Passage of the construction program by the General Assembly was a critical step toward realization of the bypass. “This bypass has been a long time coming,” said State Senator Ken Yager. “It will enhance pedestrian safety at Rugby and make it a much more viable tourist attraction. It will also provide many other economic benefits to our area. I am very pleased that it has been approved.”
“We are elated that our three-decade effort to achieve a bypass around the Rugby Colony National Register Historic District is going to be realized,” said immediate past Historic Rugby Board Chairman Greg Reed. “It will dramatically improve visitor and resident safety, enhance our rural areas’ economy, and create a much quieter setting for enjoying one of Tennessee’s cultural and natural treasures.”
TDOT will open bids on the project, which includes two new bridges, as early as this fall.
Photo above shows group looking over plans for Rugby Bypass. Left to right: County Commissioner Terry Jackson, Morgan County Executive Becky Ruppe, Barbara Stagg, State Senator Ken Yaeger, Historic Rugby Exec. Dir. Cheryl Cribbet, and Jim Meadows. Photo by George Zepp
CEMETERY LANTERN TOUR
Dinner and Live Music Also Offered
The Lantern Tour of Laurel Dale Cemetery is this Saturday, July 24 at 8 p.m. Costumed interpreters will tell the stories as visitors are escorted by lantern light through the historic cemetery. The Lantern Tour will feature the stories of Rugby from actual letters and newspaper accounts. Visitors will be able to hear not only the more familiar tales of Rugby’s past, but will have the opportunity to hear more obscure stories of life in Rugby well into the twentieth century. Joining Margaret Hughes and Robert Walton will be Edith Wellman, Lizzie Fletcher, Charles Oldfield, Andrew Burroughs, Helen Lourie and many others.
The Harrow Road Café will be serving a special dinner with choice of BBQ Chicken or French Fried Shrimp from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. The cost is $15 tour only / $28 dinner and tour (tax and gratuity extra). Regular menu fare will also be available.
Also the same night will be the music of Standing Stone Bluegrass for diners at the Harrow Road Café. The group will play from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The band's website is at http://www.standingstonebluegrass.webs.com/
Registered guests should arrive at the cemetery at 7:45 p.m. Reservations are required and with the limited 40-person size of this tour we recommend you book early. Call Historic Rugby at 423-628-21441 or toll-free at 1-888-214-3400.
ANOTHER REASON TO COME TO RUGBY
The photos below show George Zepp admiring the work done by Historic Rugby (properties staff and volunteers) to restore the spring at the Massengale Homeplace, including a newly built viewing platform. The spring is one of the offerings to folks who hike the new trail in the new Rugby State Natural Area. When completed, the trail will include exhibitry about the Massengale family who lived in the remote area even before Rugby was founded. The official dedication of the trail and the Rugby State Natural Area is August 27. Mark your calendars.
Photos by Rick Murphy
PRESERVATION CONFERENCE AT RUGBY
The Knoxville News Sentinel has this brief on its website about a conference coming to Rugby in October.
“The East Tennessee Preservation Alliance and Knox Heritage host the 2010 East Tennessee Preservation Conference in Historic Rugby Oct. 8-9. The theme ‘Preserve it, and they will come…’ will focus heritage tourism's role in East Tennessee's economic development and historic preservation.
“Speakers include Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Susan Whitaker and Carolyn Brackett, the program director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Cultural Heritage Tourism Program.
“Other speakers include David Moore from Atlanta's historic Oakland Cemetery and Jacob Burgette, who will talk about gravestone cleaning and repair. The complete schedule will be at www.knoxheritage.com in the middle of August.”
The article can be found at http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jul/18/art-briefs-july-18/
MORGAN COUNTY ELECTION
Early voting for the August 5 state primary and county general elections began July 16 and runs through July 31. Early voting is at the Morgan County Courthouse in Wartburg.
Below are links to the website for the Morgan County News which has information about the candidates for County Commission (our district is 5), Sheriff, and County Executive. They also have information on candidates for other offices.
For Sheriff: http://ads.lcni6.com/politics/163/Local/257/index.html#945
For County Executive: http://ads.lcni6.com/politics/163/Local/247/index.html#915
For County Commission: http://ads.lcni6.com/politics/163/local/245/index.html
BIRTHDAYS
July 19 - John Mount
CALENDAR
July 24 - Lantern Tour of Laurel Dale Cemetery featuring stories of Rugby from actual letters and newspaper accounts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Costumed interpreters will tell the stories as visitors are escorted by lantern light. Prior to the 8 p.m. program at the cemetery will be a special program dinner at the Harrow Road Café. Space is limited so reservations are required. Call Historic Rugby for reservations at 423-628-2441. Lantern Tour Prices: $15/person. Lantern Tour and Dinner: $28/person.
August 7 – Community Potluck 7:00 p.m. Eastern
August 14 – Book Club 7:00 p.m. Eastern at Kathy Hicks’ home. The reading selection is “The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck.
August 27 – Dedication of the Rugby State Natural Area and its first public trail - the Massengale Homeplace Loop.
September 4 - 41st Rugby Village Pilgrimage - Historic Building Tour... Visit private historic and new homes, museum buildings, and historic lodgings
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
HRI WORKSHOP CALENDAR
Photos from Saturday’s Kudzu Basketmaking Workshop. Photos by Rick Murphy
For Workshop Registration, contact Historic Rugby at 888-214-3400 – or rugbylegacy@highland.net
August 14 - Lessons with the Mountain Dulcimer. Come enjoy a day of lessons for playing this beloved Appalachian instrument with one of the instrument’s most enthusiastic teachers and musicians. 10:00 am - 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Instructor: June Goforth. Fee: $35.
August 28 - Introduction to Kaleidoscope. This class explores the world of kaleidoscopes. Each student will learn mirror configurations as well as construction of object boxes. The final product is a completed kaleidoscope to be shared and enjoyed by friends and family. 10 a.m. Eastern. Instructor: Sara Senft. Fee: $65.
By Linda Konig
One of the pleasant idle pastimes of a child (or the young-at-heart) on a lazy summer day in the country can be watching Water Striders "skating" or "dancing" on the surface of a slow-moving stream or pond. Sometimes they're called Pond Skaters. I often think when I watch them that there should be an orchestra on shore playing music for them to "skate" to. One of the neat things to notice while watching them are the dimples in the water that their feet make. In sunshine, the striders and their dimples make interesting shadows on a rocky stream bottom when they're "skating."
I never gave these insects much thought until Deanna Oliver asked me about them the other day. Then I began to wonder what they ate and how these little "skaters" could stay on top of the water without sinking. Well, I did a little research and found that they never sink because their feet are covered with minute fine hairs, enabling them to float on the surface tension. You usually see these insects in groups. There are various kinds of Water Striders, but they all look and act similarly. They eat mosquito larvae and insects that fall into the water and struggle briefly before drowning. One of the more fascinating aspects of Water Strider lives is their courtship via communication by ripples in the surface film. H-m-m. No doubt, some scientist somewhere is studying their secret ripple "codes." After mating, the female lays eggs in parallel rows at or just below the surface of the water near the bank. To my surprise, I learned that Water Striders live a relatively long time and overwinter under dead leaves near water.
There are some fascinating photos of Water Striders at http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/gerridae/interesting/
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
