By Jim McBrayer
A typical Rugby-style work party installed a quilt block at Boyd and Barbara Mitchell's Central Avenue property recently. The 8'x8' block is now attached to the side of the old Potter garage, and is the first of several blocks planned for Rugby's section of the Morgan County Heritage Quilt Trail. The block is one square from Sadie's Quilt, the quilt the Rugby quilters made that hangs in the Visitor Centre. The square was painted by a school group from Sunbright.
Top left: Installing the quilt square. Top right: Barbara Mitchell, Nora Meadows, Dorcus McBrayer, Caroline Bankston, and Vi Biehl supervise. Bottom left: Installation crew Jim McBrayer, Jim Meadows, Julian Bankston, Eric Wilson and Boyd Mitchell pose in front of final product. Photos by Jim McBrayer
BENEFIT CONCERT WITH LOCAL GROUP
Enjoy an evening of bluegrass, country and classic rock-n-roll music at Historic Rugby on the lawn at the Rugby Visitor Centre on Saturday, June 12, beginning at 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Trevor Adcock, Nay-Bob Adcock, Gerald Hanwright - together “Junction South” – and a special performance by Frank Hanwright will provide a wide variety of music, including even bits of Americana and doo-wop.
Admission is free, but donations will be taken at this benefit event supporting Historic Rugby’s 40+ year effort to preserve Rugby and share it with the public daily. Bring a lawn chair for the outdoor event, relocating to Rugby’s Community Building if rain arrives.
IT’S DANGEROUS OUT THERE
Linda Konig had a “run in” with a deer on Saturday. She said she was driving on Highway 52 back to Rugby from Allardt about 12:30 p.m. when a deer ran out in front of her and was hit by the front of her car. The unfortunate deer disappeared after the incident. Linda said she was thankful that her car still drives even though the headlight and turn signal on the driver’s side took quite a beating.
This story was put in Rugby Week late last week, so some of you may not have seen it: Several people have reported that Judy Newport took a fall while taking hay to her horses in her pasture the Saturday before last, with the consequence that her ankle was broken badly in three places. Surgery was done at the hospital in Cookeville, and the surgeon cautioned that recovery may take up to a full year. We wish her a speedy recovery. I know lots of folks in Rugby are concerned at how difficult this will be for her, especially with her animals to care for. Benita Howell says that Judy is now home and is still looking forward to the scheduled meeting of Book Club to discuss Jane Eyre next Saturday, June 12. Benita says “we're still planning to meet at Judy's home, but the rest of us will prepare the refreshments.”
A couple of weeks ago we were driving toward Allardt when we saw lots of vehicles pulled off the road and we were directed around a traffic accident. It involved a pickup truck turned over on its side. When we passed by we were shocked that a Rugby resident was being assisted out of the driver’s side door (which was now on top). We stopped and offered aid. It was not clear what happened, but we did notice that a load of hay was on a trailer across the street so we speculated that the trailer may have created a hazard. The person climbing out of the overturned truck said she was fine and did not want to make a big deal of the incident.
Y’all be careful out there!
Photos of Sunday adventure to the Gentlemens Swimming Hole. Left: Joyce and Bob Lantz untie the kayak. Top right: George Zepp assists Jody Hester as she tries out the kayak in a fetching hat. Bottom right: Beth Hester in kayak, Joyce Lantz, George Zepp, Bob Lantz, Jody Hester and Eric Wilson. Photos by Rick Murphy
HISTORY CLUB TRIP TO MINING CAMP
By Linda Konig
The History Club field trip to Barthell Mining Camp is scheduled for Saturday morning, June 12, at 9 a.m. So far, only three people have signed up to go. If you plan to attend, please let Linda Konig know by this Wednesday, June 8, at 423-628-5243.
BEST BOOK SELECTION AT COMMISSARY
By Eric Wilson
Joan Donaldson's book "On Viney's Mountain," a story set in the historic Rugby Colony, has been included on the Bank Street College of Education's list of the best books of 2009. Copies are still available in the Commissary.
HURT BOOK SALE REPORT
By Community Building Library Committee -Jonell Hester, Nora Meadows and Lavonne Gibbs
The Hurt Book Sale at Spring Festival was very successful--thanks to you all. We still have lots of books. If you are interested in adopting any of these remaining books, please come and get them as soon as possible. Call Lavonne this week and next at 628-5678 if you need help getting into the library.
By George Zepp
The headline is a quote from Margaret Hughes, the mother of Rugby’s founder, and is used in the new play coming up HERE NEXT WEEK! Rick and I were being idle Saturday night watching "Hurt Locker" the movie when noises outside alerted us to something. It's an edgy film, but when we jumped up we found no bombs outside. Only a fire engine and an overworked volunteer fireman, Terry Brewster. Turns out they made an unscheduled stop at Walton Court due to a mechanical problem. Since the truck stayed around here Sunday, I asked for a quick interview:
GZ: Well, what's your story?
Fire Truck: I was originally with the Hillsboro Fire Department. It's lettered on my door.
GZ: I see. Welcome to Rugby. Where's Hillsboro?
FT: Hillsboro is in Illinois, roughly 500 miles away. I didn't like it there.
GZ: Well, I hope you like it here and feel better soon. How old are you?
FT: I'm a 1978 International Harvester, with firefighting outfitting from an Illinois firm. Don't get it my way, squirt. I've got 18,820 pounds of muscle.
GZ: Wow!
FT: Yeah. One little hose fitting and I'm good to go. Vroom, vroom.
GZ: I sneaked into your driver's seat. Cool! What are all those switches?
FT: Don't touch anything, squirt! I've got a generator, a pump, ladders, hoses, a big fan, all that stuff everyone wants when the flames are at their doorstep. I've seen a lot.
GZ: I'll bet. What about these "wail" and "yelp" settings on the siren?
FT: What did I tell you? DON'T TOUCH IT!
GZ: Right. Well, enjoy your stay here. Hope to see you on the road soon, under-hood hoses permitting.
FT: Sure. Stay safe.
(Ed. note: Thanks to talented mechanic Terry Brewster, the truck moved on its own steam back to the Clear Fork Area Volunteer Fire Department garage Sunday evening)
BIRTHDAYS
June 7 - Sheila Stringfield and Pat Toney
June 9 - Jodye Weiler
CALENDAR
June 12 - History Club Field Trip to Barthell Mining Camp. Saturday morning. We'll be back in plenty of time to go to the concert that night. Let Linda Konig know if you plan to go at 628-5243 so she can determine if the group is eligible for the group rate of $2 off. Some may be eligible for the senior rate of $1 off. The regular price is $12 per person. We'll be carpooling there. The camp is a restored mining town that includes several buildings in a scenic setting. There is a doctor's office, barber shop, museum, etc. Mining is an important part of the history of our area. You can even go into the entrance of one of the mines. There is a down home cafe there that Linda has tried, and the food (hamburgers, barbecue, beans and cornbread, etc.) is good, so let her know if you're interested in eating lunch there.
June 12 – Rugby Summer Concert, Junction South, with performers Gerald Hanwright, Trevor Adcock and Nay-Bob Adcock, with special guest Frank Hanwright. Location In front of the Visitor Centre, 7:45 p.m. Bring lawn chairs. No alcoholic beverages. In case of bad weather concert will move indoors to the Community Building.
June 12 - Rugby Book Club selection will be “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte. 7 p.m., at Judy Newport's house, 1043 Range Cemetery Road. Turn off Hwy. 52 onto Sam Smith Road then right on Mt. Helen Road, then 1/4 mile down on the left is her road. It's in Fentress County near Armathwaite. Call Judy for other details at (931) 704-7946.
June 19 – Premiere – Rugby Play - “Emmy and Granny” 7:30 p.m. Eastern at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Adults $19 (65+ $18), K-12 Students $10. Tickets on sale now 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441
June 20 – Matinee Performance - “Emmy and Granny” - 3:00 p.m. at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Adults $15 (65+ $14), K-12 Students $8. Tickets on sale now 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441
June 27 - Annual Historic Rugby Membership Meeting 1:30 p.m.
July 3 - 12th Annual July Picnic at John and Kathy Hicks’ place (Lizzie's Place). 6 p.m.-9 p.m. This will take the place of the first Saturday Potluck Dinner.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
HRI WORKSHOP CALENDAR
For Workshop Registration, contact Historic Rugby at 888-214-3400 – or rugbylegacy@highland.net
June 12 - Bark Basketry Workshop 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Instructor: Fuzzy Orange. Fee: $30. Step back to a time when “everyone made and used baskets.” Learn to harvest poplar bark and create an original style Native American basket, taught by one of the Rugby area’s talented artisans.
July 17 - Kudzu Basketry Workshop 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Instructor: Fuzzy Orange. Fee: $30. Finally a use for that infernal kudzu! Learn to weave the kudzu vine into a basket to enjoy for years to come.
Photo shows Saturday's Quilting Workshop participants showing off their squares. Photo by George Zepp
NATURE NOTES
By Linda Konig
It's not everyone that can boast of owning a live scorpion that they keep in a damp jar in their closet. Pam Blevins was kind enough to catch one at her house near Norma, Tenn., in Scott County and bring it to me. Pam and her husband come fairly often to the Harrow Road Cafe and take some of Rugby's nature walks. She told me last year that they "just have loads of scorpions all around and in the basement." They have both been stung on occasion by these tiny creatures, which are 1 to 2 inches long. The sting is about the same as a bee sting.
Yes, we have native scorpions in our part of the state and a non-native kind, also. Wil and Carrie Thornthwaite used to have scorpions in their basement. Bear in mind that these scorpions are not a kind of lizard. (Appalachian folk tend to call lizards scorpions; my mother did.) These true scorpions look pretty much like their cousins out West that are much bigger and more dangerous, looking somewhat like a lobster but with a tail that arches upward and has a stinger on the end. What Pam brought me is a Vaejovis carolinianus (Plain Eastern Stripeless), which loves to live in damp woodsy areas under rocks and dead wood, especially dead pine tree bark. Their color varies from rusty brown to grayish black.
There are some good photos of scorpions at Scorpion Photo
Why did I want to have a scorpion? Well, for one thing, I wanted to look at it with my black light in the dark to see it glow a bright lime-green. I also have a dead millipede whose stripes, legs, and underside glow lime-green under black light. I wanted to study them carefully with a magnifying glass. It sleeps during the day and I leave it alone until dark. Soon, I'll release the live scorpion into the woods down by the river (not on the Swimming Hole trail). Wonder if the Blevins have ever watched the scorpion mating dance? Or seen a mother scorpion with her young on her back? I've only seen these things on a David Attenborough DVD. Cool stuff.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
