I understand there was some excitement at Ruralia Saturday morning. Marlee Mitchell said that shortly after she had arrived and settled in to enjoy a pretty weekend in Rugby her fire alarm went off. It appeared that smoke was coming from the basement. Desperate to save her wine cellar, not to mention the rest of the original Rugby home that she has lovingly restored, she made a few phone calls. Before long a small crowd gathered to lend support.
Brave John Gilliat barged into the cellar and quickly discovered that the smoke turned out to be steam from a loose fitting on her energy efficient tankless water heater that was probably caused by excessive water pressure. John turned off the water, which solved the immediate problem, and later completed the repair. A grateful Marlee opened some of the newly washed wine bottles and shared a glass or two with John later that evening causing John to almost miss the Ghostly Gathering bonfire event.I may not have a complete list of all the responders, but I believe that in addition to John there was volunteer firefighter Peter Erickson, Jessie Gully (direct from the café with her apron on), and Barbara Stagg ready to beat out any flames with her cane.
I don’t know if it is related, but the next day Boyd Mitchell discovered a broken water pipe in front of the house he owns across the street from Ruralia where Linda Konig lives. Boyd said there has been trouble with excessive water pressure from the new water pumping station in Rugby. Fortunately, the broken pipe was between the street and his water meter so it shouldn’t be on his water bill.
Bonfire and Bluegrass
Early last week Cheryl and Butch Hodgkins posted an invitation at the mailboxes and told Rita to spread the word that everyone was invited to sit by an outdoor fire, roast hotdogs and listen to Bluegrass music. About 30 folks showed up on Wednesday night, including eight or so musicians, which I thought was a great turnout for a cool night. Everybody circled their chairs around the fire and the musicians, including Gerald Hanwright, Doug Piercy and Lonesome County Line kept the music flowing. It was a beautiful crisp fall night – and it turned out to be a wonderful evening. Thank you Butch and Cheryl.
Ghostly Gathering
The last two nights of Ghostly Gathering were sellouts and appeared to go well in spite of the wet weather that prevented the lighting of the bonfire at the Beacon Hill bandstand on Friday night. I don’t think the attendees missed much, because the hot cider was moved to the Visitors Centre porch and the final story telling was moved into the theater. The weather improved the next day, so the attendees did get to enjoy the lantern-lit walk up to the bandstand on Saturday night where John Gilliat and his helpers lit the bonfire and had kept the hay bales dry. Lots of Rugby residents and supporters volunteered their time to help with this event again this year.
Salute to HRI Staff
It has been quite a difficult fall for the small administrative staff at HRI. They have all been pitching in to help with the bookkeeping duties since the devastating death of longtime bookkeeper Barbara Ritchie. On top of that Barbara Stagg has been in considerable pain, which has limited her mobility, but is scheduled for hip replacement surgery in early November. If all that wasn’t bad enough, the HRI housekeeper recently left unexpectedly, which is of course in October, the busiest period for lodging in Rugby. Anyway, I hear that all of the HRI staff has been really working hard to get through this transition period until new staff can be hired. I just wanted to thank Cathy and Amber as well as Barbara Stagg and all the other staff and volunteers who have pitched in for all they are doing during this rough period.
Special Visitors
Tomilee Swain was nice to send me a picture of the group that came with her to Rugby a couple of weeks ago. She says the photo was taken at the Harrow Road Cafe. “Senator Baker gathered us all up and said ‘Let's go check out Rugby and have lunch’...which we did. We had a great day.”
(Starting at the front and going clockwise: Tom Chitwood, photographer friend of Sen. Baker's in Scott County; Sen. Howard Baker; John Rice Irwin and his daughter, Elaine; Tomilee Swain; Bill Swain; Jack E. Williams, former VP Development & Alumni Affairs at UT now retired; and Fred Marcum. Mike McClamrock, Director of East Tennessee Foundation in Knoxville took the photo)
Mara’s Painting Classes
Mara Trumbo's One Stroke Painting Classes will resume in her Rugby home every alternate Friday beginning October 31 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. This lesson will feature painting on glass with durable enamel paints. Mara says that “decorated bottles and jars become welcome Christmas gifts filled with home-made salad dressing, honey, cake mix or dry soup ingredients. You're only limited by your imagination, so come and explore the possibilities!” Call Mara at 423-628-6591 for reservations. Cost is $25.00 inclusive of all materials.
Congratulations Steve Logan
Bob Hemminger says that Beacon Hill homeowner Steve Logan was recently selected Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association’s "Conservationist of the Year." Bob says this is quite an honor. Steve is on the TSRA Board of Directors. The TSRA website says that Steve’s “contribution to the streambanks with the River Access Committee will have long lasting effects and bring more paddlers to our rivers.” The TSRA website is at http://www.paddletsra.org/
Trailer for SaleFOR SALE: Almost new 4x4x7 Foot trailer in Metallic silver with new spare tire and anti-theft lock , used only a few times for Mara Trumbo’s art shows and move to Tennessee. $1,500.00 O.B.O. Call Bob Trumbo, cell 931- 397-3280 or home 423-628-6591
Birthdays
October 27 - Nora Meadows
November 3 - Rick Murphy
Calendar of Events
Oct. 31 - Deanna & Fred Oliver’s third annual Halloween Party, 7 p.m. Eastern, at their house in Beacon Hill. Costumes are encouraged, but not mandatory.
November 1 - English Willow Basketry Workshop – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern - Instructor: Veronica Ludlow - $60 per person. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441
November 1 – Community Potluck – 7:00 pm Eastern
November 2 - English Watercolor Workshop – 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern - Instructor: Veronica Ludlow - $40 per person. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441
November 14 – History Night – 7:30 pm Eastern at the Friendly House. Rugbeians who recently went to England will share their experiences from their Rugby-related travels.
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am Eastern at the Friendly HouseQuilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern at the Friendly House
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
Autumn is a little sad when we notice that some of our favorite birds have flown south. The Wood Thrushes are among the very first to leave, usually before August. They have a longer way to travel, some of them flying as far as South America. Later we notice the Purple Martins, Hummingbirds, etc. are gone.
Fall is a good time to see migrating birds fly over, however. We are not on a major migration flyway here, but we are on the Sandhill Crane flyway from the Midwest to Florida. We usually see them flying over in late October and November. They fly high in ragged “Vees,” but their calls aren’t like Wild Goose honking. David Sibley in his Field Guide to Birds describes the Sandhill Crane voice as a “loud, resonant, wooden-sounding bugle with rattling or rolling quality.” Once you hear it, you’ll never forget it. So when you see a “Vee” formation high overhead, run outside and listen. It’s one of the most ancient cries on Earth.
Some of these Cranes fly only as far as Birchwood, Tennessee to spend the winter at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. You can go there in February for their annual Sandhill Crane Viewing Days to get a close look at hundreds of them congregating together. Then in March we’ll see them flying over Rugby again, heading northwest.
October 27 - Nora Meadows
November 3 - Rick Murphy
Calendar of Events
Oct. 31 - Deanna & Fred Oliver’s third annual Halloween Party, 7 p.m. Eastern, at their house in Beacon Hill. Costumes are encouraged, but not mandatory.
November 1 - English Willow Basketry Workshop – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern - Instructor: Veronica Ludlow - $60 per person. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441
November 1 – Community Potluck – 7:00 pm Eastern
November 2 - English Watercolor Workshop – 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern - Instructor: Veronica Ludlow - $40 per person. Contact Historic Rugby for reservations 888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441
November 14 – History Night – 7:30 pm Eastern at the Friendly House. Rugbeians who recently went to England will share their experiences from their Rugby-related travels.
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am Eastern at the Friendly HouseQuilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern at the Friendly House
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
Autumn is a little sad when we notice that some of our favorite birds have flown south. The Wood Thrushes are among the very first to leave, usually before August. They have a longer way to travel, some of them flying as far as South America. Later we notice the Purple Martins, Hummingbirds, etc. are gone.
Fall is a good time to see migrating birds fly over, however. We are not on a major migration flyway here, but we are on the Sandhill Crane flyway from the Midwest to Florida. We usually see them flying over in late October and November. They fly high in ragged “Vees,” but their calls aren’t like Wild Goose honking. David Sibley in his Field Guide to Birds describes the Sandhill Crane voice as a “loud, resonant, wooden-sounding bugle with rattling or rolling quality.” Once you hear it, you’ll never forget it. So when you see a “Vee” formation high overhead, run outside and listen. It’s one of the most ancient cries on Earth.
Some of these Cranes fly only as far as Birchwood, Tennessee to spend the winter at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge. You can go there in February for their annual Sandhill Crane Viewing Days to get a close look at hundreds of them congregating together. Then in March we’ll see them flying over Rugby again, heading northwest.
