On October 15, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will present its Trustees Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites to Historic Rugby. The organization will be one of 23 nationwide award winners honored by the National Trust during its 2009 National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
To date, Historic Rugby has authentically restored 10 original buildings, historically reconstructed three more, developed an architecturally compatible visitor center, theatre and restaurant, and conserved nearly 800 acres of surrounding woodland. The group is also shepherding a new development of Victorian homes being built by modern-day "colonists" at Beacon Hill and other areas designated on the 1880 town plan.
"It's entirely fitting that the National Trust's Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites is this year presented to Historic Rugby because it would be difficult to find finer stewards than the citizens of Rugby, Tenn., and their many supporters" said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Because of Historic Rugby, a remarkable Victorian village survives, and the long-ago dreams of Thomas Hughes and the more recent vision of Brian Stagg are being realized."
The winners of the National Preservation Awards will appear in the November/December issue of Preservation Magazine and online at www.PreservationNation.org/awards.
Executive Director Cheryl Cribbet, Development Director Barbara Stagg and others from Rugby will be attending the conference this week, which is expected to focus on an area of great interest to Historic Rugby – sustainability. Sustainability is a buzzword used frequently in the nonprofit community these days to talk about a number of issues of importance to nonprofits. Historic Rugby’s staff and Board of Directors are currently focused on a major examination of all its programs to determine how best to operate the organization in the future to financially sustain through good and bad economic times and build upon past preservation efforts.
Tuesday Hike
Eric Wilson wants to remind everyone about the hike this Tuesday. He says “the Big South Fork Chapter of TTA will be hiking from Cove Lake State Park to the Devil's Racetrack, following a section of the Cumberland Trail. Devil's Racetrack is a very interesting geological feature which you will have seen if you've traveled North on I-75. Hikers will go three miles up on a trail described as neither steep nor very long, have lunch at the top, and then retrace their steps back down for a total of six miles. Meet at the Harrow Road Cafe at 9:00 Eastern time to carpool to the trailhead. An article and video about this hike can be found on the Web. Search on Knoxville News Sentinel Hike of the Month Devil's Racetrack.”
Please let Eric Wilson know at ericavi@highland.net if you plan to join this outing.
Darwin Bertram and Michael Stagg
Several people have mentioned that Darwin Bertram is back home from the hospital. He reportedly had further surgery last week.
And on Sunday, John Gilliat mentioned that Michael Stagg is in a hospital in Chicago (where he was attending a conference). They think he may be dealing with problems from a recent tick bite on a camping trip in the Nashville area.
Rugby Books and Authors
We attended the Southern Festival of Books last weekend in Nashville. It is always refreshing to see how much interest there is in books and writers in Tennessee.
Rugby has always attracted folks who like to write and appreciate books. For example, this coming Saturday is the second meeting of the Rugby Book Club which will be discussing “Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” by Louis Erdrich.
In addition, for several weeks now Rugby Week noted the recent release of a new novel loosely based on a person from Rugby’s history. Joan Donaldson’s book “On Viney's Mountain” is now available at the Commissary. This historical novel for young adults is set in the Rugby Colony and features a heroine suggested by Aunt Dicey Fletcher (imagined as a young girl). Now is a great time to reserve your copy for the book signing in Rugby scheduled for November 14.
And, as we mentioned last week, George Zepp has a new book, “Hidden History of Nashville,” a collection of some of his seven years of weekly columns from “The Tennessean,” answering questions about the history of Nashville’s people, places and things. It was published Sept. 30 by The History Press of Charleston, SC, and London. While it is primarily about Nashville, the book does include a photo of German POW bakers at their Crossville camp during WWII. Copies are available from George in Rugby (or by postal mail), from Internet book stores and from Nashville book stores. His email is: LearnNash@gmail.comBurn Permits Required Soon
Outdoor burning will require a burn permit beginning October 15. According to the Morgan County News, “activities requiring a permit include, but are not limited to, unconfined, outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood waste and burning to clear land…. Burning permits are free of charge and may be obtained in advance for weekends and holidays.” Call the local Division of Forestry office at 423-346-6655 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except state holidays).
Ideas for Rugby Week
We would like to hear from you! If you have an idea for a topic about Rugby that might be of interest to others, please let us know. This could be things of local interest or questions you have about the community.
Birthdays
October 16 – Debbie Harris and Laurie Lee
October 19 – Brenda Hanwright
Calendar of Events
October 13 - TTA hike at Cove Lake S.P. Contact Eric Wilson at ericavi@highland.net
October 17 - Book Club - 7:00 p.m. Eastern at home of Vi Biehl and Eric Wilson. The next book is “Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” by Louis Erdrich. Questions? Call Vi at 423-628-2817 or email ericavi@highland.net
October 24 and October 31 - Ghostly Gathering - A Calling of the Spirits From Rugby's Past. Story telling, Ghostly Film, Chili and Cornbread Dinner, Candle and Lantern Lit Tours, Druids Bonfire Stories. Admission: Adults $19; Students $10.00 (6 and Above ONLY Please). Advance Reservations Required - call Historic Rugby at 423-628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400.
October 25 – “Costume Party” – Receive free consultation regarding putting together a costume for Rugby special events. 2:00 p.m. Eastern at the Community Building. For more information contact Jody Hester at jonell@deeceelabs.com
October 30 – Community Halloween Party at the Oliver’s at 7:00 p.m Eastern. You may bring food for the Spirits if you feel afraid. Come stir the caldron and feed the rats and bats. The witches and goblins will be out that night.
November 7 – Community Potluck 7:00 p.m. Eastern
November 14 - Joan Donaldson Book Signing – 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Her new book "On Viney's Mountain" has been released and is now available at the Commissary. This historical novel for young adults is set in the Rugby Colony and features a heroine suggested by Aunt Dicey Fletcher (imagined as a young girl). For more information on Joan or the book check www.joandonaldson.com or Google "On Viney's Mountain."
December 5 – Christmas Tour of Homes
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
HRI Workshops –
October 17 - Learn to Play the Banjo - Appalachian Mountain Style - New Workshop - Instructor: Tony Thomas - learn how to tune the banjo, the cover old time picking techniques of frailing, two fingers, plectrum, strumming and rhythm; plus help with accompanying other musicians.
November 7 - Walk About Basketry - Walking Stick – New Workshop – Instructor Judy Zugish - All levels can learn to weave a classy walking stick handle from prepared bark and plant fibers for those glorious Cumberland Plateau hiking trails. Treasure and use your walking stick often.
November 8 - Walk About Basketry - Water Bottle Basket - New Workshop – Instructor Judy Zugish - All levels can learn to weave a unique belt or shoulder carrying basket for your water container, woven with prepared bark and plant fibers.
TO REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS: Call 423-628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400. Lodging is available at Historic Rugby with a 10% discount to all workshop participants.
Nature Notes
by Linda Konig
Thank goodness for Newbury pond, a little touch of wilderness in the midst of Rugby. With its cattails and surrounding vegetation, it's an invitation to wildlife, especially for various birds, frogs, turtles, foxes, etc. Last Monday night I got a phone call from Marilyn Young, saying she and Walter and Rick Murphy were puzzled by birds that they were hearing in the pond. It was too dark to see them well. She wondered if I'd like to come over to try and identify them. Of course I went. Well, these birds were making all kinds of weird calls and seemed to be in the cattails settling in for the night. I thought they might be migrating through, but had no idea what they were except that they were some kind of waterfowl.
Photo of wood duck from Wikipedia
I determined to get up early the next morning to see them take off. Thank goodness it wasn't raining, and they flew off intermittently by twos, threes, and fours as soon as it was barely light enough to see. Unfortunately, they just looked like dark blurs as they sped past heading west into the woods toward the river. I did see some of their silhouettes well enough to see they were ducks. As each duck peeped out from the cattails, it was immediately airborne with a loud splash and a mighty beating of wings. Would they come back to the pond again the next night?
Yes, they did, and I was waiting for them. That day I'd read up on waterfowl in our area and guessed that they were probably Wood Ducks – unless they were migrating birds. The first few I spotted were high above, circling once over the pond, evidently "casing" it to see if the coast was clear. A few minutes later (about 7:00), they began flying in from the west, again by twos, threes, fours. Their takeoffs and landings are swift and shallow. The instant they hit the pond near the center, they dived into the cattails, using them as camouflage. Again I was frustrated in not getting a good look at any of them until a drake landed. He was the most handsome bird I ever saw. He knew he was handsome and he swam slowly about in the middle, seeming to strut, letting the world admire him. He's probably the most frequently painted waterfowl in the U.S. I've seen hundreds of paintings and carvings of male Wood Ducks and so has everyone else. After the rest of the flock was in, he serenely retired to his chosen spot in the cattails.
Wood Ducks live year-round in the Big South Fork along the river. They've often been seen between Peters Ford and the new high bridge just west of Rugby. I counted 29 splashdowns in Newbury Pond. Maybe they'll continue to spend their nights here. They frequent ponds with vegetation that are against the woods, so don't bother trying to spot them in manicured ponds with mowed edges. In the daytime, they'll be eating acorns, nuts and seeds in the woods. These ducks are shy.
(Editor’s Note: Somehow last week’s Nature Notes ended up being a story that Linda wrote a year ago, even though she believes she sent us an electronic version of a brand new story. This could be the evil spirits of Halloween playing some early computer tricks.)
This Week's Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
