Many people such as Dr. McEwen , Dr. Palmer , Dr. Carruthers , and Mr. Lantz promoted the Empire Black Fox Company . Otiers such as Bill Bernard , Jim Engles , Herb Jelley , J.P. Duffus , H.E. Hutstis , James MacWilliams , Fulton Ellis also had ranches. Guarding the foxes How valuable the foxes! Cement fox hoises with combination lock. The equipment of a fox farm varied from a few pens in the cor¬ ner of a barnyard to a specially constructed enclosure that could house over five hundred foxes. Most farms consisted of a number of pens enclosed by a guard fence. The fences were made of wire and were sufficiently high to keep the foxes safely inside. In each pen was a den for protecting the animals in severe weather. It was insuhted by sawdust or straw packaging to keep it warm and dry. Willis' Fur Farm was formed in 1979 and in 1982 after C.F. Wilis ' death it was taken over and operated by Brian Willis until 1988. Fur Fashions of the Jay. Left Gar Carruthers right Ira Hardy , around 1910. This fox ranch was located on what is now the site of Community Hospital. 248