Sculpture on Display  

By George Zepp

A fascinating artifact from the Historic Rugby Archives is now on display in the Visitor Centre. It's a handsome plaster sculpture from 1875, five years before Rugby opened. And it was donated to Historic Rugby by a descendant of the W. Hastings Hughes family in New England a few years back. (He was founder Thomas Hughes' brother, and the person within the family most actively involved with Rugby's early management here in Tennessee.)
It's titled "Checkers up at the Farm," by sculptor John Rogers (1829-1904). Everyone who takes the Historic Rugby guided tour, or who attends a public event at the Rugby Visitor Centre, has a chance to see it and read more about it.

In the 1870s it sold for just $15. The artist picked special “putty” color paint for this and his other plaster works designed NOT TO SHOW DUST. (In his honor, we have not dusted it. So you can see how clean it looks with little attention.) His wife posed for the female figure. Rogers sold over 80,000 sculptures in plaster and bronze, known as "Rogers groups."

The Dixon Gallery in Memphis is now displaying another copy of this very work and 39 others by Rogers until Oct. 9. They are all part of a traveling tour from the New York Historical Society's collection.

Rugby is proud to be adding to the state's historical and artistic landscape.

A photo of sculptor John Rogers

Rugby Literary News

History Club Explores British Literary Connections

 By Benita Howell

On Friday evening, Jessie Gully described connections between Hughes family members and well-known authors British authors whose fiction depicted everyday life of Victorians occupying all social levels: Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Elizabeth Gaskell, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Anthony Trollope. The five novels considered most influential in drawing attention to the social ills and promoting reform are Bleak House by Dickens, Middlemarch by Eliot, Wives and Daughters by Gaskell, Vanity Fair by Thackeray, and The Way We Live Now by Trollope. These might be good choices for reading by the fire on snowy days this winter.

Book Club’s Next Selections

 By Lavonne Gibbs

The next meeting of anyone interested in the Rugby Book Club will be at Barbara Stagg and John Gilliat's house, Roslyn, on Saturday, October 15, at 7 p.m. The book is The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage, originally published in 1967 and set in 1920s Montana. Barbara has been recommending it very highly. Barbara has one copy and Lavonne two copies they are willing to lend, but it is not expensive if you order online:   http://www.amazon.com/Power-Dog-Don-Winslow/dp/0375405380 .

The November meeting will be held at Lisa Donegan's house. The nonfiction book In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson is George Zepp’s suggestion and he will lead that discussion. It’s set in Berlin just before World War II.


Rugby’s Water

By Rick Murphy

I was a bit dismayed to turn on the water Sunday morning to find that it was a bit tannish in color.  I called our water department at Huntsville Utility District expecting to get a recording, since it was Sunday morning, but a person actually answered the phone.  The fellow said there was a line break a day or so earlier, it had loosened some sediment and that had just made its way through the line to Rugby. He said it was no big deal and that it would clear up as we ran more water.

Food Distribution

By Donna Heffner

Food Distribution Wednesday, Sept. 14

 

Beginning at 12 noon, there will be a free food distribution of perishable and non-perishable items at Rugby Road United Methodist Church, located on High Street in Elgin.  There will be signs and persons on U.S. 27 directing you to the church.  The food is from Second Harvest Food Bank, and is free to anyone – there are no eligibility requirements at all.  Please let everyone know this food is available that day!

Volunteers Needed for Food Distribution: 

We are in need of volunteers to help with the above food distribution.  Persons are needed in various capacities, such as helping unload food from the truck, packing food into bags, and distributing bags as cars drive up, etc.  The more volunteers, the easier the job will be! A light lunch of soup and sandwiches will be provided for the volunteers.  Please come to the Church of Christ parking lot in Elgin (across from the Stop ‘n Go convenience store) between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14.  You will leave your vehicle there and be shuttled to the Rugby Road UMC.  If you are unable to come at that time but could come later, please call Donna Heffner at 423-627-4397 to let us know when to pick you up. We look forward to working together to be of service to our community!

Rugby is for Grandparents

 By Lavonne Gibbs

 Debbie and Mike Harris's daughter will have a baby girl this Wednesday. The Harris family is the 7th of the 21 households in Beacon Hill to become grandparents of children age 2 and under.

BIRTHDAYS

Sept. 13 - Ted Chrisman

Sept. 17 - Terry Martin

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern Time zone, just barely

Wed., September 14 – No Yoga today!

 Saturday, Sept. 17 – On the Porch at the Commissary - Bobby Edwards of Fentress County demonstrating White Oak Basketry

 Wed., September 21 – Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast Inn is sponsoring a speaker on Wed. Sept. 21 from noon until 2 p.m. Eastern. Marj Flemming will provide invaluable information about refining and enhancing your management skills. Marj has compiled essential foundational building blocks for successful leadership in her new book, Leadership Wisdom in a Nutshell. Come as an individual or bring your staff to enjoy a lunch prepared by Innkeeper Linda Brooks Jones and benefit from Ms. Flemming’s expertise in management and coaching. The cost is $12 plus gratuity for lunch. Marj will have her book for purchase and signing.  Reservations are required: 423-628-5252. Reserve early as space is limited

 Saturday, Sept. 24 – On the Porch at the Commissary - Mary Curren of Jamestown demonstrating Spinning of the Trundle Wheel and Terri Dillihay of Pleasant Shade, Tenn., demonstrating Weaving

Saturday, October 1 – Michaelmas Festival, Christ Church Episcopal – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern. Free events including crafters in church yard, English Country Dancers, bake sale, children’s activities, tours of historic church. British Cream Tea, $10 per person – seatings at noon and 2 p.m. with reservations for tea recommended. Contact Dorcus McBrayer 423-628-1282 or grannymcbrayer@gmail.com

 Saturday, October 1 – Community Potluck 7 p.m. Eastern

Saturday, October 8 – Cemetery Lantern Tour, 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Follows afternoon Benefit Chocolate, Wine and Cheese Sampling event at Uffington House. Details pending from Historic Rugby.

Sunday, October 9 – Historic Rugby Board Meeting 1:30 p.m. Eastern at the Community Building

Saturday, October 15 – Book Club Meeting - next selection The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage http://www.amazon.com/Power-Dog-Don-Winslow/dp/0375405380  The meeting will be at Barbara Stagg and John Gilliat's house, Roslyn, at 7 p.m. Eastern

Quilters’ Group - Wed. and Sat. 2–4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House

Rugby Yoga – Wed. 8:30 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House.

NATURE NOTES

Praying Mantis

 By Linda Konig

Editor’s Note:  This is a reprise of one of Linda’s earlier columns – an "oldie, but goodie."

 The other day I saw the most striking praying mantis I ever saw, and it was flying in a meadow.  This particular mantis was large, a bright salmon color with green and brown wings.  I didn't know they could be that color, but since then I've read that they can be various colors in the brown to green range, including salmon.  A couple of days later, I found a new praying mantis egg case on a holly tree.  Yes, this is the time of year they mate and lay their eggs. 

 All this got me to thinking about mantises, and I looked up some info on the WEB about them, particularly about their flying, since you seldom see them flying about--in the daytime.  I found out they usually do their flying at night and are drawn to lights.  And mantids don't have wings till late summer/early fall, so this is the only time of year mantids fly.  As nature would have it, this is also when the adult female begins to emit pheromones that draw the males. 

 What else is flying around at night?  (The plot thickens.)  Well, bats for one, and they are the worst enemies of adult flying mantids.  So how do all the flying mantises keep from being on the bats' fall menu?  They have an ear!  That's right, just one ear, and it's located between the mantid's hind legs.   (No, I'm not making this up.)  With this marvelous ear, they can hear the echolocation sounds the bat sends out.  When the frequency increases,  this tells the praying mantis that a bat is closing in on him or her.  Then the mantis goes into evasive manouvers, namely, spiraling quickly down to safety on the ground.  Oftentimes, the descent is preceded by an aerial loop.  I suppose the looping and spiraling  is to confuse the bats?      

Historic Rugby’s Workshops

Saturday, September 17 - Victorian Decorations ~ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. EDT. Instructors: Beth Hester, JoNell Hester and Joyce Lantz. Fee $25. Using fabric, lace, paper, ribbon and reed, create charming Victorian ornaments. At the end of the day, take home 6-8 ornaments plus many ideas and patterns.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23, 24, and 25 - White Oak Basketry ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Bobby Edwards. Fee $130. This very popular 3-day workshop teaches the art of White Oak basketry from tree selection, splits, rims and handles to weaving a beautiful traditional basket. This is an experience not to be missed even if it does require “hand strength.”

Saturday, October 15 - Autumn Gathering and Arranging ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Linda Konig. Fee $24. Join us in the fields and roadsides to gather dried wildflowers, seed heads, berries and nuts to create your own fall arrangement. Learn the names of and interesting information about all your “autumn gatherings”.

To register for workshops, call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441. Lodging may be available at 1880 Newbury House and local cottages at a 10% discount to students. Food service is available at the Harrow Road Café.

Historic Rugby’s website at http://www.historicrugby.org/ lists all workshops for the year.


This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp