Rock Concert Rocks
Nearly 200 people attended the benefit concert by Legacy, a classic rock band from Cookeville. The evening turned out to be picture perfect in spite of thunderstorms that came through Rugby earlier in the day. The moon which rose to one side of the Visitor’s Centre added to the special feeling of the evening.
It was Historic Rugby’s first rock concert and the first time a concert was done outside in front of the new Visitor’s Centre, so it was all a grand experiment. The band performed from the porch while the audience brought chairs and sat out in the yard and driveway in front. It was a special evening and the band did a wonderful job of entertaining. Some of the audience got up and danced, especially after it got dark. The photo of the crowd above was taken by Mara Trumbo (I believe the man in the background with his tongue sticking out is Bob Trumbo!)It is very generous of the band to donate their time and talents for this concert. I know it took a lot of energy to set up all the heavy equipment. And Historic Rugby is grateful for the donations which go to support its mission. Approximately, $2,000 was raised which included donations from two generous anonymous supporters, one of whom matched 100% of the donations and the other who matched 50% of the donations. The photo of the band below was taken by Randy Paylor.
History Night
Friday night about twenty people came out for the history meeting where Linda Konig discussed Amos Hill, the Rugby colony’s early demonstration gardener and forester. Most of Linda’s lecture was taken from the book, Rugby, Tennessee and the new introduction by Benita Howell which discuss Amos Hill’s British background, his experiences in east Tennessee during the Civil War and how he came to settle near Rugby in Glades.
Although we did not get into it at the meeting, the book says Amos Hill had only been hired in May of 1880, but somehow had succeeded in preparing and planting a bountiful demonstration garden by the time Hughes visited late in the summer, in spite of competing projects related to clearing land. Hughes describes the half-acre garden as “the most advanced, and I think, the most important and interesting feature of this settlement” being covered with watermelons, cantaloupes, so many tomatoes that they were rotting on the vine, lima beans, yielding at the rate of two hundred and fifty bushels an acre, cabbage, sweet potatoes, beets and squash.
HRI Acquires Yandilla Property
Historic Rugby recently completed the acquisition of the property at the corner of Horseshoe Bend Road and Highway 52 where the house called Yandilla once stood. They acquired the land from Bob Hemminger and Eric Wilson. Although nothing has been decided, the HRI board has expressed interest in seeing that the home be historically reconstructed on the site. You can see a photo of Yandilla on page 61 of the photo book on Rugby that Barbara Stagg released last year.
This Week’s Happenings
Please notice in this week’s calendar that there are two classes this week. Mara Trumbo is having a floral painting class on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday Historic Rugby is sponsoring a two-day pottery workshop.
English Country Dancing
Mary Hemminger has noticed that a lot of people enjoy watching the English Country dancing of Lark in the Morn done at Rugby’s spring festival each year. You may also have seen these dances performed in Jane Austin movies. On Saturday night, July 26, Mary and Bob Hemminger will offer a beginners’ class in English Country dancing. They will use recorded music, but if there is enough interest, live musicians can be invited in the future. The location is tentatively scheduled for the Friendly House at 7:00 pm. Next week the location will be confirmed. Dress is casual. Please e-mail Mary Hemminger at mejs@juno.com to let her know you can come, and so she will know how many dancers will be there. Come learn what it means to: "Hands four from the top." "Set and turn single." "One's cast and go below while the two's move up." "First corners two hand turn."
Pig Update
Ok, I try not to talk about this every week. Just every other week! The notorious feral pigs of Rugby which reappeared in March are still around. They have almost completely dug up the front yard at the Lindens and the lawn around Ingleside is a complete mess. There have been attempts to hunt them – Mickey Worthington has apparently shot a few. But that does not seem to have discouraged them. After a brief break, Pearl Nester has started seeing them again at High Wray. We have had some sign of their rooting near the woods in back of Walton Court and in front of Roslyn.
After the recent New York Times story on the subject, I googled the subject and it indeed appears that feral pigs are a big problem around the country. In some areas government wildlife agencies are more helpful in hunting the pigs, although I have heard that the local TWRA agent has started helping to hunt the Rugby pigs.
Unless hunting starts to move the pigs away from Rugby, it appears that we will all want to construct more of the traditional Rugby fences that the early colonists used to keep pigs away from their property and gardens. This could very well be a good opportunity for a fence-building business in Rugby.
Radial Arm Saw for Sale
Eric Wilson has an older model Sears 10 inch radial arm saw for sale for $100. It is in good condition and comes with several blades. If you interested contact Eric at vianderic@bellsouth.net.
Birthdays
July 17 Virginia Lee
July 18 Cathy Hannaway
July 19 John Mount
Calendar of Events
July 18 – Painting Class at Mara Trumbo’s. A rose composition will be the theme of a Wet-On-Wet technique floral painting class from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at Mara's house. Cost = $50.00 inclusive of all materials, a 16"x 20" canvas and a free lunch. (If you have any dietary concerns please BYO). Call Mara at 423-628-6591 - pre-booking required.
July 26 – Tennessee Trails Burnt Mill Bridge Loop hike. This is a 4.3-mile loop with moderate difficulty and some short stairs. Bring snacks for a lunch somewhere along the trail since we will be going at a leisurely pace. Leave the Harrow Road Café at 9:30 am EDT with plans to be at the Burnt Mill Bridge parking lot at 10:00 AM. Hikers can either meet at the café where we can carpool or meet at the Burn Mill Bridge parking lot. Hike Leaders: Wil & Carrie Thornthwaite E-mail: wil@thornthwaite.com Phone: 423-628-5862. The morning of the hike use Wil’s cellphone 615-390-9716 for any late calls Saturday morning.
July 26 – English Country Dancing 7:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House. Email Mary Hemminger if you would like to come at mejs@juno.com
August 2 – Community Potluck 7:00 pm EDT
August 2 –Talk & Booksigning by Jeff Biggers. 8:00 pm EDT at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. The author of The United States of Appalachia discusses his new book about his experiences living among the Tarahumara Natives of Sierra's Copper Canyon. No charge - donations welcome.
August 9 – Concert – The Boys of County Nashville. 7:45 pm at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Three-piece traditional Irish Band. Tickets must be purchased in advance through Historic Rugby. $10 Adults, $6 K-12 Students.
August 7–10 – Highway 127 World’s Longest Yard Sale – an estimated 4,000 vendors line Highway 127 from Defiance, Ohio down to Gadsden, Alabama. Yard sale comes within 15 miles of Rugby near Jamestown, Tennessee.
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
July 19 & 20 – Creating with Clay – Instructor June Watts teaches this two day pottery workshop. Is perfect for beginners or those with limited experience. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm EDT. Fee $45, materials $20.
July 26 – Rugby’s Hidden History Series – Barbara Stagg leads a leisurely stroll around Uffington House and the Tabard Inn site informing and entertaining with details few known about. Outing begins at Harrow Road Café with lunch and discussion. 12:00 to 4:00 pm EDT. Fee $24 (including lunch).
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House
Dulcimer Class – Tuesdays, 2:00 pm 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
Last Friday, Bob and Mary Hemminger wanted me to look at the egg case or cocoon or whatever was on their screened-in porch. It was big, elliptical, dark grayish-brown and was attached to the window ledge with tan filaments that seemed to be coarse silk. I didn’t know what it was but guessed that it was a moth cocoon of some sort.
Yesterday, Carman Roberson said he had heard strange tapping sounds from two different wood piles on his house site. I walked back there, and, sure enough – strange tapping sounds were coming from the woodpiles. I would venture a guess that they are some kind of insects. The sounds weren’t the same loud tapping sounds heard early Saturday morning at one of the ponds at Clear Fork Farm. These tapping sounds at the pond were Northern Cricket Frogs! A new discovery for me, and I wouldn’t have recognized the frogs’ unique courting call if I hadn’t heard it many times on a frog audiotape that Mary Dresser gave me. Thank you, Mary!
