|
|
About nine months ago, after a visit with
Ayelien Richards,
I decided to do a profile on Wallace "Wally" and
Evelyn "Ev" Rodee - Morgan owners that lived in Moravia, NY.
From the late 40's though 1969 when Ev died, they were very active
with their Morgans and familiar faces to all.At first, my research was slow going - although there was material enough on the "Pepper" horses, Wally and Ev didn't have any children, and I wasn't sure of how I would be able to tell their story in such a way that you'd have a good sense of who they were. As luck would have it, between the Moravia Town Historian, the current owner of The Modern Market, and Dorothy Holmes, I was able to connect with three women that knew the Rodees well, and without their help I could never have told this story.
And it was at their encouragement that I was able to add to this profile a wonderful interview with Bob Brooks of Storybook Stables - the trainer that brought Brown Pepper into the public eye, and later believed so much in this horse that he carried through his bloodline into those fabulous Trijas Morgans. One of our longstanding NYSMHS members Mary Meixell says of Ev "I always found Mrs Rodee a very nice person to talk with. She always had time to show you her Morgans and loved to talk about them. A lovely lady. " and I've head those sentiments repeated in most interviews that I've conducted this year. I'm so very pleased to offer you this profile of the Rodee's and
their horses, but with a tinge of sadness as I wish I'd had a chance
to meet them myself.
|
| And now click here to view the Rodee scrapbook.... * Please read this important note. To best appreciate what you're about to view you'll want to remember your internet connection when selecting the Audio clips. If you use a modem and phone line to access the internet, you'll want to select "Dial Up" as the "High Speed" files will take too long to reasonably view. Unfortunately the "Dial Up" files will be small, and not easily viewed, but you can enjoy the sound by turning on/up your speakers. Please respect that the photos used are not public property, and any reproduction should be only after receiving permission to download the files. Should you have any questions, please email me at vlow@rochester.rr.com and I'll be happy to assist. Profile © Valerie Low, NYSMHS Club Historian
|
Barb
Lamphere (Parsons), Thalia Gentzel (Nungezer) and Fran Coomber were
the three daughters that the Rodee's never had. Each were part
of the "extended" Rodee family and came to know them initially
because of the horses. They were at Ev's side both at the farm
as well as the shows. 