Historic Rugby began the process of repairing recent storm damage to the Hughes Library by 
having a tree removal company very carefully remove two trees which lay on the standing seam roof. The actual tree removal took place on Friday, although the tree removal company had removed some limbs earlier to reduce weight on the building.
having a tree removal company very carefully remove two trees which lay on the standing seam roof. The actual tree removal took place on Friday, although the tree removal company had removed some limbs earlier to reduce weight on the building. Representatives from Sexton Tree Service said the building must have been very well built as most modern buildings would have been knocked off their foundation by such large falling trees. The photos show the dramatic removal process – notice that at one point one of the workmen had to climb the highest limb and cut segments of the limb with a chain saw in one hand while catching the cut segment in his other hand to keep it from falling on the metal roof.
It is amazing how limited the damage was to the 32 year old standing seam roof. The cupola lost its glass on the back side and had some fairly minor dents. The finial was knocked off the cupola and a decorative ball was knocked off the small raised finial in the back. The greatest damage was to the very back of the roof, mainly on the area that hung beyond the exterior wall of the building.
Executive Director Cheryl Cribbet said there was also concern that some of the windows in the building will not open properly, suggesting that there may have been some structural damage or changes. But amazingly none of the windows were broken. The windows appeared to be opening somewhat better after the trees were removed. A structural engineer is expected to inspect the building this week.
While much of the repair will be covered by insurance, Historic Rugby will have to pay a $1,000 deductible. In addition, HRI had already identified the need to raise at least $15,000 this year to replace the outdated fire suppression system that protects the library. Like most nonprofits, HRI is dealing with very difficult financial times, so I am sure they would welcome donations to help pay for these expenses.
It is fortunate that Historic Rugby had actually removed quite of few trees from near the old library in the last few years, clearing a fairly wide perimeter around the building and removing a number of pine trees which are most susceptible to wind damage.
There has been wonderful outpouring of concern shown by those who love the Rugby buildings. I received a telephone call from Anna Joyce Walton Herr, the daughter of Will and Sarah Walton who grew up in Rugby and now lives near Philadelphia. Anna Joyce wanted to make sure that the library was going to be alright. She mentioned that as a girl in 1927 she was next door to the library in the Rugby schoolhouse attending classes when tornado-like winds came near by. She remembers how frightening the experience was and how much tree damage occurred at that time.
Historic Yandilla to be Rebuilt
Historic Rugby has completed the sale of the homesite where one of the early Rugby homes once stood to DeAnn Kirgan of Louisville, Kentucky. DeAnn has agreed to historically reconstruct the house known as Yandilla in the next five years.
Barbara Stagg says that DeAnn and her late husband fell in love with Rugby when they visited years ago and DeAnn is looking forward to introducing her grandchildren to Rugby. She is also very excited about the opportunity to learn more about Aunt Dicey Fletcher who lived near the Yandilla homesite and who is buried on the lot.
The lot is located at the corner of Horseshoe Bend Road and Highway 52 across from Roslyn. Yandilla was the distinctive one-story house that appeared to have a deep porch around the front and two sides.
Electric Company Starts Tree Trimming
If the recent damage to trees and buildings due to high winds were not enough, Plateau Electric has begun trimming trees near its electric lines along Highway 52 through the village as the first step toward replacing many of the poles, adding additional poles and installing something called “three phase service.”
The tree trimming they have done so far is not real pretty. They have been fairly harsh in how they have cut limbs, in same cases removing all of a tree’s limbs but leaving the bare trunk. This difficult situation highlights the importance of planting tall trees away from electric lines.
Beacon Hill House for Sale
Historic Rugby has completed the sale of the homesite where one of the early Rugby homes once stood to DeAnn Kirgan of Louisville, Kentucky. DeAnn has agreed to historically reconstruct the house known as Yandilla in the next five years.
Barbara Stagg says that DeAnn and her late husband fell in love with Rugby when they visited years ago and DeAnn is looking forward to introducing her grandchildren to Rugby. She is also very excited about the opportunity to learn more about Aunt Dicey Fletcher who lived near the Yandilla homesite and who is buried on the lot.
The lot is located at the corner of Horseshoe Bend Road and Highway 52 across from Roslyn. Yandilla was the distinctive one-story house that appeared to have a deep porch around the front and two sides.
Electric Company Starts Tree Trimming
If the recent damage to trees and buildings due to high winds were not enough, Plateau Electric has begun trimming trees near its electric lines along Highway 52 through the village as the first step toward replacing many of the poles, adding additional poles and installing something called “three phase service.”
The tree trimming they have done so far is not real pretty. They have been fairly harsh in how they have cut limbs, in same cases removing all of a tree’s limbs but leaving the bare trunk. This difficult situation highlights the importance of planting tall trees away from electric lines.
Beacon Hill House for Sale
Carman Roberson said he enjoyed building his new home in Beacon Hill so much he has decided to build another one. He is buying the lot in Beacon Hill II next to Ro
se Cottage and will be building on that lot. As part of this process he has decided to sell Inis Fal, his beautiful new home on Offler Ave.
se Cottage and will be building on that lot. As part of this process he has decided to sell Inis Fal, his beautiful new home on Offler Ave.Here is information about the house sale: Completed in November, 2008, it is a Carpenter Gothic, board and batten construction of approximately 1500 sq. ft., complete with period details. Inis Fal also has a lovely carriage house of approximately 350 sq. ft. Please contact Carman Roberson at 615-400-3739 or 423-628-6141.
Thomas Hughes Print Available at Commissary
Prints of a rare portrait of Rugby founder Thomas Hughes are now available at the Commissary according to Rita Elliott. She says the prints are from the portrait done by Lowes Cato Dickenson. The prints are unframed but available in a matted or unmated form and are approximately 14 inches by 16 inches. For more information, call the Rugby Commissary at 423-628-5166.
Prints of a rare portrait of Rugby founder Thomas Hughes are now available at the Commissary according to Rita Elliott. She says the prints are from the portrait done by Lowes Cato Dickenson. The prints are unframed but available in a matted or unmated form and are approximately 14 inches by 16 inches. For more information, call the Rugby Commissary at 423-628-5166.
Harrow Road Café Being Redecorated
As many of you may have noticed at the sold-out Valentine Dinner, the Harrow Road Café is undergoing some changes. The entire interior is being painted, with selected walls getting a warm rose color. The carpet is also being replaced and new window treatments and table cloths will be installed. Work is also being done on the fireplaces.
Unfortunately, in the process of helping with the work, John Gilliat suffered a fall from his ladder. He seems to be doing ok, although he was concerned that he might have broken a finger. I am sure everybody wishes him a speedy recovery.
Volunteer Gardeners Needed
Just a reminder that we will be meeting at Kingstone Lisle on Wednesday to begin cleaning up the gardens for spring. If you can help, please let me know. I am thinking we will start around 9:30 a.m., unless there are weather issues. Email me at rickmurphy1@aol.com or call at 423-319-7842 if you can help.
Hannah Alley Offers Help Saving Memories
I received this from Hannah Alley who used to live in Rugby as a child at Adena Cottage. “I work at a store called 1STOPdigital, and we basically do anything digital wise. I thought one aspect of my job could be of some interest and use to people in Rugby. I know many people have these items laying around, so if anyone has records, slides, 8mm, 16mm, VCR tapes, Cassettes, Reel to reels, High 8, DV tapes, or any other type of media just send it to us and we can turn it into DVDs or CDs for you for a low cost. I recently turned my VCR tape of "The Good Life" highlighting my family's time in Rugby into a DVD and it makes me happy to know I have my memories saved... So if anyone is interested just contact me (at hannahalley@gmail.com) and I will send the information so people can send their media to me to transfer.”
Thanks to Carrie
I received this from Hannah Alley who used to live in Rugby as a child at Adena Cottage. “I work at a store called 1STOPdigital, and we basically do anything digital wise. I thought one aspect of my job could be of some interest and use to people in Rugby. I know many people have these items laying around, so if anyone has records, slides, 8mm, 16mm, VCR tapes, Cassettes, Reel to reels, High 8, DV tapes, or any other type of media just send it to us and we can turn it into DVDs or CDs for you for a low cost. I recently turned my VCR tape of "The Good Life" highlighting my family's time in Rugby into a DVD and it makes me happy to know I have my memories saved... So if anyone is interested just contact me (at hannahalley@gmail.com) and I will send the information so people can send their media to me to transfer.”
Thanks to Carrie
Many thanks to Carrie Thornwaite for preparing and posting last week’s newsletter. Also thanks for making some needed design changes to the online site.
Birthdays
February 24 - Laura Martin
February 27 - Lynn Takacs
February 27 - Lynn Takacs
March 2 - Rebecca Russell
Calendar of Events
Calendar of Events
February 28 – Beekeeper Class 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern, at the Advantage Center, 1326 Knoxville Hwy, Wartburg, TN. (Free - no charge). Call Charles Gibbs at 628-5678 for more information.
March 7 - Community Potluck – 7:00 p.m. Eastern
March 13 – History Night – George Zepp and Rick Murphy will talk about the fascinating life of Sarah (Sadie) Louise Kellogg Kimber Walton - 7:00 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
March 13 – History Night – George Zepp and Rick Murphy will talk about the fascinating life of Sarah (Sadie) Louise Kellogg Kimber Walton - 7:00 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
March 14 – St. Patrick’s Day Dinner at Harrow Road Cafe
March 14 - Lecture - Scott Kunst of Ann Arbor, Michigan will be giving a lecture and film presentation on Antique Gardens: American Home Landscapes From 1800-1940. 10:00 am – noon ET. Program: $18.00 - Luncheon $12.00. Call 1-888-214-3400 To Purchase Tickets.
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
HRI March Workshops
March 14 - Oil Painting in One Day “Roses Fantasy” 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: Mara Trumbo. Learn how to master oil paints with Mara by following her personal step-by-step instruction. All supplies included. $58
March 21 - Fit, Fun & Yoga With Missy Kane (New) 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: Missy Kane. A well balanced day with Missy Kane, starting with yoga then a hike through Rugby and in the Big South Fork. Covenant Health members will be along for health checks and tips. Bring your own picnic lunch. Film excerpts of the day will be shown on “Fit & Fun” on ETP-TV. $35
March 28 & 29 – 6-inch Nantucket Lightship Basket (New) 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: Beth Hester. Make a strong, beautiful, functional and accurate reproduction of the famous Nantucket Lightship Basket -- an heirloom to treasure. Each student will have use of a cherry mold base, weaving with fine grade cane and staves with a hand-carved white oak handle. Challenging but rewarding, with participants learning carving staves, weaving, drilling, rim making and lashing. $165
TO REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS: Call (423) 628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400Lodging is available at Historic Rugby with a 10% discount to all workshop students.
Nature Notes by Linda Konig
It is almost spring now, and my thoughts have lightly turned to – salamanders. I’m determined to find some live ones this year. (Thanks to Rick and George, I had a dead frozen Spotted Salamander last year.) Amy Barnes, who used to take people salamander hunting in the Smokies, and I are going to look for some near streams, etc. I often find evidences of salamander breeding activity in March at various temporary woodland puddles. Some of the best puddles to find Salamander eggs in are on the “old fire road” (the last part of the Gents’ Swimming Hole trail loop) and on Bella Vista Road behind Wil and Carrie’s house.
I must confess that, though we undoubtedly have several kinds here, I can only recognize the Spotted Salamanders. They are in rounded masses and usually have a milky cottony jelly covering them. As the salamander larvae develop in the eggs, a green algae grows on the eggs. This is mutually beneficial to both the salamanders and the algae, since the algae needs the nitrogen and carbon dioxide the salamanders give off and the salamanders need the oxygen algae provides.
We seem to have a lot of Spotted Salamanders here. They like the broadleaf forests and spend most of their time underground or under logs and feast on worms, slugs and insects. An interesting aspect of their lives is that they always return to the same woodland pool or puddle in which they were born to mate and lay their eggs, sometimes traveling a mile or more to do so.
This week’s editor – Rick Murphy
I must confess that, though we undoubtedly have several kinds here, I can only recognize the Spotted Salamanders. They are in rounded masses and usually have a milky cottony jelly covering them. As the salamander larvae develop in the eggs, a green algae grows on the eggs. This is mutually beneficial to both the salamanders and the algae, since the algae needs the nitrogen and carbon dioxide the salamanders give off and the salamanders need the oxygen algae provides.
We seem to have a lot of Spotted Salamanders here. They like the broadleaf forests and spend most of their time underground or under logs and feast on worms, slugs and insects. An interesting aspect of their lives is that they always return to the same woodland pool or puddle in which they were born to mate and lay their eggs, sometimes traveling a mile or more to do so.
This week’s editor – Rick Murphy
