Research, writing and direction of EMMY and GRANNY is by award-winning playwright Brandon Daughtry Slocum, artistic director for The Wild Thyme and Silver Stage Players of Knoxville, both of which she founded.
Much of the play’s dialogue comes directly from more than 150 letters written by Emily and Margaret Hughes, the founder’s niece and mother, during their six years in early Rugby. They named their home Uffington for their family village in England. Uffington House survives with restoration by Historic Rugby ongoing.
Some 60 historic images will enhance the authenticity as Emmy’s and Granny’s story unfolds. The vintage Victorian stage set includes several furnishings and decorative items original to early Rugby. The original music score by Bryon Ownby is drawn in part from archival music folios used by Rugby’s early colonists.
Most characters in the drama are based on historic figures who played significant roles in early Rugby’s founding and development. The 16-member cast combines professional actors, including 80-year-old Wanda Huttner playing Margaret Hughes from ages 83 to 90, and members of the Rugby community. Among them is George Zepp, great-grandson of the character he plays, Rugby’s early and very Irish manager Robert Walton.
Historic Rugby presents this original drama in partnership with the Wild Thyme and Silver Stage Players. The play is made possible by a Rural Arts Project Support grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and sponsorship by First National Bank of Oneida.
Saturday ticket prices are $19 adults, $18 for seniors 65 and above, $10 for K-12 students. Sunday matinee prices are $15 adults, $14 for 65 and above, $8 for K-12 students. Seating is limited so call early for reservations to 1-888-214-3400.
The Harrow Road Café at Rugby will serve an historically themed dinner featuring original recipes of early Rugby residents beginning at 5:00 pm on Saturday, June 19, and again for lunch on Sunday, June 20, beginning at 11:30 am. Call 1-888-214-3400 for reservations.
SATURDAY NIGHT IN RUGBY
REAL ESTATE AND OTHER NEWS
There is new contact information for anyone interested in buying Adena Cottage, the only historic Rugby home that is on the market. Anyone interested should call either 615-849-2833 or 615-848-4644. Owner Pat Toney says she has set a new price and interest has picked up lately. The beautiful home and carriage house have been lovingly renovated.
And speaking of Rugby houses that are for sale, Marilyn and Hadley Hury say they have decided to not sell their Beacon Hill home. They love the new crown molding that Gerald Hanwright and Butch Hodgkins installed recently so much that they have decided not to sell! Yeah!!
It was great to see Brooks Store open on Saturday even though it was only for one day. They were having a sale of antiques and various odds and ends that are still in the store which closed earlier this year. A daughter and a daughter-in-law of Linda Brooks Jones were handling the sale when I went in. They said there were not any immediate plans for the much beloved store, but that they were just helping get it cleared out some. I guess I had forgotten, but while I was there Bobby Brooks reminded me that they think the interesting old post office boxes in the store were from the Zenith Community which was a mining community in Fentress County. The store is a fascinating place.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has issued an advertisement online seeking to retain the services of professional engineering consulting firms to provide expertise in construction engineering inspection services on several projects, including the long sought Rugby Bypass. So will the Rugby Bypass actually happen this time? The online ad does say that projects can be withdrawn if anticipated funding does not become available. In addition, to cutting down on the frequency of vehicle related accidents, a Rugby Bypass will make properties along the current highway in Rugby even more attractive for residential development. The six-plus acre Dakeyne property that is currently for sale on the east side of town past Roslyn comes to mind. It has two beautiful building sites and is surrounded by State Natural Area on three sides.
BEAR SIGHTING IN FENTRESS COUNTY
By Tom Howell
Benita and I sighted a large bear crossing Highway 52 on the Fentress side of Clear Fork bridge. This was about 6:45 p.m. Saturday, still broad daylight. The bear, a big one, was heading north into the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near the Mt. Helen community. Park rangers need to be aware. This animal could easily ford the Clear Fork and come into Rugby. It had probably been looking for leavings at the Big South Fork picnic ground south of the highway across the Clear Fork from the Brooks store. Folks, mind your garbage!
By Charles and Lavonne Gibbs
Here is a photo of Chuck Leeds in his tomato garden. He expects to be able to serve fried green tomatoes at the Cafe in about two weeks. In addition to tomatoes, he has peppers and a variety of herbs. He learned gardening as a child in his parents big garden.
BIRTHDAYS
June 17 - Lloyd Stokes
June 18 - Jenny Young
CALENDAR
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. Eastern 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
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.
NATURE NOTES
By Linda Konig
Last Friday night I got a call from Jody Hester, and she was excited because a Box Turtle was laying eggs in a hole in the gravel near their garage. She, Harry, and other family members including some grandchildren had watched the turtle dig a shallow hole and then proceed to lay four slightly elongated white eggs. Jody came and got me and we watched the turtle cover the eggs with gravel and dirt with her hind legs. I'd never watched a turtle do this before.
The fact that she was doing this after dark made me wonder if Box Turtles always lay their eggs at night. That would make sense from several standpoints. I know that Sea Turtles and Snapping Turtles lay their eggs at night. We humans miss a lot of high drama while we sleep.
I got busy doing some research about Box Turtles and learned that the usual clutch of eggs numbers three to six and that they hatch in late summer or early fall. Box Turtles are philopatric, meaning they try to return to their own hatching site to lay eggs for the next generation. This helps explain why we see so many Box Turtles on the move in late spring, trying to cross roads and highways. The females are trying to return to their "old homeplace." One of the reasons that Box Turtles are on the decline is that they're often hit by traffic on the roads. Another reason is that their "old homeplace" has been covered over with concrete and pavement, with shopping centers and other buildings. By the way: if you happen to see a turtle trying to cross the road, be a friend, pick it up and take it to the other side in the direction it was headed if you can do so without danger. It knows where it wants to go and will only continue to try to cross the road in that direction if you take it to the side where it came from.
For a good photo of a box turtle go to Turtle Photo
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
