Over two years of planning and a six month search have ended with Historic Rugby announcing that it has named a new Executive Director, Cheryl Cribbet, a recent transplant to the Rugby area. Here is the announcement I received:
“Board chair Larry Edmondson is pleased to announce that the Historic Rugby board has hired Cheryl Cribbet as the new executive director. Cheryl and her husband Dennis relocated to Scott County early this year after discovering the Big South Fork area, and are building their home and several cabins on a tract of land between Elgin and Huntsville.
“Cheryl's career includes 12 years on the island of St. Lucia managing the restoration of an 18th century estate and working sugar mill, adaptive development of reception and dining facilities, development of nature trails and botanical gardens, and directing heritage tourism operations that included educational tours, food service, and lodging. While in St. Lucia, Cheryl helped develop the Soufriere Soup Kitchen to help feed the poorest of the area's population. Cheryl was raised in North Carolina, and later lived and worked in Florida.
“Cheryl will begin work as executive director January 5, 2009, but will be in evidence several days a week during December helping with accounting work and with Christmas at Rugby. Barbara Stagg and Cheryl will work closely during a transition period, and Barbara will continue to work full time for another year or two as a development executive focusing on fundraising, major project completion, and natural and cultural resource conservation.
“A board search committee made up of John Hicks, chair, Jim Meadows, Beth Hester, Rick Murphy, Larry Edmondson and Barbara Stagg reviewed and considered more than 40 applicants before recommending Cheryl to the board as the best fit for Historic Rugby's current and future work and challenges.”
Below is a photo taken by Greg and Kay Reed at the British Cream Tea showing Cheryl Cribbet on the far right. Barbara Stagg is in the middle with her daughter Valerie on the left.
Christmas at Rugby Begins Saturday
Candlelit visits to traditionally decorated historic buildings, glimpses of 1880s Rugby Christmases, seasonal music, an award winning film and mural at the new Rugby Visitor Centre & Theatre, and a traditional Victorian dinner all await visitors to Christmas At Historic Rugby. The annual holiday fundraiser will take place December 6 & 13.
Six historic and reconstructed buildings will be open to visitors each Saturday, lit with candles and old-time oil lamps, and beautifully decorated with holly, ivy and evergreens, just as used by Rugby's early colonists. Open buildings include the antique-filled founder's home, Kingstone Lisle, where Madame Margaret Hughes, the founder's mother, portrayed by Virginia Lovellette, will greet visitors. The fragrance of plum pudding steaming on the kitchen wood stove will fill the house. Visitors will also be welcomed to 1880 Newbury House, the Victorian-furnished original boarding house, now a bed & breakfast.
The Harrow Road Cafe will serve a four-course Christmas dinner by oil lamp light at two reserved seatings each evening - 5:45 and 8:00 pm Eastern Time. The menu includes: Champagne Punch; Spinach, Cheddar & Bacon Puffs; Roast Chestnut Soup; Roasted Savoury Loin of Pork and Dressing w/Port Wine Reduction; Minted Peas; Spoon Rolls; Ginger Pound Cake with Spiced Crème Anglais; and Beverages of Choice. Recipe handouts will be provided. For event and dinner tickets and area lodging information, call Historic Rugby toll free at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441.
Recent Happenings
Lavonne Gibbs said that 14 people attended the Thanksgiving potluck at the Friendly House. She said it was great to see several people come “home” to Rugby including Mary Ann Lovett, Jenny Young, Eric Wilson and Bi Viehl. World travelers Bob and Jenny Young have not been in Rugby much lately as they recently went to Argentina and Bob just got back to Rugby from a trip to England and Wales visiting family.
Friday’s Thanksgiving Marketplace was well attended and people enjoyed the large number of crafts people and crafts demonstrators. Cheryl Cribbet, the new HRI Executive Director, enjoyed her first British Cream Tea at Newbury House while husband Dennis spent time in the Rugby Print Shop as “printer” John Gilliat answered visitor questions about the old printing equipment.
Candlelit visits to traditionally decorated historic buildings, glimpses of 1880s Rugby Christmases, seasonal music, an award winning film and mural at the new Rugby Visitor Centre & Theatre, and a traditional Victorian dinner all await visitors to Christmas At Historic Rugby. The annual holiday fundraiser will take place December 6 & 13.
Six historic and reconstructed buildings will be open to visitors each Saturday, lit with candles and old-time oil lamps, and beautifully decorated with holly, ivy and evergreens, just as used by Rugby's early colonists. Open buildings include the antique-filled founder's home, Kingstone Lisle, where Madame Margaret Hughes, the founder's mother, portrayed by Virginia Lovellette, will greet visitors. The fragrance of plum pudding steaming on the kitchen wood stove will fill the house. Visitors will also be welcomed to 1880 Newbury House, the Victorian-furnished original boarding house, now a bed & breakfast.
The Harrow Road Cafe will serve a four-course Christmas dinner by oil lamp light at two reserved seatings each evening - 5:45 and 8:00 pm Eastern Time. The menu includes: Champagne Punch; Spinach, Cheddar & Bacon Puffs; Roast Chestnut Soup; Roasted Savoury Loin of Pork and Dressing w/Port Wine Reduction; Minted Peas; Spoon Rolls; Ginger Pound Cake with Spiced Crème Anglais; and Beverages of Choice. Recipe handouts will be provided. For event and dinner tickets and area lodging information, call Historic Rugby toll free at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441.
Recent Happenings
Lavonne Gibbs said that 14 people attended the Thanksgiving potluck at the Friendly House. She said it was great to see several people come “home” to Rugby including Mary Ann Lovett, Jenny Young, Eric Wilson and Bi Viehl. World travelers Bob and Jenny Young have not been in Rugby much lately as they recently went to Argentina and Bob just got back to Rugby from a trip to England and Wales visiting family.Friday’s Thanksgiving Marketplace was well attended and people enjoyed the large number of crafts people and crafts demonstrators. Cheryl Cribbet, the new HRI Executive Director, enjoyed her first British Cream Tea at Newbury House while husband Dennis spent time in the Rugby Print Shop as “printer” John Gilliat answered visitor questions about the old printing equipment.
Kay and Greg Reed said they had a wonderful turnout at the British Cream Tea. They said more than 50 people "took tea" in the parlor at Newbury House with them. I don’t know how many years Greg and Kay have done the tea event, it has to be over a decade, but I know it is a lot of work. Historic Rugby is very grateful to them for all their dedication and the work of the other volunteers who help them.
Above are the "Tea Elves" - Back Row left to right: Jessie Gully, Lavonne Gibbs, Kay Reed. Front Row left to right: Ron Jackson, Greg Reed, and Bethany Jackson
Eleven hikers walked nearly four miles of the loop trail at Burnt Mill Bridges. Somehow the group avoided getting rained on in spite of the gloomy sky. The group enjoyed trying to identify native plants along the way, including a stand of Cumberland Rosemary and some Witchhazel bushes in bloom. Our wonderful hike leaders Tim and Lynn Takacs treated the group to snacks at Grey Gables afterward.
Tennessee Conservationist Wins Media Award
The Tennessee Conservationist magazine won the 2008 Outstanding Media Award from American Trails at its recent National Trails Symposium held in Little Rock, Arkansas. Rugby property owner and Robert Walton descendant Louise Zepp is editor of the magazine which is part of the Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment.
The organization’s website says that the award “recognizes the tremendous contributions of The Tennessee Conservationist magazine to significantly demonstrate sustained and exemplary positive public exposure and education in the field of trail use, planning and construction… Since 1995, when budget constraints caused the elimination of contributor payments, unpaid volunteers have supplied the articles and photographs appearing in The Tennessee Conservationist. During the course of a year, over 100 individuals from a variety of organizations contribute articles and photographs to produce this publication.”
For more about the award and this magazine’s impressive collection of articles go to: http://www.americantrails.org/awards/NTS08awards/Media08.html. To buy a copy, visit the Rugby Commissary.
Birthdays
December 8 - George Zepp
Calendar of Events
Birthdays
December 8 - George Zepp
Calendar of Events
December 5 - A Victorian Christmas at Grey Gables - 7:00 pm Eastern, Hot Mulled Cider.....Holiday Eggnog and multiple course Christmas dinner with entertainment after dinner by the Cross Family Singers. $27.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Contact Bill and Linda Brooks Jones at 423-628-5252 or email greygablestn@highland.net
December 6 & 13 – Christmas at Historic Rugby. Event includes candle and lamplit visits to traditionally decorated historic buildings, hot wassail & caroling, actors presenting Rugby Christmas Past, seasonal music - $9 in advance, $10 at the door with students (high school or elementary) at $4, and HRI members $6. Traditional four-course dinner is extra by advance reservation only – 2 seatings $29 each, tax & gratuity included. Purchase event and dinner tickets at the Visitor Centre or call toll free 888-214-3400
December 10 – Invasive Plant Removal on Massengale Homeplace Trail Route. Volunteers needed. State Natural Areas steward Lisa Huff will lead a work session to pull invasive Japanese Spirea growing along the route of the soon-to-be-built Massengale Homeplace trail and historic spring area. Meet at the Rugby Community Building at 9:30 am Eastern. (Date will be changed for rain or snow)
December 20 – Rugby Chorus Christmas Performance at Christ Church – 7:30 pm EasternDecember 24 – Christmas Eve Service – 5:00 pm at Christ Church followed by a potluck in the Friendly House – everyone is invited
December 25 – Christmas Day Hike – Annual hike to Colditz Cove. Meet at the Harrow Road Café at 2:00 pm Eastern
December 20 – Rugby Chorus Christmas Performance at Christ Church – 7:30 pm EasternDecember 24 – Christmas Eve Service – 5:00 pm at Christ Church followed by a potluck in the Friendly House – everyone is invited
December 25 – Christmas Day Hike – Annual hike to Colditz Cove. Meet at the Harrow Road Café at 2:00 pm Eastern
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern at the Friendly House
Rugby Related Websites
Historic Rugby – http://www.historicrugby.org/
Grey Gables Bed & Breakfast Inn - http://www.rugbytn.com/
Christ Church Episcopal - http://christrugby.etdiocese.net/index.htm
Historic Rugby – http://www.historicrugby.org/
Grey Gables Bed & Breakfast Inn - http://www.rugbytn.com/
Christ Church Episcopal - http://christrugby.etdiocese.net/index.htm
