Rugby’s history group had a fascinating evening at the historic Uffington House on Friday. Jessie Gully lit kerosene lamps to welcome a large group into the parlor of the 1880s house, which remains under restoration. She did an amazing job of sharing what she has learned about one of the more interesting figures from Rugby’s history, Emily Hughes, who lived at that very residence. Emily, niece of Rugby founder Thomas Hughes, moved to Rugby in 1881 from England with her elderly grandmother, “Madame” Margaret Hughes.
Photo shows Jessie in front of the history meeting. Carman Roberson is shown holding a basket to collect "letters to Emily." Photo by George Zepp
Jessie had obviously done extensive research and did a great job of setting the stage for Emily’s move to Rugby by explaining the background of the Hughes family. She then shared her research and also read from Emily’s letters to help show what life was like for Emily during her years in Rugby. Emily overcame the difficulty of moving to a remote area into a house that was still under renovation and also dealt with a bout of typhoid. While in Rugby, she not only helped care for her grandmother, Madame Hughes, but also taught herself photography, helped create an extensive garden, experimented with raising silkworms, raised a variety of farm animals, took German lessons from the librarian and undertook a variety of other interesting activities.
Photo shows Jessie Gully seated next to the Uffington House parlor fireplace. Photo by George Zepp.
Emily’s last days in Rugby were filled with tragedy. Just days before her grandmother passed away in 1887, she learned that her fiancé had died of yellow fever in British Honduras. Emily soon left Rugby, lived in Massachusetts near her father, married and traveled extensively with her husband and died on their coffee plantation in Kenya.
At the end of the evening we were able to go upstairs where Jessie showed us the bedrooms that had been used by Emily and Madame Hughes.
Darwin Bertram Recovering from Surgery
Linda Konig reported that Darwin Bertram returned to his Rugby home Friday after a difficult couple of weeks which resulted in his having surgery. I am sure we all wish Darwin a speedy recovery. Linda said she spoke with Darwin’s wife, Glenda, and he is still having some difficulties and may have to return to the doctor this week. However, Glenda said he would enjoy getting calls from folks at 628-2264 or mail to 200 Brooks Circle road, Robbins, TN 37852 or receiving visitors.
Parrot Portrait Painting Class
This Thursday, September 17, Mara Trumbo will be offering a full day oil painting class at her studio in Rugby from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The subject for the class is parrot portrait painting. Shown is an example of one done by Mara.The cost of the class is $55.00, which includes lunch. Mara says that pre-bookings are needed at least 24 hours in advance “as I have to trace the pattern on all canvases, whilst chef Bob works his magic in the kitchen!” To reserve a spot call 423-628-6591 or email Mara at Cadisama@earthlink.net
Next Newsletter
Rick and George are taking a get-away break for the next couple of weeks while relatives house-sit. Eric Wilson has been kind to offer to do the text for the newsletter next week. So, if you have any news, email Eric at ericavi@highland.net
Carrie Thornthwaite has offered to lend her technical expertise by loading the text and any photos onto the blog site. So, if you have any photos next week, email those to Carrie at thornthwch@lipscomb.edu
Many thanks to Eric and Carrie! We’ll try to see from a computer afar what’s going on.
Birthdays
September 17 – Terry Martin
Calendar of Events
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 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern at Grey Gables Bed & Breakfast. Call Bill and Linda Brooks Jones for reservations: 423-628-5252. Lunch: $11 plus gratuity; lodging, evening meal and country breakfast: $125 plus tax.
October 3 –Michaelmas Festival at Christ Church Episcopal. Traditional English Tea, arts, crafts, music and English Counry Dancing. Tea seatings at noon and 1:30 p.m. Eastern, $10 per person for tea, reservations suggested – call 423-628-1282.
October 10 – History Club – field trip to Deer Lodge (details to be announced)
October 17 – Book Club – 7:00 p.m. Eastern at home of Vi Biehl and Eric Wilson. The next book is “The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” by Louise Erdrich. Questions? Call Vi at 423-628-2817 or email at ericavi@highland.net.
Exercise Group – Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4k p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
HRI Workshops
(For more details about workshops go to Historic Rugby Website at http://www.historicrugby.org/ )
October 17 - Learn To Play the Banjo- Appalachian Mountain Style (New) Instructor: Tony Thomas - learn how to tune the banjo, then cover old time picking techniques of frailing, two fingers, plectrum, strumming and rhythm; plus help with accompanying other musicians.
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
Another Fall Wildflower Walk has come and gone, and I, for one, am tired but happy. Not only did we find a good many of the "possibles" on our fall wildflower list handouts but also a few that aren't even listed. The list keeps growing, and Rick Murphy has volunteered to revise the list for us and print out a new one for next year. The most exciting moment of the day for me came when we found a tall plant called Purple-Leaf Willow Herb near the big pond at Clear Fork Farm, because this unusual beauty was completely new to me. It's in the Evening Primrose family and is usually found in marshes or other wet areas.
The photo shows Jack Carman in the foreground with Linda Konig facing the camera.
In the morning we walked down the old unused Highway 52 strip starting behind Brooks Store. It's absolutely amazing how many wildflowers have come up and are flourishing along there since the TN Highway Dept. closed it off 10 years ago this summer. In the afternoon we re-visited the former Bowater tract off Old Central Avenue and then we couldn't resist going back to Clear Fork Farm again and saw many things, even though the meadow has been partially mowed recently.
Jack Carman had put together a new slide show called “Summer/Fall Wildflowers of the Upper Cumberlands.” It contains a good many photos that aren't in his book, Wildflowers of Tennessee, and so we learned about some other "new" ones that most of us have never seen, several of which can be found in Pickett State Park, north of us. If I've learned nothing else from my hobby of wildflowering, I've learned that you can never find them all, no matter how much you look. And I know that you can still continue to learn more about them, ad infinitum.
This Week’s Editors – Rick Murphy & George Zepp
