After a miserably hot summer we were greeted with beautiful fall-like temperatures this weekend. Our thermometer said 45 degrees Sunday morning! The cooler temperatures and beautiful sunshine were just in time to make for a near-perfect 41st Pilgrimage. The pilgrims seemed to all be in good moods as they ambled between the historic buildings, the private homes and the other events.
John Hicks and Cathy Hannaway help guests with tickets for the event. Photo by Jim McBrayer
This event takes a lot of effort. Historic Rugby staff and the many volunteers, including the private homeowners who shared their homes for the day, all worked very hard to make this event a success. Thanks to everybody!
Lisa Donegan and her sister Valerie are dressed to show Lisa's home to Rugby Pilgrims. Sue Duncan demonstrates riding side saddle in her Victorian outfit with the help of her horse "Janie" in front of Virgo House, one of the historic homes on the tour. Photos by Jim McBrayer
If you wonder where our crowd was from this year, we took a little survey of the 106 who visited Walton Court: Gainesville, FL; Ludlow, KY; Cincinnati and Columbus, OH, and in Tennessee: Norma, Dandridge, Gallatin, Charleston, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Cookeville, Oak Ridge, Crossville, Fairfield Glade, Rockwood, Nashville, Memphis, Oliver Springs, McMinnville, Livingston, Dyersburg, Helenwood and Ten Mile.
MARGARET’S AMAZING HAWK PHOTOS
By Peter Erickson
Photos by Margaret Erickson
BEACON HILL HOMEOWNER RUNS FOR CONGRESS
This weekend we enjoyed having dinner with Don Barkman, who mentioned that he had qualified to run as an independent candidate for the U.S. Third Congressional District for Tennessee – the seat being vacated by Zack Wamp. Running with the slogan of Vote for the UnderDog - Common Sense from Tennessee. Don has a refreshingly nonpartisan website at: http://www.db4tn.com/index.html
Probably the most refreshing part of Don’s website is the fact that he says he does not want campaign contributions!
SILENT AUCTION BIDDERS
Rita Myers says the Silent Auction during Pilgrimage was a great success. There really were some nice treasures for sale. One of the more unusual treasures was the auctioning off of the honorary title of “Mayor of Rugby.” Apparently there was some pretty heavy bidding for this. It seems that the title shall now reside for a while where it has resided informally for some time, with Julian Bankston.
Rita says that proceeds from the auction will be used to help purchase inventory for the Commissary. Thanks to everybody who helped make this new feature of Pilgrimage a success!
MICHAELMAS FESTIVAL OCTOBER 2
By Mara Trumbo
You are cordially invited to an English Cream Tea and all the fun of the fair at our annual - Episcopal Christ Church Rugby, Michaelmas Festival - Saturday October 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission to our Arts and Crafts Fair. Tea will be served at Noon and 2 p.m. -- $10 per person.
For reservations please call Dorcus McBrayer at (423) 628-1282
FALL WILDFLOWER WALK SEPT. 11
Photo from an earlier wildflower walk with Jack Carman and Rugby naturalist Linda Konig.
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."
BIRTHDAYS
September 9 - Kim Stagg and Harry Hester
September 10 - Robert Walton Crabtree
September - 13 Ted Chrisman
CALENDAR
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 Piercy
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 p.m. at the Community Building
October 2 - Michaelmas Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern at Christ Church. Free Arts and Crafts Fair. English Cream Tea will be served at Noon and 2 p.m. for $10.00 per person. For reservations for the tea, please call Dorcus McBrayer - (423) 628-1282.
October 2 – Community Potluck at 7:00 p.m.
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
It's that time of year again. Suddenly we aren't seeing quite so many deer. They aren't seen in our yards and the open meadows as often. Where are they and what are they doing? Last week I bought the kind of deer book I've been wanting, one that answers a lot of the questions I've had and more. I learned that this is the time when deer mostly start fattening up on corn. Though there's still green vegetation, and they'll still eat some, corn is a priority now. Corn is a major carbohydrate food, and will provide extra nutrition to get through their rutting season and the following winter. Starting in late September and well into October, deer will be in the woods a lot, eating acorns. Acorns are an even richer diet for them and a favorite food.
September is the month when bucks shed the "velvet" from their antlers. They will rub their antlers vigorously against trees to rid themselves of their velvet. This layer that has heretofore nourished and, to some extent, protected the growing antlers is no longer needed because the antlers have sufficiently grown and hardened. I was surprised to learn that this velvet produces a sebum which acts as an insect repellent to keep mosquitoes and biting flies off the blood-rich velvet. But now the velvet is drying, cracking and itching, making bucks want to get rid of their antlers' exterior coverings even more. It's almost time for bucks to start searching out the does and battling each other for the right to the choicest females. I plan to be on the lookout at woods' edges (usually their favorite haunts because this is the place where more of the younger deciduous trees and brushy areas are) for the sight of velvet hanging from twigs, etc. Soon, we'll have to start wearing "safety orange" and other bright colors while in the woods to avoid being shot by deer hunters. Be safe!
For a good picture of a buck losing its antler velvet, see
www.buckmanager.com/2008/09/02/when.whitetail.bucks.lose.their.velvet/.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
