The one-man show, “Mark Twain At-Large” is this Saturday, August 21, at 7:45 p.m. Eastern, at Historic Rugby’s Rebecca Johnson Theatre.
West Tennessee actor Ron Jewell, who transforms himself with costume and makeup into the world-famous humorist, as he came to be known, will play Samuel Clemens or Mark Twain. Jewell has had this role for many years, traveling to 23 states. He will portray Twain reminiscing about his long and event-filled life. Material from such well known works as “Life on the Mississippi” and “Roughing It,” some of Twain’s letters, and some famous one-liners are woven together in Jewell’s performance.
The show begins at 7:45 Eastern; tickets are $18 adults, $16 Seniors and $12 for K-12 students. Call 1-888-214-3400 for reservations to this very special evening. The doors will open at 7:15 pm Eastern.
NEW SIGN FOR STATE NATURAL AREA
Mark Twain will have no trouble finding the new Rugby State Natural Area and the Massengale Homeplace Trail. A directional sign was planted last week across the parking lot from Christ Church. Photo by George Zepp.
RUGBY FOLKS NAMED BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Linda Brooks Jones was elected as President of the Executive Board of the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, according to a letter to the editor of the Morgan County News. In addition, Cheryl Cribbet was named to the Board as a representative for an area of Morgan County that includes Rugby, said the letter from Gigi Schooler, executive director of the Chamber.
VILLAGE PILGRIMAGE HERE SET FOR SEPT. 4
Historic Rugby homeowners, museum staff and volunteers are throwing open the doors to 20 or more buildings at Historic Rugby’s Village Pilgrimage & Home Tour on Saturday, September 4. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Rugby Pilgrimage is believed to be the largest such tour in Tennessee. This year Uffington House, the home of Margaret Hughes, mother of Rugby founder Thomas Hughes will host readings of Madame Hughes’ and her granddaughter Emily’s historical letters. Open for tour also will be private historic homes, new historically designed homes, five museum buildings, and the Rugby Visitor Centre & Johnson Theatre.
Executive Director Cheryl Cribbet invites everyone to “step back in time” and experience Rugby, a living historic village where residents, staff and visitors dressed in period costume will welcome you and share the magic of this very special place.
Free van service will be available for those who need to limit their walking.
Private historic homes open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Eastern Time include:
• Wren’s Nest, originally built in conjunction with a chicken operation.
• The Lindens, named for the two giant trees planted there in 1882.
• Oak Lodge, which once housed guests who could not find room at the old Tabard Inn
• Roslyn, the undisputed leader of ghostly happenings through Rugby’s decades.
Owners of new historically compatible homes in the Beacon Hill development and nearby will also welcome visitors 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Open museum buildings during the same hours include the 1907 Schoolhouse with exhibits, Visitor Centre & Johnson Theatre showing the award-winning film, The Power Of A Dream; 1882 Thomas Hughes Library with its 7,000-volume collection of Victorian books and periodicals; 1884 Kingstone Lisle, the Gothic cottage built for Rugby’s founder; and the Rugby Printing Works with 19th century printing demonstrations. The congregation of 1887 Christ Church Episcopal will also welcome Pilgrimage visitors to the carefully preserved chapel. Pilgrimage goers may want to visit Laurel Dale Cemetery, where many of Rugby’s colonists are buried.
Visitors can shop at the Commissary Museum Store which will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary with a benefit silent auction upstairs. Silent auction winners will be announced there at 5:30 p.m. Traditional crafts from over a hundred area artisans, British Isles food products and gifts, a wide selection of books, prints and games, British teapots and much more are some of the items that can be seen within the Shops of Rugby. They include the Spirit of Red Hill Art & Oddiment Shop & the Carriage House Gallery.
The Harrow Road Cafe will be open 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Admission for all open buildings and activities is $14 for adults and $4 for K-12 Students. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Members of Historic Rugby receive half-price admission.
Call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 for more information or to arrange group discount tickets. Email rugbylegacy@highland.net or visit our website at www.historicrugby.org.
ENGLISH VISITORS IN RUGBY
On August 3, George and Helen Reade along with their two children, Lucy and Chris, from Balking, England (near Uffington) visited Historic Rugby as guests of John and Kathy Hicks. They toured the historic buildings and visited the Commissary. On Tuesday night, they had a delicious meal at Grey Gables with 15 folks from Rugby joining them. On Wednesday morning, they enjoyed a ride in John Hicks' 1931 Model A and Julian Bankston's electric car. George Reade has been to Rugby, Tennessee several times in the past. They visited Kingston, Dollywood and VIrginia Beach as well as other sites. They commented that the weather in Rugby was much warmer than in the U.K., where the average high this time of year is in the 70s. Maybe we should all go visit them.
Photos of English guests by John and Kathy Hicks
TELL-ME-A-STORY TEA
By Linda Brooks Jones
By Linda Brooks Jones
We invite you to attend a tea and meet regional author Dr. Lin Stepp Wednesday, September 1, 2010, 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern, at Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast.
Lin will have books for purchase and signing. The 12 books planned in the Smoky Mountain Series are warm, contemporary romances – with a touch of suspense, a dash of inspiration, and a big dollop of Appalachian flavor - all set around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Each book is a single contemporary - with regional links and character links - but the reader can enjoy any book singularly without reading the others. All are set in different areas around the Smoky Mountains. For example, the first, “The Foster Girls,” is set in Wear’s Valley, the second, “Tell Me About Orchard,” is set in Townsend, the third in Greenbriar, the fourth in Gatlinburg, etc. She is now working on the seventh book of the series.
MENU: Italian Cobb Salad, Stuffed Chicken Breast, Fruit Salad, Berried Treasure Pie, Scones, a variety of tea beverages. Please call Linda Brooks Jones for reservations: 423.628.5252. $10 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
‘TEDDY BEAR’ PICNIC AT THE TRUMBOS
By Mara Trumbo
What an exciting nature week this has been in Rugby! A baby red fox tried to make friends with the Trumbos’ cat, Tabatha, who did not share the same sentiments and ran it off the property. Then on Wednesday, whilst Mara was walking home from the post office in the evening, she heard a siren go off in the village. She ran back to see what was amiss and found out that it was the Harrow Road Cafe's alarm that had gone off. No one was in sight so she ran for help to Cheryl's and Butch's place. The Hodgkins had company and had not heard the fracas. Mara asked them to please call someone to investigate and she proceeded on her walk back home. As she proceeded down Cumberland Avenue in the dusk, she was aware of the rustling of leaves behind her. The Trumbos’ cat, Tabatha, often follows them on their walks, hiding behind the bushes. so she dismissed it as Tabby being playful again.
When she got home Tabby was asleep on a chair and thought nothing more of it. At 2:30 a.m., a loud bang woke Mara up. The immediate thought was that Tabby had bumped into one of the ornaments whilst climbing on the display cabinet. Going downstairs to investigate the damage, Mara saw our friendly neighborhood bear who had bent the fastened steel rim of the trashcan back and he was sitting having a picnic. Bob was called down to see the sight and the bear eventually got scared off by the camera flashlight. Unfortunately the metal screens reflected on the flash and no clear pictures are available. "Teddy" left holding a yellow gallon milk bottle, found later behind the house all chewed up.
A reminder to take my loud police whistle, a cell phone and a big stick with me on my next walk???
Editor’s Note: Mara, makes a good point about how strong and clever bears are that they could even get into the Trumbo’s metal rimmed trash can. The last few bear sightings have all been related to trash being kept outside. If you have an option for keeping your trashcan in a garage or outbuilding, please do. If you cannot, consider getting a bear-proof can. The following website has examples, with prices starting at $62.05: http://www.dawginc.com/facility-protection/waste-receptacles/bear-proof-cans.html and this one provides a do-it-yourself option: http://www.crittercan.org/CritterCanHardware.pdf
HELP MARA FLY TO ROME ART FAIR
By Mara Trumbo
Mara Trumbo has been invited to participate in the Rome Hobby Show next month to teach American painting techniques. She is being hosted at the Art Fair and in private homes, but to make the trip possible she is looking for anyone who may have unused fly-miles expiring this year to assist with her airfare to Europe. Mara will trade with a choice of her best original paintings. If anyone can help, please call Mara at (423) 628-6591. Thank you.
BIRTHDAYS
Aug. 20 - Scott Buck
Aug. 23 - Delois Boone & Laurie Britt
CALENDAR
August 20 – Music at the Café with Butch Hodgkins and Doug Piercy, 6 p.m. Eastern. Enjoy the live music while you dine at the Harrow Road Cafe.
August 21 – Mark Twain Visits Rugby - 7:45 p.m. Eastern. A one-man theatrical presentation, “Mark Twain At Large,” at the Rebecca Johnson Theatre. Adults $18 – Seniors $16 – K-12 Students $12. Call 1-888-214-3400 to reserve seats. Dinner at the Harrow Road Café is being served beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern.
August 27 – Dedication of the Rugby State Natural Area and its first public trail - the Massengale Homeplace Loop. 11 a.m. Eastern at the trailhead near the Rugby Workshop, behind the Community Building
August 27 - Music at the Café with Brett and Suzanne Chambers, 6 p.m. Eastern. Enjoy live music while dining at Harrow Road Café.
September 1 – Tea at Grey Gables - meet author Dr. Lin Stepp from 1 to 3 p.m., Eastern at Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast.
September 4 - Rugby Village Pilgrimage - Historic Building Tour. Visit private historic and new homes, museum buildings, and historic lodgings. Details above.
September Potluck has been cancelled due to Pilgrimage
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 email rugbylegacy@highland.net
August 28 - Introduction to Kaleidoscope. This class has been CANCELLED.
September 11 - Fall Wildflower Walk - Jack Carman, author of the book “Wildflowers of Tennessee,” will lead several walks around Rugby. From Blue Curls to Maryland Golden Aster, attendees will learn about and see at least 20 species and attend a slide presentation and book signing. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern. Fee: $25
September 24 - White Oak Basketry Workshop - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Instructor: Bobby Edwards. This very popular three-day workshop teaches the art of White Oak basketry from tree selection, splits, rims and handles to weaving a beautiful traditional basket. This is an experience not to be missed even if it does require “hand strength.” Fee: $130
NATURE NOTES
By Linda Konig
As usual in summer, I'm torn about what to write for this week's Nature Notes. So much is happening in the world of nature now that it's hard to keep up with it all. Should I write about the Virgin's Bower that's starting to show its delicate white crosses? Ironweed turning purple? The orange and green Stinkhorn that came up in my backyard? (By the way, it didn't smell bad at all. I thought the fragrance was more flower-like.)
I was tempted to write about the ongoing wars between the big catalpa tree behind Martin Roost and the Catalpa Sphinx moth caterpillars and the Cotesia congregata wasp (a Braconid wasp). On the other hand, maybe people would rather read about the big black bear that makes daily visits to the cafe dumpster. Why isn't he content to eat the sassafras berries, yellow jackets, blackberries, etc.? Guess he's developed a taste for cherry crunch, spoon rolls, and shepherd's pie.
What about the Jimsonweeds that nightly open their exotic blossoms, inviting the moths to pollinate them? Perhaps I could write about the fact that some of our migratory birds have already flown south. Yes, believe it or not, the Wood Thrushes and Purple Martins have already started their long journeys to South America. They're such sweet singers, I'll miss them. A sign that fall is coming: Pawpaws are ripening; foxes and deer are finishing up the last of the Concord grapes; chiggers are thronging en masse.
These days, I'm looking for hatchling Box Turtles, gently touching the soft fur on sleeping moths, and listening for the rhythmic grunts of Mole Crickets underground. I saw some sparkling iridescent patches on a tree in Ron & Bethany Jackson's neighborhood the other night, which means the Leopard Slugs are mating again. (Welcome them. They eat the ordinary variety of garden slugs.) The Perseid Meteor showers are putting on a show. Hey, is it the middle of August already? My message today is: Get out there before it's all gone and see, hear, smell, taste, and feel our wonder-full abundance.
Beautiful photos of Jimsonweeds can be found at
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
