While watching President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Parade on January 20 we can all be cheering on one participant with Rugby connections. Big South Fork Park Ranger Sue Duncan will be riding her horse side saddle in the parade in Washington.
Many of you are familiar with Sue as the lady who sits on the front porch of the Commissary during special events demonstrating how to spin yarn. She pulls fur directly from her Angora rabbits while they sit peacefully on her lap. Rita Elliot says Sue will be riding with a side saddle horse group, I believe they are called the Southern Ohio Ladies Aside.
Some of you may remember that Sue has done side saddle demonstrations in Rugby while wearing a traditional Victorian outfit. Below is a photo of Sue riding side saddle (taken from a refrigerator magnet I borrowed from the Rugby Commissary!).
Trails Group Plans Busy 2009
The Big South Fork Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association held its annual meeting Saturday night in the Community Room following the monthly potluck. A highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Jim Poteet about the first 40 years of the TTA. In addition, the group was able to meet State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath, who will lead a hike for our chapter at Cumberland Mountain State Park in June.
TTA formed to promote a statewide trail system and continues to support construction of the Cumberland Trail. Big South Fork is one of the older chapters. Current and former Rugby residents Eric Wilson, Bob Hemminger, and Jim Poteet are long-time members of the organization. Photos from the 1960s and 1970s showed Eric, Bob, and Jim, as well as Marietta Poteet and the late Mike Alley.
Following the presentation the group discussed potential hikes and other activities for the coming year. E-mail Tom Howell at tshowell1003@highland.net or Benita Howell at bjhowell@highland.net if you'd like to receive information about Tuesday hikes and work days (probably starting January 13). The group will clean trash and assist in exotic plant removal in the State Natural Area and hopes to help build the trail to the Massingale Place. Big South Fork chapter sponsors a Saturday hike each month, listed in Rugby Week. Visit www.tennesseetrails.org to check dates, destinations, and contact information for all TTA-sponsored hikes, and to download a membership form.
The local chapter reelected Jim Meadows as Chapter Officer, Benita Howell as Secretary-Treasurer, Tom Howell as Hike Coordinator, and Lynn and Tim Takacs as Chapter Board Representatives.
Bob Hemminger, Chapter Officer Jim Meadows and Jim Poteet at trails meeting.New Beacon Hill Lot Owner
Barbara Stagg says that Debra Dillon has purchased Lot 26 in Beacon Hill, across from the Neary's home. She has been coming to Rugby for years and has long planned to build here. She is a career nurse, formerly at UT Hospital, now at Children's Hospital in Knoxville, where she lives. Welcome, Debra!
English Country Dancing
Mary Hemminger said the English Country Dance last Friday had four couples who danced six historic dances, most from the 17th and 18th centuries, “with enthusiasm and poise!” She said “Everyone looked like they were having fun!”
Mary wants to thank Tom Howell who is doing a wonderful job of playing the music.
She says she is making a commitment to do the Rugby dances twice a month through March to assess interest and hopefully build on the knowledge base of the dancers. The dates for the dances are: Friday, January 23; Friday, February 6; Saturday, February 21; Friday, March 6; and Saturday, March 21.
All dances will be at the Friendly House, unless there is a conflict. Check the newsletter each week to make sure the dance has not been rescheduled or moved. You do not need a partner to attend. All dances are taught and walked through each night. Contact Mary for further information at mejs@juno.com
Mara Trumbo Art Class
Mara Trumbo will be doing a full day painting demo at Hobby Lobby Cookeville on Saturday, January 10 followed by a floral oil class there on Friday, January 30. Call Mara at 423-628-6591 for full details.
Mara will also be doing an art class in Rugby on March 7th. Full details of Rugby workshops and instructions on registration will be provided as soon as they are made available by Historic Rugby.
Thank You’s
Teresa Coker says the Historic Rugby staff wishes to thank the Board of Historic Rugby, Barbara Stagg and John Gilliat for the recent Christmas present staff received. She says it is much appreciated.
Rugby lot owner Rebecca Gully from Texas wants to thank those Rugby folks who joined her here for her birthday celebration and for the cards, gifts and well wishes she received. She sends “My best wishes to all of Rugby for a wonderful new year.”
Birthdays
January 6 - John Gilliat & Dorcus McBrayer
January 8 - Jay DeYoung
Calendar of Events
January 9 – History Club – Annual planning meeting – Everyone is invited to come share ideas for Rugby history topics for the coming year. 7:30 pm Eastern at the Friendly House
January 10 – Inquirers Class - Christ Church 10:00 a.m. and ending no later than 3:30 p.m. For more information call Father Keese at 865-660-0196.
January 13 – First Winter Tuesday Hike – WEATHER PERMITTING. Benita Howell will send email to people on hiking list the day before if weather looks reasonable with details. To be added to the email list contact Benita at 423-628-5521 or bjhowell@highland.net
January 17, 18 & 19 – Shop at Spirit of Red Hill open
January 23 – English Country Dancing at the Friendly House
January 24 – Snow and Ice Hike and Chili Lunch. Hike to the Meeting of the Waters at Rugby (alternative may be to hike to the Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole and then back on the Laurel Branch Trail to the Howells’ house for chili). Fount and Anna Bertram from the Murfreesboro Chapter are hike leaders. Meet at the Harrow Road Café at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Rugby hikers should let Benita Howell know if they are coming for chili lunch at 423-628-5521 or bjhowell@highland.net
January 30 – Chili Cook off – Second Annual Morgan County Chili Cook Off – Come support Rugby entrants including the Harrow Road Café, last year’s winner. 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern at Central Middle School, Liberty Road, Wartburg.
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
January 17, 18 & 19 – Shop at Spirit of Red Hill open
January 23 – English Country Dancing at the Friendly House
January 24 – Snow and Ice Hike and Chili Lunch. Hike to the Meeting of the Waters at Rugby (alternative may be to hike to the Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole and then back on the Laurel Branch Trail to the Howells’ house for chili). Fount and Anna Bertram from the Murfreesboro Chapter are hike leaders. Meet at the Harrow Road Café at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Rugby hikers should let Benita Howell know if they are coming for chili lunch at 423-628-5521 or bjhowell@highland.net
January 30 – Chili Cook off – Second Annual Morgan County Chili Cook Off – Come support Rugby entrants including the Harrow Road Café, last year’s winner. 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern at Central Middle School, Liberty Road, Wartburg.
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 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
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
I have been intrigued during the last week with the big black birds flying over Rugby several days in a row, particularly in late afternoon. George Zepp saw them, too, at Walton Court. They always flew in a southeasterly direction and appeared in several groups (about 30 to 40 in all) around 5 to 5:30 p.m.
My first thought was that they were migrating toward the Chattanooga area, which attracts many birds for the winter. After studying some bird books, we decided they must be black vultures. I don't think I had ever seen these before.These vultures have rounded white wing tips with spread "fingered" feathers. Black vultures don't migrate, however. So why were they flying over in groups like clockwork?
We're not sure. Perhaps they are traveling to their favorite feeding sites and then back to the roost.
I did learn from Stephen and Barbara Stedman's book Notes on the Birds of the BSFRNNA and Obed Wild and Scenic River that 50 black vultures were seen at Lily Bridge in Morgan County in December, 1997.
Could they be roosting there and flying up into the Big South Fork area daily?
They often keep company with our more common turkey vultures (sometimes called buzzards in the South). Turkey vultures are better flyers and can smell carrion. Black vultures can't smell.
So the larger, more aggressive black vultures will follow their turkey vulture cousins to a carcass and then drive their guides away, claiming the carcass for themselves. As repulsive as the thought of roadside carrion is for us, it's a good thing the vultures and crows are on the job. Otherwise our world wouldn't smell so sweet!
