Howard Ray Duncan did a wonderful job portraying a businessman during the late 1880s at Friday’s History Club meeting. About 25 people attended the performance at the Friendly House. It really was helpful in explaining what things were like in the Upper Cumberland Plateau area during the period when the train first came through Morgan and Scott Counties, opening the area to land speculation and business opportunities.
Duncan, who grew up in this area and works for the National Park Service, had a wealth of information that he shared with the audience, answering questions about life on the Plateau from the time of the Civil War until the modern era.Thanks to George Zepp for the photo of Howard Ray Duncan - Tom Howell is in the foreground.
Saturday Farmers Market Begins
Last week an email went out from Dorcus McBrayer announcing an opportunity for local gardeners to sell their extra vegetables at an informal roadside stand each Saturday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. Saturday was the trial run.
The stand was set up next to the pull-off area along the highway in front of Newbury pond (near where Sarah Walton used to have a gas station – but I digress).
Here is more about it from Dorcus:
“We will continue the mini farmers market in hopes that more local people (and people from the surrounding area) will get the word and show up with produce to sell or money to buy! I see this as an opportunity for people to sell their extra produce and an opportunity for the community
and anyone who is in Rugby or passing by to purchase homegrown vegetables, herbs, eggs, plants, cut flowers,etc. when they are available. As the season progresses we hope to have a wider selection. "Photo shows Jessica Erickson on the left with Dorcus McBrayer on the right at the new Rugby Farmers Market - photo by Carrie Thornthwaite
“This week the local gardeners sold beans, squash, cucumbers, green tomatoes, sweet green peppers, mild banana peppers, day lilies and iris plants.“Saturday also provided the community an opportunity to visit and several gathered at the Cafe for breakfast. The market will begin at 8:00 a.m. and will end at 10:00 a.m .or until produce is gone.”
If you have questions about the market you can reach Dorcus at 628-1282.
Rugby Bypass Update
A few days ago two state officials met with Scott and Morgan County officials to discuss road work priorities. Rugby’s bypass was one of the topics. It appears that the Rugby bypass is still high on the priority list for the local area, but that it might not actually happen soon. Follow this link to see what one blogger said happened.
http://tnhunting.com/cumberlands/?p=1422
Logan Murrell Charms Rugby Concertgoers
I was a little hesitant about going Saturday night to the first Rugby Summer Concert to hear a 13-year-old singer who was advertised as starting to sing when she was 23 months old. It all sounded a little too cute. But I was surprised by the natural charm of singer Logan Murrell.
Logan mostly performed songs by Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton and other country music artists, but in some ways she was most effective when she sang jazz. And her pop songs from James Taylor and others were also striking. Logan did the entire program without a break, by herself, with a surprisingly
mature voice, playing both guitar and the Rugby upright piano. I am sure that as she continues to perform she will refine her presentation – learning not to rush the songs and not perform numbers she has not practiced sufficiently.Logan Murrell and Cheryl Cribbet before the concert - photo by George Zepp.
Over all, it was an interesting start to the Summer Concert series. The series continues July 25 with “Josie, A Mountain Portrait.” Kentucky actress and folk musician Jennifer Rose presents Josie in story and song as a composite rural Appalachian woman from the age of 14 to 50.
Rugby Films Series Begins
The Rugby Film series starts Saturday night, July 18, with the Appalshop-produced classic, The Ralph Stanley Story, a documentary portrait of the old time bluegrass legend. The film begins at 7:45 p.m.
For over 50 years, Ralph Stanley’s banjo playing, haunting tenor voice, and tradition-inspired music have been heard by millions. This film explores Stanley’s musical roots in the Clinch Mountains of Virginia, the early days of The Stanley Brothers, and Ralph’s decision to continue on after the untimely death of brother Carter. Interviews with Ralph, former band members, and fellow musicians like Patty Loveless and Dwight Yoakum are intercut with live performances of such songs as "Rank Stranger," "Pretty Polly," and "Man of Constant Sorrow." Ralph also performs with Larry Sparks and Ricky Skaggs at his annual Hills of Home Bluegrass Festival. Anyone who loves the sound of Stanley’s true old-time, mountain style bluegrass will want to see this film.
See the Calendar of Events below for the other films planned this summer. All films are free to the public with seat reservations recommended. Donations will be welcomed to help continue the preservation of Historic Rugby’s public historic buildings and educational programs.
Call Historic Rugby at 1-888-214-3400 or 628-2441 to reserve seats, recommended to assure seating. The Harrow Road Café a block from the Johnson Theatre will start serving dinner at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
Hike This Saturday
On Saturday, July 18, Eric Wilson will lead a Hike Around Rugby. Meet at the Cafe at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. This approximately eight-mile circuit breaks naturally into two four-mile sections with a lunch stop (Cafe or picnic) in between. Both sections begin or end at Uffington and include the Allerton Ridge Trail past the Massengill Homesite, Rita's Gate Trail along the Whiteoak, the Hughes Trail, Lizzie's Cutoff, Laurel Branch and the Meeting of the Waters Trails, the Historic Trail from the Gents, etc.
Please let Eric know at ericavi@nxs.net if you plan on joining him so the group can make plans in advance for the lunch stop and for shuttles for those who want to walk only part of the circuit.
Birthdays
July 17 - Virginia Lee
July 18 - Cathy Hannaway
July 19 - John Mount
Calendar of Events
July 18 – Hike Around Rugby with Eric Wilson (see story above for details).
July 18 – Rugby Summer Film Series - The Ralph Stanley Story, a documentary portrait of the old time bluegrass legend. The film begins at 7:45 p.m. Eastern.
July 25 – Josie, A Mountain Portrait - a theatre event at Historic Rugby’s Johnson Theatre 7:45 p.m. Eastern. Kentucky actress and folk musician Jennifer Rose presents Josie in story and song as a composite rural Appalachian woman from the age of 14 to 50 in this very special theatre event. $14
August 1 – Community Potluck – 7:00 p.m. Eastern
August 8 – Book Club at 7:00 p.m. at Debbie Harris' house. The book will be The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. Please let Debbie Harris know if you’re interested at harrisdl1@hotmail.com
August 22 – Rugby Summer Film Series - Sergeant York at 7:30 p.m. Eastern with audience conversation afterward with York’s son, Rev. George Edward York, and Dr. Michael Birdwell, an expert on Alvin York’s history and on this classic film that starred Gary Cooper. This event is co-sponsored by the Alvin York Patriotic Foundation.
September 5 – Rugby Pilgrimage
September 5 – Concert – Rugby Community Singers
September 19 – Rugby Summer Film Series - Amazing Grace at 7:30 p.m. - chronicles the life of William Wilberforce, an 18th century Christian politician in England who dedicated his life to abolishing slavery and to the prevention of cruelty to animals.
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 Workshops
(For more details about workshops go to Historic Rugby Website at http://www.historicrugby.org/ )
July 18 - Kudzu Vine Basketry - Instructor Fuzzy Orange - Learn to weave a basket from Kudzu vines harvested in Rugby and take home your basket to enjoy for years to come.
August 1 – Understanding Birds of Prey & Reptiles – Instructor Katie Cottrell, Kathy Strunk & John Byrd – Slides and live exhibits of birds of prey and reptiles with a focus on natural history and ecological roles of various predators. Donation will be made to the Clinch River Raptor Center.
TO REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS: Call (423) 628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400. Lodging is available at Historic Rugby with a 10% discount to all workshop participants.
Nature Notes
By Linda Konig
Midsummer is a great time for wildflowering, especially if you go out in the early mornings while it's still cool. Another reason to go out early is that some wildflowers will not last throughout the day. Last Saturday I took a morning walk and lots of wildflower faces greeted me. All of them were old friends, but some of them I was seeing for the first time this year. I was particularly pleased to see two kinds of blue flowers—one being innocent roadside Chicory. One of my favorites, it’s only seen in the first part of morning unless the day is cloudy. Yes, it's the exact same plant from which people dig up the roots, dry and grind them and put them in coffee. The other blue flowers I saw were the darker blue Asiatic Dayflowers which aren't as common. The aster family was well represented with numerous white and yellow species.
Saw my first Dwarf St. Johnswort of the year. There are several kinds of St. Johnswort found in our area. It has long been used as an herbal treatment for depression. Nowadays you don't have to grind up your own St. Johnswort medication, though; you can buy it in pill form at any drugstore. Speaking of medications, there's plenty of Jewelweed growing along the old highway strip past Brooks store after you get down into the shady areas. This plant is good for poison ivy, especially if you rub the leaves, flowers or stems on your skin the instant you think you've touched or even possibly may touch poison ivy. This plant is juicy in all its parts. You can gather armloads of the stuff, boil it briefly in a small amount of water on the stove, and bottle the liquid. The Jewelweed will turn the water bright orange. Keep it in the fridge if you're prone to break out from poison ivy. It's very soothing. Incidentally, this member of the touch-me-not family has little bright orange blossoms and attracts hummingbirds.
This Week’s Editors - Rick Murphy and George Zepp
