We have been washing windows and pulling weeds getting ready for Pilgrimage this Saturday. 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 this Saturday, September 4. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
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 and Johnson Theatre.
Roslyn's back porch is seen here in a historic photo, a view similar to that in 1966 when the Rugby Restoration Association held its first Pilgrimage picnic there. Roslyn is on tour this Saturday.
New this year is a silent auction to be held at the Commissary. Rita says that the silent auction will actually begin on Friday, so, if you will be busy with the event on Saturday, come by the Commissary on Friday and bid high on some wonderful silent auction treasures. For as little as $40 (opening bid), you could be designated the “First Mayor of Rugby.” What a deal!
In honor of the upcoming event, George Zepp has written an article about how Pilgrimage got started 44 years ago. See it further down in this edition.
STATE NATURAL AREA DEDICATION
More than 80 people enjoyed a picture-perfect day to attend the vine-cutting ceremony officially dedicating the new Rugby State Natural Area and the Massengale Homeplace trail and exhibits on Friday. Mike Harris, Historic Rugby board vice chairman, introduced several officials who helped make this happen, as well as the Historic Rugby staff and volunteers who have worked so hard on the project over the years. Also in attendance were representatives of the Massengale family, including Lummy Massengale who put so many volunteer hours into helping build the trail and clear the site of the old homeplace. Following the ceremony, many of the attendees walked the trail up to the Massengale Homeplace and viewed the new exhibit that has recently been installed in a kiosk near the site of the Massengale home.Top photo shows official vine-cutting ceremony in front of the trailhead kiosk. Bottom photo shows Marilyn Hury and Mike Harris in front of the exhibit at the Massengale Homeplace. Photos by Rick Murphy
The trail and exhibit are open to the public daily. Parking is behind the Visitors Centre next to a trailhead kiosk.
HELP BRING BROADBAND TO RUGBY
By Jim McBrayer
Those of you who read the “Morgan County News” learned this week that Highland Telephone received a $61 million grant from the Department of Agriculture to extend broadband throughout Morgan, Scott, and McCreary counties. We were told recently that, if they received the grant, it would take several years to build out the system, but that they would give priority to areas that indicated significant demand for broadband services.
THEREFORE, let's see if we can make Rugby one of the first areas to get broadband. Please e-mail me (mcbrayer@highland.net) if you would like to be one of the first to get broadband. Please give me your name, 911 address, and current e-mail address. I would like input no later than Tuesday, September 7. I will compile a spreadsheet and send it on to the guy who heads up Highland Communications.
It makes sense that once they have broadband, they will also be offering "bundles," that is, packages that include computer account, telephone, and television. Basic bundles currently offered by AT&T and Comcast cost in the range of $90 to $100 per month, I believe. So if you think you would also like bundled services, please indicate that as well. It might prove to be a sweetener for them.
UTILITY LINE WORK COMING TO RUGBY
By George Zepp
A spokesman for Highland Telephone Company recently said he expects the phone lines along Highway 52 in Rugby to be moved to the "new" year-old electric utility poles here within three or four months. Then the old poles will be removed.
Apparently the company has a backlog of 7,000 poles to change out in various spots. For that reason, a contractor has been hired to do this work. The contractor's crew is currently working its way down from Kentucky, where McCreary County is part of Highland's service area.
Believe it or not, the aster family wildflowers aren't the only ones out there right now. As lovely as the aster family members are (Joe Pye, Queen Anne's, Sunflowers, etc.), there are plenty of other beautiful wildflowers now that belong to the snapdragon, mint, bluebell, mallow, evening primrose, passion flower, and other families. Who knows what we'll find on our annual Fall Wildflower Walk, Sept. 11? It's always an adventure when you go tramping about with Jack Carman in the meadows around Rugby. So sign up soon. Just $25 per person includes lunch. For more details, call 1-888-214-3400 (toll-free) or 423-628-2441 or Email rugbylegacy@highland.net.
HOWARD RAY DUNCAN TO SPEAK
By Linda Konig
You won't want to miss the September meeting of Rugby's History Club. Howard Ray Duncan, a native of Fentress County, a descendant of "Tinker" Dave Beatty, and a Big South Fork ranger, will be here to enact the story of one of "Tinker" Dave's men in the Civil War. "Tinker" Dave was in charge of the Union's independent scouts who roamed the Upper Cumberland either terrorizing the populace or protecting them, depending on your political orientation at the time. The meeting will be on Friday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Friendly House behind Christ Church in Rugby. All are welcome, whether you're a "Yank" or a "Reb."
RUGBY’S FIRST PILGRIMAGE
By George Zepp
Forty-four years ago, 19th Century Rugby held its first 20th Century open house. The date was Aug. 21, 1966. How much the event has evolved is apparent in an old newspaper clipping sent to us earlier this month by Canadian friends of Rugby, Ralph and June Meyer of British Columbia, themselves visitors here in 1962.
Historic Rugby (first called the Rugby Restoration Association, or RRA) had just recently incorporated that year. The association’s 25 directors were meeting in Chattanooga Aug. 18 (just three days before Pilgrimage!) to set details for the event and set member dues. They were expected to be $5 a year.
Photo above shows Patricia and Hugo Wichmann leaving Rugby's Christ Church on a visit back in 1975. The two lived in Kingstone Lisle here for 18 years.
“All of us who live here in Rugby are interested in this move to restore some of the old homes and it is hoped that all those similarly interested will plan to attend,” Mrs. Wichmann added.
At the time she lived in Kingstone Lisle, founder Thomas Hughes’ home. She insisted that it should be spelled without the “e” since she knew it as “Kingston.” (Bad feelings and angry words later resulted over this, but Hughes’ own letters had used the “e.”) Patricia and husband Hugo sold the home to the infant RRA/Historic Rugby not many years later, when their ages prompted relocation.
“Rugby is a bit of Tennessee history which we would like to see preserved for the edification of those who come after us. So many historical spots are being destroyed or allowed to slowly disintegrate…,” she added.
Details of that first Pilgrimage were these: The program would begin with 11 a.m. services at Christ Church, followed by a picnic lunch at Roslyn, then home of Mrs. Thula Justiss. After the picnic lunch would be a tour of “several of the houses,” followed by an RRA directors’ meeting at Roslyn at 4 p.m.
The event was mainly to “acquaint” the 25 directors with the site. However, Pilgrimage was open to the general public – “although it is requested that everyone who attends join the organization.”
Pilgrimage has continued on a regular basis since. Now newer homes are also included. Historic Rugby still would like attendees this coming Saturday, Sept. 4, to “join the organization” and continue Mrs. Wichmann’s determined effort to show Rugby is not “on its way out.”
BIRTHDAY
September 3 - Sam Neary
CALENDAR
September 1 – Tell-Me-A-Story-Tea at Grey Gables - meet author Dr. Lin Stepp from 1 to 3 p.m., Eastern at Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast. Call Linda Brooks Jones for reservations: 423.628.5252. $10 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
September 3 - Music at the Café with Barbara (Copley) Carnicelli - keyboardist, 6 p.m. Eastern. Enjoy live music while dining at Harrow Road Café.
September 4 - Rugby Village Pilgrimage - Historic Building Tour. Visit private historic and new homes, museum buildings, and historic lodgings.
September 4 - Potluck has been cancelled due to Pilgrimage
September 10-- Music at the Café with Leonard Anderson, musician and comedian
September 10 - History Club - Howard Ray Duncan, a native of Fentress County, a descendant of "Tinker" Dave Beatty and a Big South Fork ranger, will be here to enact the story of one of "Tinker" Dave's men in the Civil War. 7 p.m. in the Friendly House behind Christ Church.
September 17-- Music at the Café with Butch Hodgins and Doug Piercey
September 18 – “Legacy” outdoor classic rock concert at 7:45 p.m. Eastern.
September 24 -- Music at the Café with Whitney Phillips Band (Scott High)
September 25 - Historic Rugby Board of Directors meeting - 1:00 p.m. at the Community Building
October 16 – Rugby Book Club meets at 7 p.m. in the home of Jessie Gully. Choose one of the Stieg Larsson books for discussion. (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Girl Who Played With Fire, Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest). For more information, contact Jessie Gully at 423-628-6090 or jessiegully@hotmail.com
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
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
By Linda Konig
Still watching the big catalpa tree behind Martin Roost. It's now put out some brand new leaves again. This tree could be a lesson in patience. These will be the last set of leaves the tree puts out this year because autumn will soon be here. The last generation of Catalpa Sphinx Moth caterpillars have either gone underground to pupate till next year or have died. One of the more gruesome ways they die is by parasite infestation. The Cotesia congregata wasp, one of the Braconid wasps, lays its eggs inside tobacco hornworms and catalpa tree "worms." Last week I mentioned that the catalpa leaves send out SOS pheromones that lure the Cotesia congregata female wasps to the tree. These tiny wasps then proceed to inject their eggs inside the living caterpillars. Their ovipositors are like long hyperdermic needles. Ouch!
Although Mother Nature has equipped the Catalpa tree "worms" with chemical defenses against the eggs, she has also equipped the Cotesia Wasp eggs to release special cells that inhibit the caterpillar host's chemical defenses. (Kind of like one nation selling arms to both sides in a war.) Anyway, most of the wasp eggs become wasp larvae and go through 2 molts inside the caterpillar, all the time eating away at the caterpillar's insides and growing. They're careful, however, not to eat the more vital organs, thus keeping the caterpillar alive long enough for the wasp larvae to grow and come out of the caterpillar and spin cocoons which are attached to the caterpillar's skin. Thus the wasps achieve their last life stage before hatching as full-grown Cotesia congregata wasps. These parasitic larvae do slow down the Catalpa caterpillars some in their eating, and by the time the Cotesia congregata wasps come out of their cocoons, the caterpillar is dead or dying.
So there you have it, the plot outline for a great horror movie! To see some amazing photos of Cotesia congregata wasps coming out of their cocoons, go to www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/825746. Or watch a catalpa tree next summer. You'll see plenty of those caterpillars, and some will have the white "bowling pin" cocoons attached to them.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
