Two interesting opportunities are scheduled here this Saturday, November 20:
Photo shows some of last year's workshop participants displaying the fruits of their labor
Author Discussion - Join author Stephen Lyn Bales, a naturalist, at Historic Rugby’s Rebecca Johnson Theatre for a discussion about his new book “Ghost Birds.” It’s about the large and rare – is it extinct? – ivory-billed woodpecker. Find out what young Jim Tanner, a Knoxvillian, learned during his fieldwork in the 1930s searching for this elusive bird. Bales will have copies of the book to sell after his talk at 4 p.m. Eastern Saturday. For more information, call 888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441 or email rugbylegacy@highland.net
MORGAN-SCOTT COMBINE FOR LOCAL ARREST
Sheriffs Respond Quickly to Community Call for Action
Less than a week after a community meeting requested more law enforcement help in this area, the Scott and Morgan County sheriffs’ departments worked together in the arrest of a suspect at a home to the east of Rugby. A spokesperson for the Scott County Sheriffs Department said today that one arrest was made. Jerry Wayne Phillips, 34, was arrested at a home on White Oak Circle on Friday and charged with a probation violation based on warrants from Scott County General Sessions and Criminal Courts. Deputies also recovered stolen property, according to the spokesperson.
Photo to right shows one of Rugby's new Neighborhood Watch Signs. The first two have already been posted on Hwy. 52 on either end of the village.
THANKSGIVING EVENTS
Thanksgiving Dinner at Grey Gables
Linda Brooks Jones and her family invite you to Grey Gables to celebrate a time of Thanksgiving for the bounty of goodness that has been gifted to humankind. As we celebrate life’s gifts to us, we remember those who have less and pledge to be more mindful of the needs of those for whom we can share our bounty. We welcome you to our Inn. Thursday, November 25. 1:00 pm seating - 5:00 pm seating (Eastern time).
$12.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. $6.00 under 12 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations Required. Call 423.628.5252 for menu choices and reservations.
Thanksgiving Market Place and British Cream Tea Step back in time on Friday, Nov. 26, at Historic Rugby for the annual British Cream Tea and The Shoppes of Rugby’s Thanksgiving Marketplace. It’s a delightful alternative to Black Friday madness.
Kick off your holiday shopping for unique gifts with friendly local artists demonstrating their crafts and the welcoming shopkeepers. Tour five historic buildings where Christmas decorating has begun, see our award winning film and mural at the Rugby Visitor Centre.
Enjoy a delightful British Cream Tea at 1880 Newbury House. Join us for traditional teas and delicious sweets fireside in the parlor surrounded by festive holiday decorations. Tea will be served 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern (12:30 and 2:30 Central). Reservations are advised for this very popular event. See photo above showing last year's tea.
Thanksgiving Marketplace hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern Time; the Café remains open until 9 pm. Call Historic Rugby toll-free at 1-888-214-3400 or locally 423-628-2441 to make reservations for the tea.
PHOTOS OF RUGBY BUILDING RENOVATIONS
Work continues on exterior painting of the historic Thomas Hughes Free Public Library and replacing rotten siding on the Commissary. Staff and volunteers have been working hard on painting new siding used on the Commissary project. Here John Gilliat and Bob Hemminger wield their brushes. Many other folks have also helped with this project. Photos by Rick Murphy
RUGBY IN THE NEWS
On TV
Check out this link to see a recent Nashville television report on Rugby:
http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wztv_vid_5409.shtml
On a Magazine Cover
Barbara Stagg immediately recognized John Gilliat's relatives Vivian and Clara Gilliat, boy-and-girl twins, as well as a bearded man who is likely to be Rev. Jospeh H. Blacklock. Blacklock conducted the first Anglican service in Rugby in 1880 and was later first priest of the Christ Church parish.
Barbara thinks the photo was made about 1886, based on the twins' ages. The magazine said it is one of five old Rugby photos acquired recently by UT.
The whole issue in PDF form is online at: http://www.lib.utk.edu/libdev/ldr/ldr2009-10.pdf After the cover, see page 25 for another Rugby photo and a short explanation.
In a newspaper
German travel journalist Holger Karkheck from Berlin arrived yesterday and will be here today doing research for an article for the Sunday travel section of “Bild am Sonntag.” He’s also writing about the post-flood reopening of Nashville’s Opryland Hotel, then goes on to Miami for a piece on the new “world’s largest cruise ship.” We’ll let you know when the Rugby article appears. Get those German-English dictionaries ready!
HIKERS FIND HISTORIC RUGBY HOME STILL STANDING - BARELY
Annie Patterson took the photo above of the historic Rugby home called Sunnyside. Annie, Julian Bankston, Eric Wilson and Bob Hemminger (I hope I got this list right) waded across the White Oak Saturday. Many people thought the house had already collapsed, but obviously it is still standing. Annie said that inside most of the second floor has collapsed creating a very unstable and dangerous situation. She did not think the house could continue standing much longer. The home was built by Alexander family in the 1880s and was connected to Horseshoe Bend Road by a hanging pedestrian bridge.
HISTORIC RUGBY ANNOUNCES WINTER PLANS
Historic Rugby has announced that the Café, Visitor Centre and Commissary will all be closed during January and February 2011. Executive Director Cheryl Cribbet says this will allow for necessary seasonal cost savings and also permit required interior building improvements to the kitchen of the Café and much-needed maintenance in some of the other buildings.
Lodging will continue to be offered on a self catering basis. The Schoolhouse Museum will be open Monday – Saturday for tours. The Post Office will be operating at the Schoolhouse Museum on normal winter hours (closed Tuesday and Sunday).
“Normal operations will resume in March with great fanfare as we will have in place our wine and ale sales in the Café and several buildings will have completed major renovations,” Cribbet said.
BIRTHDAYS
Nov. 17 - Cheryl Hodgkins
Nov. 18 - Joe Beavon
Nov. 19 - Fred Oliver
Nov. 22 - Dave Dunaway
CALENDAR
Saturday, November 20 - Christmas Greens Workshop. Help make wreaths and sprays to decorate Historic Rugby for Christmas. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Eastern. Bring hand clippers or pruning shears, work gloves, boxwood clippings and nandina berries if possible. Let Rita know if you can come - email her at rugbycommissary@gmail.com or call 423-628-5166
Saturday, November 20 - Join author Stephen Lyn Bales, a naturalist, at Historic Rugby’s Rebecca Johnson Theatre for a discussion about his new book “Ghost Birds” and find out what young Jim Tanner learned during his fieldwork in the 1930s. Bales will have copies of the book to sell after his talk, at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information call 1.888.214.3400 / 423.628.2441 or email rugbylegacy@highland.net
Thursday, November 25 – Thanksgiving Dinner at Grey Gables Bed ‘n Breakfast Inn. 1 p.m. seating – 5 p.m. seating (EASTERN TIME). $12 per person, plus tax and gratuity, $6 under age 12 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required: 423.628.5252
Friday, November 26 -- Thanksgiving Marketplace (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern) and Cream Tea at Historic Rugby. Tea will be served 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern, with reservations recommended. Call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or locally 423-628-2441 to make reservations for the tea.
Wednesday, December 1-- Light of My Life Christmas Tea at Grey Gables, 1-3 p.m. Eastern Time -$10 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required: 423.628.5252
Saturday, December 4 -- Christmas at Historic Rugby. 4 p.m. Eastern. Hark Back to 1880s Rugby Christmases - Visit Beautifully Decorated Candle and Lamp-Lighted Buildings…. Enjoy Music and Actors Portraying Early Rugby Colonists… Join in Carol Singing w/Hot Wassail… Christmas Treasures at The Shoppes of Rugby… Four-Course Victorian Dinner at the Harrow Road Café. Advance Purchase Required. Call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or locally 423-628-2441
Saturday, December 4 - In conjunction with Christmas At Historic Rugby, the Christ Church choir will present a Christmas Choral presentation at 4:30 p.m. in the church. Visitors to Christmas at Rugby and community members are all invited to this special service of singing. Special carols will be presented by the Christ Church choir and congregational singing will be enjoyed by all attending. The single performance will last about 30 minutes. There should be plenty of time to get other activities and to one of the dinner seatings.
Saturday, December 11-- Special Holiday Concert, 7 p.m., to start your holiday celebrations... Details To Be Announced...
Saturday, January 15 (NEW DATE) – Book Club at the home of Kit and Candy Howes. Book selection is AMERICAN LION by Jon Meacham
January and February 2011 – Historic Rugby Winter Hours. The Schoolhouse Museum will be open Monday – Saturday for tours. The Post Office will be at the Schoolhouse Museum on normal winter hours (closed Tuesday and Sunday). Lodging will be offered on a self catering basis only. The Café, Visitor Centre and Commissary will be closed for repairs. Normal operations will resume in March.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
NATURE NOTES
By Linda Konig
I've been noticing the persimmon trees lately, now that all their leaves are gone, and the fruit really shows up. Persimmons are a real draw for various kinds of wildlife as well as humans. Opossums, in particular, are known for being fond of these fruits, although they'll eat anything that's animal or vegetable or even a kind of fungus. We all think we know a lot about 'possums, so I was surprised to learn some amazing facts about them recently.
Did you know that when a possum "plays" dead, he not only appears dead with his heart rate and breathing practically stopped, his body stiff, etc., but he SMELLS dead. I had always assumed that a possum was cleverly pretending, but the possum isn't "acting"; it's really unconscious and all his symptoms are involuntary. And, we've all seen those common illustrations of possums hanging by their tails. (Remember those Possum-brand sardine cans?) Actually that seldom happens. When it does, it's an immature possum doing so. Mature possums are too heavy. Their tails do come in handy, however, in the same way monkey tails are useful to monkeys, for grabbing branches and moving through the trees. Possums also use their tails to carry leaves and other bedding materials to their dens.
Because possums are nocturnal with most of their activity occurring around midnight, we don't see live ones very often. Too bad, because their mating behaviors and unusual maternal care are quite interesting. When baby possums are born, they're smaller than a honeybee. Their eyes and hind legs aren't developed yet. They have to make the trek upward to their mother's pouch for warmth and milk. The mother licks each baby and licks her belly fur until it's wet and sleek, making it easier for the babies to pull themselves upward with hooked front claws. They have a lot of growing to do before facing the world. For a look at "preemie" baby possums, see:
www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/didelphis-virginiana.html
OR www.backyardnature.net/opossums.htm
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
