Rugby Decorates for Fall

 Rugby had a great weekend to show off the fall decorations that the Decorating Committee has been busy putting throughout the village.

Photo shows decorations at Newbury House gate and front porch of Commissary

The weather was especially nice Saturday for the Michaelmas Festival which included dancing demonstrations, a tea and and games for kids, in addition to local crafts, baked goods and lots of apples!

Photo on left shows the Tea Ladies (photo by Jim McBrayer) and photo on right shows dancers

Jim McBrayer confirmed why we are enjoying recent nice days so much.  He says we had 12.55 inches of rain in September, bringing the total for the year to 58.5 inches. That's 17.6 inches above average for the first 9 months of the year, and 3 inches more than the average annual rainfall on the plateau. The week of September 20-26 was the wettest week, with 7.6 inches rain and the most rainfall in one day was Friday, September 25, which saw more than 3.8 inches.

Rugby Property To Be Auctioned
Eric Wilson wanted to let everyone know that signs went up recently announcing that the Letner Estate at the end of Horseshoe Bend Road will be auctioned off at noon on Saturday, October 17. For sale will be approximately 9.3 acres of land with extensive frontage on White Oak Creek and a simple original Rugby colony house (the Samuel H.Giles House). The original house is largely hidden by newer additions now in extremely poor condition.

The auction is being handled by Ayers Auction (423-569-7922) which has more details on its website at http://www.ayersauctionrealty.com/ . Below are some photos of the property. As can be seen, the property has several derelict structures and extensive accumulations of trash which make it extremely unsightly and in some cases hazardous.

Photos of Letner estate by George Zepp

TTA Hike Rescheduled
Eric Wilson says the TTA hike originally scheduled for Saturday, October 10 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 13. Meeting time and destination are unchanged.

Ghostly Gathering Volunteers Needed
Historic Rugby is asking for volunteers to help with this year’s Halloween events – the two nights of Ghostly Gathering scheduled for October 24 and October 31. Cathy Hannaway says they need volunteers to help serve food, direct visitors in the community building, and assist with cleanup after participants have eaten and left for the tours at the Community Room from 6:15 p.m. until about 8:30 p.m. She says costumes are welcome, but not required! A Ghostly Gathering meal is included for any volunteers!

If you would like to help prepare for the event or help on either night of the event, please contact Hannaway at rugbylegacy@highland.net or Cheryl Cribbet at historicrugby@highland.net or call 423-628-2441.

This Week’s Events
Many things are happening this week. Here is a summary – with details below in the calendar of events.

Special Tea at Grey Gables – Wednesday - Grey Gables is having a special tea called Remembering the First Ladies of Rugby Tea from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Below is an historic photograph Linda Brooks Jones provided of a group of Rugby ladies entertaining.

Art Class – Wednesday - Please note day change- Mara Trumbo will have a class painting an Alstroemeria from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (See photo to left)

History Club – Friday - The history club will meet with Michael Harris talking about George Pearson Rogers, one of the Colony's English bachelors. 7:00 p.m.

Rice Hollow Picnic – Saturday - the Gibbs and McGinnis families “invite our Rugby friends” to the annual Rice Hollow Picnic at our Kentucky farm. The gate opens at 10:00 a.m.

Darwin Bertram Back in Hospital

Eric Wilson writes “It was good to see Darwin and Glenda Bertram at the potluck Saturday evening, but they had to leave early because Darwin was not feeling well. Darwin was back in the Jamestown hospital Sunday. His serious surgery and the prospect of a long recovery period have been very discouraging. I hope that those of you who know Darwin will find ways to help him get over this setback.”

Thanks to Eric and Carrie

Many thanks to Eric Wilson and Carrie Thornthwaite for handling the newsletter duties while we were away.

Rugby Writer Releases New Book

George Zepp has a new book, Hidden History of Nashville, a collection of some of his 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. Look for more information about it next week.

Olivers’ Halloween Party

Fred and Deanna Oliver say “the Annual Halloween Gathering is creeping closer and is manifesting itself quietly in the dark nights of Rugby. The ghosts are calling YOU to come. The people of the Village are expected. For your own safety be sure to disguise yourself as one of them. See you at the Olivers at 7 p.m. October 30. 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. I hope you live a charmed life.”

Create Your Own Rugby History Costume

Jody Hester is organizing an information meeting for those who wish to investigate putting together a period costume for Rugby Special Events on October 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Building. Bring anything you might already have that might be appropriate. This is an organizational and information meeting, so bring any information, pictures, or websites that would be helpful. A “workshop” will follow the next month.

Birthdays

October 8 – Chip Elliot and Mara Trumbo

October 10 – Teresa Coker and Tom Lee

October 11 – Barb Morgan and Mary Marlow

Calendar of Events

October 7 - Fine Arts Class – 10:00 - 4:00 Eastern at Art Expressions studio. Join Mara in painting an Alstroemeria in a full day fine art class in her Rugby home studio. Cost = $55.00 inclusive of all materials and a Gallery Wrap canvas. Lunch included. Pre-booking necessary, please call 423-628-6591 at least 24 hours in advance. Leave message if no reply.

October 7 – Tea at Grey Gables – “The First Ladies of Rugby.” Their legacy of unique entertaining was frequently chronicled in the Rugbeian newspaper. Recipes handed down by the early settlers will be served for your culinary critique. Each guest will be presented with the recipe of the dishes served. There is hope that an unexpected guest will grace us with her presence at the Tea Table. Menu: Salmon Salad - Mrs. C.H. Dunning (an occasional resident of Oak Lodge), Cabbage Salad with Slaw Dressing - Mrs. Walton of Walton Court, Floating Island - Mrs. G.K. Young, Huckleberry Muffins - Mrs. Berry of Idlewild. Reservations required. Linda Brooks Jones: 423-628-5252 or Email: greygablestn@highland.net . $10.00 per person,plus tax and gratuity.

October 9 - History Club will meet at the Friendly House at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Michael Harris will talk about George Pearson Rogers, one of the Colony's English bachelors. Note: The previously scheduled trip to Deer Lodge has been postponed.

October 10 – Rice Hollow Picnic - annual Rice Hollow Picnic at the Kentucky farm of Lavonne and Charles Gibbs. The gate opens at 10:00 a.m. The potluck lunch begins at noon. Music and horse shoe competition during the afternoon. Bring: Walking shoes, hat, chairs, stories, pictures, family, friends, food to share (drinks and forks provided), musical instruments and homemade crafts to show or sell. This year Mara Trumbo will be teaching the art of painting a barn quilt square. Julian Bankston will be leading a car pool, leaving the Cafe around 9:00 a.m. Eastern The trip is 50 miles, almost an hour and a half drive. For more information please call Lavonne or Charles Gibbs at 423-628-5678.

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). Limit 110 each night: 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 14 - Joan Donaldson Book Signing - Her new book "On Viney's Mountain" is scheduled for release in mid October. 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 - Instructo: 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.

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

Darwin and Glenda Bertram told me a couple of weeks ago that they'd been watching a hummingbird moth at their place, but they thought it was a bee. It does look and sound somewhat like a bee and also like a hummingbird at first glance. Yet this cleverly disguised insect is actually a moth, and this is the time of year that you can see them hovering around flowers. Yes, they fly in full sunlight. Their disguise helps protect them from birds that would eat moths. They also make a slight humming sound.

They begin life as moths with wings that are plum-red to brownish-black, but their wing scales (what gives butterflies and moths their wings colors) fall off in their first flight, leaving their wings clear.

Even as young yellowish green caterpillars with a yellow tail horn, they're attracted to flowers; their favorite food being the foliage of various honeysuckle plants. We have plenty of representatives of the honeysuckle family around here, including not only the bushes and vines called honeysuckle but also elderberry bushes. So keep your eye out in your flower gardens for what looks and sounds at first as if it's a hummingbird. Then when you look closer, you think it's some kind of bee with clear wings. I read in one of my butterfly/moth books that you can sometimes attract these interesting colorful little moths to you with certain kinds of cologne or aftershave lotion. The book failed to name any brands, however. They usually have some olive green and red on their bodies. If you own an Audubon's Field Guide to Insects and Spiders, look up hummingbird moth. There's a nice picture of one.

This Week's Editors:  Rick Murphy and George Zepp