Descendants of Rugby Carpenter Visit

Moses Kennington Remembered

By George Zepp

Historic Rugby received a surprise visit over the weekend from three Ohio descendants of early area settlers. 

Joyce Cromwell Fulton of Tory, Ohio, is the granddaughter of Moses D. Kennington (1845-1929), a carpenter who once lived in nearby Burrville and is buried in Rugby’s Laurel Dale Cemetery, along with his wife (1860-1950). Traveling with Joyce were two of her nieces, Patricia Cromwell Fink of Tipp City and Rebecca Cromwell Fitzgerald of Brookville, all in Ohio near Dayton.

The three brought with them a lovingly framed 1866 certificate that was Moses Kennington’s from Bath, England. It certified his membership in the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. 

We find from early Rugby newspapers that Moses was here at least by June 1881 when he attended a meeting featuring discussion over the schooling of Rugby’s children, then numbering about 70. He suggested that the Board of Aid, which handled land sales in Rugby, ought to aid a temporary school already set up by then. 

In April 1884, Kennington contracted with Abner Ross, known best as manager of Rugby’s Tabard Inn hotel, for “building of a frame house on his [Ross’s] Mount Vernon farm.” Then in January 1891 the Rugby News said “Mr. Kennington of Brooklyn, N.Y., is among us again. He will bring his family and improve his property here, so we are informed.” 

Mrs. Fulton said the Kennington home burned near the time of his 1929 death and his widow then left the area. She promised to share with the Rugby Archives a copy of an early letter from Rugby founder Thomas Hughes talking about the Kenningtons’ settling here.

 Rugby residents and friends are always glad to meet descendants. Linda Konig and Linda Jones gave these three a warm welcome.

Christ Church Rummage Sale

By Benita Howell

We are ready to receive donated goods for the rummage sale that will be held at Friendly House during Spring Festival.

Please bring all donations to Friendly House by Wednesday, May 9, if possible.

Someone will be at Friendly House Wednesday mornings between 9:30 and 11:00; on Saturday afternoons during quilting; and between 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday mornings. If you want to drop off your donations at other times, please call Benita Howell at 423-628-5521, or email bjhowell@highland.net, and I'll arrange to meet you.

Proceeds from the rummage sale go toward outreach activities and our contributions to local charities, so please help others also while you do your spring cleaning.

Rugby Store Reopens for Season

Spirit of Red Hill reopens Thursday

Spirit of Red Hill will be reopening on Thursday the 26th at 10:30 a.m. Donna and Annie are pleased to be getting back into full swing this week. "Stop in and say hello and check out the new and "old" offerings. We're looking forward to seeing everyone."

The shop will maintain its usual hours of 10:30ish to 5:30ish Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:30 on Sunday, closed Wednesday.

Meet Candidate for U.S. Congress

Mary Headrick in Robbins Wednesday


Mary Headrick, a candidate for U.S. Congress in the 3rd congressional district, will be at the Robbins Community Center on Wednesday the 25th at 10:30 a.m. This is an informal question and answer time with the candidate who would represent Morgan County in the House of Representives. More information about Mary is available at her website maryheadrick.com. Everyone is invited to attend. The Robbins Community Center adjoins the Habitat building in Robbins. Turn right at the Barton Chapel; the building is on the right.

Historic Rugby Announces Success in Forest Legacy Campaign

Thanks Supporters for Helping Protect the Future

Historic Rugby recently announced the successful completion of its Forest Legacy Campaign. In January Historic Rugby asked for support in its urgent campaign to raise $26,427 to be able to take advantage of a dollar-for-dollar challenge pledge that expired April 1. They needed to retire the Forest Legacy debt on part of the Rugby State Natural Area. It was secured by a tract of land that includes the environmentally sensitive Cox Branch drainage and Kellogg's Crack.

With the great support of many donors Historic Rugby met its goal. Here is the announcement:

“Historic Rugby is pleased to announce that the Forest Legacy debt has been retired.

We can all be very proud of this accomplishment and the knowledge that Kellogg's Crack and the Cox Branch drainage are protected for this and future generations.We could not have done this without each and everyone of you. We THANK YOU for your support and dedication to the conservation and protection of the sensitive land that surrounds Rugby! This is so very important to the Upper Cumberland Plateau.”

History Night May 18

Charles Wilson – Emily Hughes’ Ill-fated Fiancee

By Linda Konig

Our annual dinner meeting will be on the third Friday night of May since the second Friday would have probably interfered with people's preparations for the annual Festival of British and Appalachian Culture.  So mark your calendars for May 18, 7:30 p.m., at Grey Gables.

Howard Ray Duncan, Park Ranger and popular costumed interpreter of the area's past, was to have been the guest speaker.  Due to a last-minute complication, he spoke at the April meeting instead, and Linda Konig will be the speaker at the May dinner meeting.  Her topic will be Charles Wilson and three well-known-in-their-day members of his immediate family.

 One of Charles' brothers was surely an acquaintance of Thomas Hughes since this brother was headmaster at Rugby School for a time.  This brother visited our Rugby while Charles was living here.  Charles Wilson, as you will recall, was Emily Hughes' ill-fated fiancee.

The chicken dinner will include Linda Jones' irresistible rolls, beverage, and dessert for $11.  This does not include gratuity.  So call Grey Gables at 423-628-5252 to make reservations for you and your party.

See you there!

BIRTHDAYS

April 27 - Douglas Cooksey and Beth Donegan

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern time zone, just barely.

Saturday. April 28 – Opening celebration Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit – The Way We Worked – Progressive Savings Bank, Jamestown, TN – this exhibit will continue through June 2. In addition, Historic Rugby’s Visitor Centre will feature a supporting exhibit of people working in Rugby.

Saturday, May 5 – Community Potluck 7:00 p.m.

 Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13 – 38^th Rugby Festival of British and Appalachian Culture

Friday, May 18 – History Night Dinner , 7:30 p.m., at Grey Gables. 423-628-5252 for reservations.

Ongoing Activities

Quilters’ Group - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2–4 p.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House behind Christ Church

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

Christ Church Episcopal -- Sunday morning services, 11 a.m. Eastern year round; all are welcomed.

Carrie Thornthwaite’s Weekend Wanderings – Saturdays and Sundays – Join Carrie to hike. On Saturdays she usually leaves from the Cafe around 10 a.m. for a 1½ to 2 hour hike in the area. On Sundays she usually leaves, again from the Cafe, about 2 p.m. Note that this is "usually", but not always. If you'd like to join her, please call or e-mail her to confirm that she is indeed going to walk thornthwch@lipscomb.edu .


Historic Rugby Workshops

Celtic Knotwork (quilting workshop) - Choose between ancient and modern patterns suited to one's interest and desired complexity. Variations are simple to elaborate applique designs, from stained glass effects to mesh work. Celtic Knot patterns can be adapted to any application that uses fabric. Students are invited to an additional four hours to work on this project Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Eastern and Sunday (optional for those who wish to continue on their project), April 29 from 11a.m. until 3pm Eastern time. Instructor: Joyce Lantz, Fee $45

Mosses and Liverworts Around Rugby Learn about the small plants, which form a green carpet over the forest floor, the luxuriant mosses, and liverworts. The workshop is Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m.. – 2 p.m. Eastern. Instructor Dr. Kenneth McFarland is a Ph.D. Lecturer, Division of Biology, from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His interests are morphology, taxonomy, and ecology. Workshop fee is $15 ~ register early!

Spring Wildflower Walk and Picnic Lunch ~ On Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, attendees can take part in one of the most diverse wildflower walks in Tennessee, led by instructor Jack Carmen, whose book Wildflowers of Tennessee is a definitive guide. Jack leads field trips and photo workshops for the Gatlinburg Spring Flower Pilgrimage, among others, and has won awards for his wildflower photos. The fee is $25 and includes a plant list of expected sightings. The day will finish with a film presentation and book signing in the late afternoon.

Sun to Shade Design Garden/Cumberland Plateau Garden Tour at Rugby Come spend the day in garden activities including a sun to shade design workshop plant sale, lunch and garden tour. Included in the day’s activities is a presentation including information about Rugby’s gardens, lunch and finishing the day with an Afternoon Tea in the garden. The event is Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. Eastern until 5:30 p.m. The all-inclusive fee is $40. Instructor Bob Washburn, co-owner of Wolf River Valley Growers in Pall Mall, will be joined by Rugby’s own Rick Murphy and Barbara Mitchell for this very special event. Register early – this is a day not to be missed.

Show Your Spirit Basket Workshop Create a generously sized Spirit Basket that is perfect for tailgating or carrying with you. This is an intermediate level project. The workshop is Friday, June 22 from 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Eastern and Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern. Instructor Beth Hester is the owner of The Basket Maker’s Catalog. She has been teaching basketry workshops locally and throughout the southeastern U.S .for many years. Workshop fee is $99 ~ register early!

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

NATURE NOTES

A Spring Rhapsody

By Linda Konig

Last fall, Boyd Mitchell gave me a big cocoon that looked a lot like a rough brown paper football about 4 inches long.  It looked sort of familiar, and later I found a picture of one in one of my books.  It seemed to be a Cecropia moth cocoon.  I saved it in one of the carport window shelves, hoping it might hatch eventually, though I haven't had a lot of luck in the past with saving cocoons.  So many things can go wrong inside those cocoons before hatching time, or to use the correct term, eclosion.

I knew it should eclose in the spring, and a couple of days ago, I got impatient and went ahead and opened up the cocoon.  The thing rattled when I shook it like something hard was inside.  So I was afraid that whatever was inside might be dead.  I'd thought I could just tear open the brown paper covering with my hands.  Wrong.  It took a razor blade. Just inside the brown covering was a thick layer of lengthwise coarse brown silk threads for insulation and padding.  I was able to pull them apart with some effort.  Then I saw the inside case.  It was the hardest layer of all, and, again, I had to use the razor blade. Opening this layer took several strokes with the blade, though it was the thinnest.  I tried to be very careful doing this, and it was a good thing I did because fitting tightly inside was a mostly-black pupa with some red showing.   This pupa was a wonder to behold.  You could see where there were antennae and wings and body segments.  The word sarcophagus came to mind.

The next day I learned from looking more in books and on the WEB that it was a Cecropia moth pupa, our largest and arguably most dramatically beautiful moth, black with red and white markings.  Thankfully, opening up the Cecropia cocoons or even removing the pupa from inside doesn't harm them (though that isn't true of most moth pupae).  From what I've observed, I think mine is probably alive and well.  Believe it or not, as the time for eclosion nears, you can see them moving their lower body segments, and mine moved his today when I checked him out.  Yes, he's a him.  His plumose antennae are very wide, and that's typical of the males.   Since I'm keeping him outside, I've left the pupa inside the cocoon because it's probably good insulation against the cold which we could still have.

For a rhapsodic and beautiful experience, you simply MUST get on the WEB and call up some You-Tube sites that show, moment by moment, the eclosion and opening of the wings, etc.  This is one species that has been thoroughly observed, documented, and filmed from egg-hatching to mating and egg-laying and dying.  Here is one of the best sites I found:   http://pinebaskets.tripod.com/cecropia.html . It not only has numerous photos of the moth's life processes, but a day-by-day journal of raising these moths.  Yes, there are people who raise them and sell the eggs, etc., and that's good since Cecropias on the decline.

This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp