PIG INDIGNATION
Last week I was looking through a 1980 draft of the design guidelines for rebuilding the Tabard Inn and noticed considerable information about appropriate fencing for Rugby structures. This was of interest since we are getting ready to add a cottage garden fence at Walton Court. A major factor in building the first fences in Rugby was the need to keep pigs out of gardens. One early letter to the editor of The Rugbeian is quoted as saying “Party-colored little porkers creep through our fences ….even barbed wire won’t stop them; they like it because it’s a sign they are not wanted inside, and this enchants the porcine mind.”

Apparently the pig problem became a big issue in the spring of 1884. Some of the local residents even held a “pig indignation meeting.” There wasn’t enough attendance to make a quorum, but there was discussion about the importance of having fence slats not more than four inches apart to keep the pigs out. The Rugbeian reported that “During the past week one or two unfortunate owners of four inch pigs, foretelling blood upon the moon, disposed of their stock. Beans may now safely be planted without fear of premature contact with pork.”

So why am I recounting all this historical detail about pig indignation meetings and such? Well, unfortunately, the pigs are back!

Jim and Dorcus McBrayer saw movement over near the Lovetts’ house the other day and Jim was actually able to catch several pretty good photographs of the not-so-little wild piglets, even though he was only carrying a little “point and shoot” camera. George and I went over Saturday afternoon to investigate and were fascinated when we saw three of the striped pigs running away from us down into the ravine behind the Lovetts’ house. George thought that some of these pigs might be about four inches wide, but they looked a lot bigger to me. And I have heard that you don’t want to mess with wild pigs, as mommas are very protective of their young.

So, dear readers, as you prepare your gardens this spring you may want to consider pig-proofing your fences.

HISTORY CLUB SETS RECORD AT GREY GABLES
The history club dinner meeting Friday night at Grey Gables had a record attendance of 44 people. I don’t know if it was the promise of a good meal or an interesting history topic that drew the crowd. The topic was the history of the Brooks family in the Rugby area. Linda and Bill Jones and their servers did a great job of serving dinner to that many people and keeping everything on schedule as dinner started at 6:30 pm and the meeting started promptly at 7:30 pm.

Linda Jones wants to thank and give recognition to Mara Trumbo for making the table menu cards for the dinner. In addition she wanted to thank Highland Manor Winery for supplying the dessert wine and to encourage those who partake of the grape to stop and see what vintners Butch and Gertie have to offer.

FLOWERS AND BOOKS AT THE COMMISSARY
Barbara Stagg says that after decades of requests, Rugby's heirloom English primroses are available for purchase. Documentation shows them in annual February and March bloom in Rugby since at least the 1920s. It's possible they were planted as early as the 1880s by the Hughes family gardener Jesse Dyer, as a new book about Thomas Hughes’ sister mentions them in the family gardens in England. These small and hardy beauties bear deep rose to maroon flowers with yellow eyes that smother the bright green leaves in early spring. These hardy plants quickly spread to fill in between neighbors. Those now for sale at the Rugby Commissary from Rugby's new Heirloom greenhouse operation are from Thomas Hughes' home, Kingstone Lisle. You'll never find these at Lowes! They are $5.00 each or three for $13.50, with proceeds benefiting the greenhouse operation.

Jeanie, An Army of One:Mrs. Nassau Senior, 1828-1877. The Commissary has received a few copies of the just-published book on the life of Thomas Hughes' sister, Jeanie Hughes Senior. Its author, Sybil Oldfield, who has spent time here in Rugby, had unlimited access to boxes of Hughes family letters and other manuscripts in England. Jeanie co-founded the British Red Cross, and battled government on behalf of exploited workhouse girls and pauper orphans. The book contains fascinating insights about Rugby's Hughes family members - Jeanie's mother, Margaret, her brothers Thomas and Hastings, her niece Emily, and the Dyer family. The paperback is $35, and more will be ordered Monday; let Rita know if you want a copy.

Rugby, Tennessee, by Thomas Hughes With Introduction by Benita Howell.
The University of Tennessee Press has just issued a paperback reprint of Thomas Hughes' 1881 book on his Rugby Colony. Rugby resident Benita Howell, UT Professor of Anthropology Emerita, has written an excellent introduction. The book should be at the Commissary by late this week and will be $17.95. Perhaps you can ask Benita to sign the introduction, as she will be doing at the May Festival.

HIKE THIS WEEK
Benita Howell writes that they have rescheduled the hike at Zenith with Teresa Coker for this Thursday, March 20. Leave from the Cafe at 9:30 Eastern time or meet at the new Zenith parking area at 9:00 Central time.

BUTCH’S NEW CD
A new CD has recently been released for Butch Hodgkins’ blue-grass band Lonesome County Line. You can get a copy from Butch at his new home across from the Commissary. His phone number is 628-6569. The band will also be among the featured performers at Rugby’s Spring Festival on May 17 and 18.

BIRTHDAYS
March 17 Eric Wilson
March 20 Carrie Thornthwaite

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March 20 – Hike at Zenith with Teresa Coker this Thursday. Leave from the Cafe at 9:30 EDT or meet at the new Zenith parking area at 9:00 CDT.

March 21 - Good Friday service at Christ Church at 5:00 pm EDT.

March 29 – Hike the Spicewood Branch – Old Mac Trail, Frozen Head State Park, Wartburg. Tom and Benita Howell will lead this approx. seven mile hike rated moderate to strenuous because of the 1500 foot climb. Meet at the Harrow Road Cafe at 9:00 am EDT to carpool, or meet at the Frozen Head Visitor Center parking lot at 10:00 am EDT. Please register with Tom Howell at tshowell1003@highland.net or phone 423-628-5521.

April 5 – Community Potluck – 7:00 pm EDT

Historic Rugby Workshops – contact Historic Rugby at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441 for details and reservations or check online for more information at http://www.historicrugby.org/workshop/workshop.htm
March 22 & 23 – Create a Birds nest Basket – instructor Judy Zugish
March 30 -Acrylic Painting - instructor Mara Trumbo.
April 19 – Wildflower Walk and Slide Show – instructor Jack Carman

Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House

Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House

NATURE NOTES by Linda Konig

June 16, 2006 – Wil Thornthwaite saved a dead scorpion for me that he found in his basement at Allonby a week ago. It looked very much like a teeny lobster that was brown. So Tyler Myers, Carrie and Wil and I looked at it under the black light. Bright lime green, but he or she might have been even brighter a week ago. Will and Carrie’s basement seems to be a real mecca for Tennessee scorpions.

Betty Burton says she was stung by one on the “funny bone” (where a nerve goes through the elbow) a few years ago. Her whole arm swelled up and was paralyzed for about three days. Evidently, the scorpion’s affect was stronger because of the sting’s location. I have read that our Tennessee scorpion stings are usually like a bee sting. Thank goodness we don’t have those bigger, more poisonous scorpions like the ones in the Southwest.