40th Rugby Pilgrimage this Saturday

Just a reminder about this Saturday’s 40th Pilgrimage. It is one of the few chances to tour many of Rugby’s private homes and historic buildings. It begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Rugby Community Singers will begin their concert at 7:45 p.m. at the theatre at the Visitor Centre.

So many interesting homes are on the tour this year – both old and new, that I thought I would include some photos of a few of them. (Actually, I am just learning to do photo collages, so this is practice.)




Clockwise from top left: Walton Court, Allonby, Fernwood, Ingleside and the Fernwood sign


Clockwise from top left: Laneview, Onderdonk Cottage, Amherst Cottage and Inis Fal Cottage

The Sunday Knoxville News Sentinel had a feature article about the Pilgrimage – you can also see it online at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/30/no-headline---083009nomorethan4/

Parking will be free, and visitors are being encouraged to walk the six-block Pilgrimage area. A shuttle van will be available for those who need to limit their walking or who might want a restful ride later in the day.

To ease late summer warmth, cooling beverages will be available at several tour buildings along with bottled water. Restored antique cars will be on display in some locations.

Admission for all open buildings and activities is $14 for adults and $4 for K-12 students. Groups of 10 or more are $10 per person when reserved in advance. Members of Historic Rugby receive half-price admission.

Rugby’s Bear Makes Another Appearance

Amy Barnes saw this bear about 10:00 Saturday morning in the parking lot behind the Historic Rugby Visitor Centre. Here is what she said about it: “After parking, I sat in my car a few minutes to check my voice mail on my cell phone. I started to get out of my car and I looked up to see this bear standing about 10 yards away from me. I could tell he heard me because he looked at me. I just stood still and he wandered away after a minute or so. I took the picture through the driver's side window, so there's a little bit of glare.”

As Rugby Week reported recently, a bear has appeared several times at the home of Eric Wilson and Vi Biehl. After their last sighting they reported the incidents to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Here is their report on what they learned: “Big South Fork (though that's where the bear/s are coming from) has nothing to do with the bears that step over its perimeter. Whichever county they then enter, they become the 'problem' of that county's Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's agent.“Our Morgan County Wildlife Officer/Agent for the TWRA is Travis Buchanan, Office 931-484-9571 / 1-800-262-6704.

“Travis came here the last time Vi called, when the bear attacked our ‘bear proof’ trash can, and both Eric and Vi had long conversations with him. He was concerned that the bear did not run off despite our yelling and knocking boards against the porch to make big noises, leaving only when Vi barked seriously and threateningly. It came back in the night to wrestle the trash can another 10 feet from where it had left it. Travis said that it is not a good sign that it did not show fear of humans.

“Travis looked at Vi's photos and told us that this is apparently a resident bear in this area, about a 310-pound male that has learned to forage our area trash cans, outdoor dog and cat food bowls, bird seed and suet feeders, etc. Vi printed copies of the photos for Travis to take to show to his supervisor.

“TWRA no longer traps and releases bears. This has been a liability problem for them when the bear subsequently gets into trouble. So any trapped bears are killed. This policy is also unpopular with much of the public, so it is a last resort. However, once a bear loses its fear of humans it will often get pushier and pushier and if it actually threatens someone that will be it; it will be trapped and destroyed if possible. Travis said that bears are very trap wary and that attempts to trap them are not always successful.

“He did say negative reinforcement could work to send it on to other areas, but everyone would have to be absolutely certain that nothing in the way of food was available for it here.”

Scouts at Keen Cottage

Marilyn & Walter Young played host this past weekend to 13 camping-out Boy Scouts and eight adult tag-alongs on their Keen Cottage estate next to Newbury House. The visitors pitched tents on the grounds and christened the new K.C. outhouse out back. It was the best one-holer many of them had ever seen, Marilyn reported, in large part because of its extravagantly varnished seat.

The boys were from Birmingham, Alabama, where Marilyn's son, Greg Moore, is the Scoutmaster who brought them. They were working on their Biking Merit Badge, so bicycles were plentiful around Rugby. The group arrived Friday night and left Sunday about 11 a.m. They also hiked on the Meeting of the Waters trail, but it was too cold for swimming -- something unusual for Rugby this month.

Birthdays

September 3 – Sam Neary

Calendar of Events

September 5 – Rugby Pilgrimage, with rare tours of many private homes, as well as Historic Rugby buildings. The previous chance for the public to see inside many of Rugby’s homes was in 2007. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern

September 5 – Concert – Rugby Community Singers – 7:45 p.m. Eastern

September 11 – History Club Meeting – Jessie Gully will talk about Emily Hughes. 7:00 p.m. Eastern at Uffington House

September 12 – Community Potluck – 7:00 p.m. Eastern (Note date change due to Pilgrimage)

September 19 – Hike at Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area, Wartburg, TN. Hike is rated moderate with total distance of 7 to 7.5 miles. Meet at the Harrow Road Café at 9:00 a.m. Eastern to carpool to the park, or meet at the Park Visitor Centre at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. For information and to register for the hike contact Tom Howell at tshowell1003@highland.net.

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.

September 19, 2009 - Photo Tour and discussion of the smoky mountains in celebration of the 75th birthday of the Smoky Mountains National Park by Dr. Lin Stepp –11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern. at Grey Gables Bed & Breakfast. Call Bill and Linda Brooks Jones for reservations: 423-628-5252. Lunch: $11.00 plus gratuity, lodging, evening meal and country breakfast: $125.00 plus tax.

October 10 – History Club – field trip to Deer Lodge (details to be announced)

October 17 – Book Club – 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The next book is “The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” by Louise Erdrich

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/ )

September 12 – Fall Wildflowers – Instructor Jack Carman - Wildflower walks, slide presentation and book signing.

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

Wildflower walks are a dime a dozen in spring, but few and far between this time of year. Is it because we have no wildflowers now? Of course not. Take a drive anywhere in rural Tennessee in August and September, and you'll see pastures and fields rich in dazzling golds and royal purples. Free for the looking! Seeing the less common, yet just as beautiful species, however, usually takes a closer look. You may have wondered--where can I find Green-Lipped Ladies Tresses or Blazing Stars or Devil's Grandmother? Well, you're in luck because on Sept. 12th, Jack Carman will be back in Rugby to give another Early Fall Wildflower Walk.

Last year's first fall wildflower walk was well attended, and we found a great wealth of flowers in meadows, a streambank, and around a large pond. This year's walk locations will be different, but I've been scouting about for the best places. We're certainly fortunate to have such a variety of trails, farm roads, and interesting rambles to choose from.

I'm thinking that we'll spend the morning along a "not-so-secret" scenic road that may be a surprise to some of you. I walked along about half of it last Saturday and found no less than 35 different species of wildflower, including one that I didn't know and couldn't find in my books, and I'm sure there are other kinds along the other half of the walk. Then we'll have our box lunches at the picnic tables across from Laurel Dale Cemetery. In the early afternoon, we might take a walk along a certain farm road or perhaps an old road from pre-Rugby days. None of the walks will be strenuous. Details are still being worked out. Bring your cameras! Don't forget that you might get great shots of butterflies, bees, spiders and other insects on the flowers, too. Later, Jack will show his wildflower slides and you can compare his photos with yours.

Details on how to register for the walk are elsewhere in the Rugby Week.

This Week’s Editors – Rick Murphy & George Zepp