?
The Board of Trustees of Cherry Valley has been able to trace the history of the property. Our Club sits on a former farm. The owner originated in Connecticut in 1937 and moved to our current location in Montgomery Township, NJ in 1941. In honor and out of respect for this history, the Board of Directors has renamed the two clubhouses “Woodacres” and “Hobler House”, replacing the designations of the Main or Golf Clubhouse and the Tennis Clubhouse, respectively. Many country clubs are steeped in history and tradition. The following is our history and how it ties into what all of us share as members of Cherry Valley Country Club.
Atherton Hobler was one of the founders of the Benton & Bowles Advertising Agency in New York. While achieving great success in advertising with clients such as Maxwell House Coffee, General Foods and Proctor & Gamble, Mr. Hobler and his wife Ruth decided to purchase a farm and move their family to Stamford, Connecticut in 1937. That farm was the original “Woodacres.” As a Christmas gift to her husband that year, Mrs. Hobler purchased the first two cows for the farm, one of which was named “Wethersfield Vivacious.” Today, as a tribute to the farm’s rich history, the stone from the local burial site of “Wethersfield Vivacious” hangs in the Woodacres lobby.
Over the years, the Hobler family’s herd of cattle grew substantially. Mr. Hobler took great pride in the fact that many of his cattle were ranked as national champions. Many of these cattle were shown around the country. One of the champion bulls, “Prince Royal,” sired cattle purchased around the world. It should be noted that while overseeing this successful farm, Mr. Hobler continued his position at Benton and Bowles, commuting to Manhattan daily.
On the advice of a friend, also a cattle farmer, Mr. Hobler came to Montgomery Township in New Jersey to look at farm property available for sale. Because he liked what he saw, and the fact that two of his sons were attending nearby Princeton University, he decided to purchase the property in 1941. At this time he moved his entire herd of 60 cattle from Connecticut to Montgomery Township, bringing along the farm's original Woodacres name. His initial purchase was 200 acres known as Skillman Farm, along with a large home up the hill at 1438 Great Road. In subsequent years, as the herd grew to number 150, he purchased an additional 400 acres.
In 1968, Mr. Hobler, who was then 78 years old, decided to retire from farming and held a “dispersal” sale at Woodacres. People came from all over the country for the chance to purchase his champion cattle. After the sale, he retained ownership of the property while leasing it to other farmers.
Mr. William Augustine, as President of The Great Road Land Company and Bedens Brook Company, made the initial purchase of a 50 acre tract of land in 1971 from Paul Tulane, founder of Tulane University, connected to the initial 600 acres. The Tulane property fronted Cherry Valley Road and on the south, Woodacre farm, and was eventually joined with the Hobler property.
Ultimately Mr. Hobler sold the property to The Great Road Land Company and Bedens Brook Land Company in the mid 1970’s. Their plans for development were similar to those of the Hobler family. It was the company’s intention, however, to make the golf course and country club the centerpiece of the project.
The present CVCC land had previously been Woodacres Farm, owned by Atherton Hobler, on which he raised the champion Guernsey cattle.
Initially, after the property was purchased by the Great Road Land and Bedens Brook Companies the country club was named Cherry Glen Country Club, other names later considered included North Woods, and Wood Acres. The Montgomery Township Planning Board favored the Cherry Valley name because of the nearby Cherry Valley Road, at which time was agreed upon.
In the early 1980’s Mr. Augustine retained Rees Jones to design the golf course, not realizing that Robert Trent Jones was Mr. Jones’ father.
The key to obtaining the necessary municipal approvals was the donation of a 50 acre tract of land to the Township of Montgomery by the Great Road Land Company & Beden’s Brook Company. Mr. Hobler’s children asked that the track be named after their father. It was becoming known as The Atherton Hobler Memorial Park, which is located today on the Great Road from the Country Club Drive entrance.
Once municipal approvals were obtained, the property was sold to DKM Properties in 1989. DKM later retained Mr. Augustine as founding VP on the CVCC project. He was involved with numerous changes to the golf course and housing site plans. He was also responsible for identifying and joining CVCC members until Gale Wentworth and Dillon became involved with the project.
During the official grand opening of the golf course in 1991, DKM Properties presented Rees Jones, who attended, with a cast iron plaque signifying CVCC as his “Longest Course,” not in yards, but in time spent on design! DKM also presented Mr. Augustine with a cast iron “Founder’s Plaque.”
The initial course layout included an 18 hole executive course north of Bedens Brook Road and an 18 hole regulation course south of it. The Clubhouse site was to be just south of the current 15th hole fairway.
Knowing that all current and future members of Cherry Valley Country Club will continue to enjoy our beautiful property for years to come the Board of Directors has chosen to honor our history by naming the two main buildings Woodacres and Hobler House. We hope these new names will be a reminder of our past grand history, while we move forward and create future memories at our Club.
Cherry Valley CC History
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Unknown
Have you ever wondered about the large converted barn and charming farmhouse nestled among the homes in the Cherry Valley community? Exactly who is that distinguished gentleman in the portrait hanging in the main clubhouse lobby? What is the significance of the headstone in the front hall?
The Board of Trustees of Cherry Valley has been able to trace the history of the property. Our Club sits on a former farm. The owner originated in Connecticut in 1937 and moved to our current location in Montgomery Township, NJ in 1941. In honor and out of respect for this history, the Board of Directors has renamed the two clubhouses “Woodacres” and “Hobler House”, replacing the designations of the Main or Golf Clubhouse and the Tennis Clubhouse, respectively. Many country clubs are steeped in history and tradition. The following is our history and how it ties into what all of us share as members of Cherry Valley Country Club.
Atherton Hobler was one of the founders of the Benton & Bowles Advertising Agency in New York. While achieving great success in advertising with clients such as Maxwell House Coffee, General Foods and Proctor & Gamble, Mr. Hobler and his wife Ruth decided to purchase a farm and move their family to Stamford, Connecticut in 1937. That farm was the original “Woodacres.” As a Christmas gift to her husband that year, Mrs. Hobler purchased the first two cows for the farm, one of which was named “Wethersfield Vivacious.” Today, as a tribute to the farm’s rich history, the stone from the local burial site of “Wethersfield Vivacious” hangs in the Woodacres lobby.
Over the years, the Hobler family’s herd of cattle grew substantially. Mr. Hobler took great pride in the fact that many of his cattle were ranked as national champions. Many of these cattle were shown around the country. One of the champion bulls, “Prince Royal,” sired cattle purchased around the world. It should be noted that while overseeing this successful farm, Mr. Hobler continued his position at Benton and Bowles, commuting to Manhattan daily.
On the advice of a friend, also a cattle farmer, Mr. Hobler came to Montgomery Township in New Jersey to look at farm property available for sale. Because he liked what he saw, and the fact that two of his sons were attending nearby Princeton University, he decided to purchase the property in 1941. At this time he moved his entire herd of 60 cattle from Connecticut to Montgomery Township, bringing along the farm's original Woodacres name. His initial purchase was 200 acres known as Skillman Farm, along with a large home up the hill at 1438 Great Road. In subsequent years, as the herd grew to number 150, he purchased an additional 400 acres.
In 1968, Mr. Hobler, who was then 78 years old, decided to retire from farming and held a “dispersal” sale at Woodacres. People came from all over the country for the chance to purchase his champion cattle. After the sale, he retained ownership of the property while leasing it to other farmers.
Mr. William Augustine, as President of The Great Road Land Company and Bedens Brook Company, made the initial purchase of a 50 acre tract of land in 1971 from Paul Tulane, founder of Tulane University, connected to the initial 600 acres. The Tulane property fronted Cherry Valley Road and on the south, Woodacre farm, and was eventually joined with the Hobler property.
Ultimately Mr. Hobler sold the property to The Great Road Land Company and Bedens Brook Land Company in the mid 1970’s. Their plans for development were similar to those of the Hobler family. It was the company’s intention, however, to make the golf course and country club the centerpiece of the project.
The present CVCC land had previously been Woodacres Farm, owned by Atherton Hobler, on which he raised the champion Guernsey cattle.
Initially, after the property was purchased by the Great Road Land and Bedens Brook Companies the country club was named Cherry Glen Country Club, other names later considered included North Woods, and Wood Acres. The Montgomery Township Planning Board favored the Cherry Valley name because of the nearby Cherry Valley Road, at which time was agreed upon.
In the early 1980’s Mr. Augustine retained Rees Jones to design the golf course, not realizing that Robert Trent Jones was Mr. Jones’ father.
The key to obtaining the necessary municipal approvals was the donation of a 50 acre tract of land to the Township of Montgomery by the Great Road Land Company & Beden’s Brook Company. Mr. Hobler’s children asked that the track be named after their father. It was becoming known as The Atherton Hobler Memorial Park, which is located today on the Great Road from the Country Club Drive entrance.
Once municipal approvals were obtained, the property was sold to DKM Properties in 1989. DKM later retained Mr. Augustine as founding VP on the CVCC project. He was involved with numerous changes to the golf course and housing site plans. He was also responsible for identifying and joining CVCC members until Gale Wentworth and Dillon became involved with the project.
During the official grand opening of the golf course in 1991, DKM Properties presented Rees Jones, who attended, with a cast iron plaque signifying CVCC as his “Longest Course,” not in yards, but in time spent on design! DKM also presented Mr. Augustine with a cast iron “Founder’s Plaque.”
The initial course layout included an 18 hole executive course north of Bedens Brook Road and an 18 hole regulation course south of it. The Clubhouse site was to be just south of the current 15th hole fairway.
Knowing that all current and future members of Cherry Valley Country Club will continue to enjoy our beautiful property for years to come the Board of Directors has chosen to honor our history by naming the two main buildings Woodacres and Hobler House. We hope these new names will be a reminder of our past grand history, while we move forward and create future memories at our Club.
