CARMEN KENNELS
The Carmen Kennels Legacy
Carmen Kennels was registered on April 22, 1903 by Thomas Edward Lewis Kemp (or T.E.L. as he was better known.) It is the oldest registered kennel in the United States. He chose the name "Carmen" for his favorite opera of the same name.
T.E.L. was the Superintendent of horse shows, as well as many of the biggest dog shows thoughout the U.S. and Canada. His wife, Agnes was the first woman in America to receive her license to judge all breeds, and the first female to judge in Canada. She was on the board of the S.B.C.A., and was a well respected horse judge.
When T.E.L. died in 1944, having survived his wife by 8 years, their daughter, Rita, took over the kennel, and, together with her siblings, Arthur, Tom, Ruth, and Nellie, began a new era of Carmen Saints.
ABOVE: Rita Kemp (Holmes), daughter of T.E.L. and Agnes (c.1914)
MIDDLE: Agnes Kemp with brace of Ch. King Carmen and Carmen Beauty (1908)
BELOW: T.E.L. Kemp with Ch. Queen Flora 11 (1906)
Rita was one of the six co-founders of the New England Saint Bernard club, and served as its treasurer. Her husband, Harold Holmes, served twice as President. Through their 46 year partnership with Margaret Myers of Ox Yoke Kennels, they raised many champions, whose names may still be found on pedigrees throughout the U.S. Among these are Ch. Carmen President John Ox Yoke, Ch. Carmen Promise, Ch. Carmen Pandora of Oxyoke & Ch. Carmen Showgirl of Oxyoke. Both Harold and Margaret passed away in 1989. Upon her death in 1992, Rita still owned two St. Bernards, and the Carmen legacy was passed to the third generation.
Today, Carmen Kennels is owned and operated by the Holmes' youngest daughter, Janice Holmes Myers.
Janice has finished many champions of her own. Among them are Ch. Carmen Prophet of Marjoe, Ch. Carmen Pink Panther, Ch. Carmen Hocus Pocus, Ch. Carmen Polka Dot AKA Whitney, Ch. Carmen's Pathfinder Taz and Ch. Carmen It's Predestined To Be.
With the support of her son, Chris, and her siblings Pat, Theresa, Arthur, Bill, and Harry, she continues a proud family tradition, and assures a place for Carmen Kennels in future generations.
