While Historic Poole Forge was once known for its place in history as an iron-making community and later as a public site for community programs and events, it was once privately owned by various families.

Among them was the Wimer family, who hired Peter Green, a celebrated dog show handler, to work as a private handler for dogs owned by Dorothy Wimer, who was a breeder of many top show dogs. A special gathering to celebrate the life and legacy of Green was held recently at Poole Forge, during which a plaque and a statue were dedicated at the former paymaster's house, where the dog kennels were located.

According to Dawn Rise Ekdahl, executive director, Poole Forge was purchased by sisters Katherine and Margaret McDowell and their close friends William and Dorothy Wimer in 1948. The Wimer family owned and lived on the property until 1981. During this time, it was also home to the Poole Forge Kennel.

"(The Wimers) were dog show people, and they raised Sealyham terriers. The paymaster's building was turned into a kennel," explained Ekdahl. "They brought over a handler from Wales, and that was Peter Green. He came to live at Poole Forge in 1977."

While living at Poole Forge, Green and his Sealyham terrier, Ch. Dersade Bobby's Girl, known as Binny, won Westminster Best in Show in 1977.

Green was also the Westminster Best in Show handler in 1968, 1994 and 1998. Following his time at Pool Forge, he established his own kennels in Bowmansville in the 1980s. He retired from handling in 2006 to begin a career in judging. 

The plaque unveiled at the ceremony reads in part, "Peter Green and (Binny) truly left an indelible mark on the dog show world. Their 1977 Westminster Best in Show was a watershed moment for the breed and for Green himself, launching a career that would span decades and redefine excellence in terrier handing, including four total Westminster wins and a win at Crufts."

According to http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org, Green, in addition to his four Best in Show victories at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, won Best in Show in 2005 at Crufts in Birmingham, England, the largest dog show in the world, making him one of only two handlers to steer a dog to Best in Show at both Westminster and Crufts.

Green, who retired from judging a few years ago, was in attendance at the reception, sponsored by Purina. Also in attendance were seven Westminster Best in Show winners, who won a total of 17 Westminster trophies; Peter's four children, Debra Lamanna, Richard Green, Andrew Green and Melanie Klemas; and two of his seven grandchildren, Ian Klemas and Gillian Green. Also in attendance were five winners of Montgomery County Kennel Club dog show, the largest all-terrier show in the world, which Green has won eight times. Representatives from Purina Pro Plan Dog Food, the American Kennel Club, and Take the Lead organization were also present.

Born in Neath, Wales, Green began exhibiting dogs in 1946 as a young boy. His uncle, the late Harold Snow, a renowned Welsh Terrier breeder and owner of the Felstead Kennels, introduced him to the sport.

Throughout his lifetime, Green earned numerous accolades, including the AKC Lifetime Achievement Award, four Kennel Review Handler of the Year awards, two Gaines Handler of the Year awards, the Nature's Recipe Handler of the Year award, and the Bow Tie Dogs in Review Lifetime Advancement Award. His judging career took him across the globe, culminating in the honor of judging Best in Show at Crufts in 2009, a show that he won just four years earlier.

"The dog show community wanted to honor (Green) and place a statue and plaque in his honor. We met at the paymaster's, which was the perfect place to put the memorial," Ekdahl stated, adding that the Sealyham Terrier sculpture unveiled at the ceremony was created by Dane Fox of Honey Brook. "He carved it out of wood with a chainsaw and used other tools to get the details. He has agreed to come back and make sure it is maintained."

A segment from the day's ceremony will be featured during the broadcast of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in early February 2026.