The Harrow Road Cafe reopened Friday after an extensive, nearly three-month renovation of the kitchen. It was great to see the crew at the Cafe, plus some very welcome new faces in the kitchen, over the busy weekend. The Vegetarian Potato Soup on Sunday was yummy!
Cheryl Cribbet writes: “We thank everyone for your support in the renovation of the Cafe and we look forward to seeing everyone very soon.”
The newly renovated kitchen, part of the Sunday afternoon crowd in the large dining room, one of several beautiful spring flower arrangements, and new chefs John Broyles and Libby Smith in their initial cooking on Thursday. Photos by George Zepp and Rick Murphy.
Hours of Operation:
Sunday - Thursday - 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Eastern
Friday and Saturday - 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Eastern
Cheryl Cribbet emailed that Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) recognized Historic Rugby this past week with an award for excellence in the permanent exhibit category for the "Exhibits of the Massengale Homeplace," located within the new Rugby State Natural Area. TAM held its 2011 Annual Conference in Johnson City. Barbara Stagg, who worked on the project, accepted the award on behalf of Historic Rugby on Thursday.
Cribbet said, “Again a special thanks to all the volunteers and Historic Rugby staff for their hard work on this now 'award winning' project.”
Photo above shows Marilyn Hury at the opening of the Massengale Homeplace Exhibit last year.
Perrigo Garden Club Meets Saturday
By Donna Heffner
The plowing is underway and should be done this week, so all those interested in planting on the Perrigo site should meet there at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, and we’ll look at the site together. Corn, beans, squash, 'maters, flowers, gourds, onions, etc., etc. – mm mmmm!!! Everyone welcome. Plenty of room for all!
Fire Department News
Welcome to Blair Garrett
By Tom Howell
Clear Fork Volunteer Fire Department's newest member is Blair Garrett, who lives in a house that he built himself just in Fentress County across the Clear Fork on Highway 52 adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Some of you may know his parents, Skidmore and Sharon Garrett of Allardt. Blair has recently taken and passed the Firefighter I course.
Blair had his first "trial by fire" -- literally! -- last Monday night. I had just given him his radio and charger and returned home when fire bells went off. Reluctantly, I made the decision to head to a forest fire in the Meister Hills area, far beyond our bailiwick, because the Deer Lodge fire department was fighting fires at two locations at once and was stretched thin. Also the state forestry bulldozers were tied up on other incidents and were not immediately available. Extinguishing this fire meant bulling our way into the woods with our four-wheel-drive brush truck where other fire departments could not go with their conventional trucks. There were multiple fires in this area, obviously the work of an arsonist. Forestry arrived just as we were leaving, our work done. They cut fire breaks with a dozer, ensuring that no remnants of the fire would spread.
Volunteers Needed April 2
Help Eliminate Invasive Plants
By Benita Howell
Lisa Huff, TDEC manager for the Rugby State Natural Area, will be here Saturday morning, April 2, to work with volunteers on a project to exterminate invasive Japanese spirea growing along the Massengale
Homeplace loop. If you can help, meet at Harrow Road Cafe at 9:00 a.m. EDT for breakfast, or at the Massengale trail head parking area at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The plant is easy to identify and pull out by the roots, but bring work gloves and wear sturdy shoes or boots so that you can work off the trail, along the stream bottom.
Bypass Construction
Carrie Thornthwaite sent these views of the ongoing work on the Rugby Bypass during one of her extensive hikes. She thinks the crane was pouring concrete for the White Oak bridge. At left is of the area where another bridge will cross Little Creek. "There's an amazing amount of work there. I was 2/3 the way up the west side... pretty steep climb.”
BIRTHDAYS March 28 -Jane Logan
April 2 - Carman Roberson
April 3 - Luke Martin
April 4 - Tom Howell and Judy Newport
CALENDAR
Rugby is in the Eastern Time zone, just barely
Friday, April 1 - English Country Dancing 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 – Community Potluck 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 7 - Spirit of Red Hill reopens for season
Fri. and Sat., April 8 and 9 – The 2011 Rugby Quilts Past and Present: A Unique Quilt Exhibit is scheduled for Friday, April 8, from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibit and site admission is $7. Quilters and visitors will enjoy a variety of activities: displays of old and new quilts in historic settings; quilt appraisals by Certified Appraiser Shari Pierce; Bed Turnings, and vendors galore to find that special quilting item. The movie, “How to Make an American Quilt” will be featured on Friday evening in the Rebecca Johnson Theatre.
Friday, April 15 – History Night Annual Dinner at Grey Gables. 7 p.m. Willie Beaty from Jamestown will be the guest speaker. His topic will be Buck's Mill, the closest grist mill to Rugby in the 1880's. Mr. Beaty is the author of a book about the grist mills of Fentress County. The dinner is $11, plus tax and gratuity. Please let Linda Jones (423-628-5252) know the number in your party by Wednesday, April 13, if at all possible, especially if you have special dietary needs.
Saturday, April 16 - English Country Dancing 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 16 - Rugby Book Group – 7 p.m. at Judy Newport’s house. The book is Jonathan Franzen’s best selling novel “Freedom.” For more information or directions, Judy can be reached at 931-704-7946
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2–4 p.m. at the Friendly House
By Linda Konig
Spring seems to have suffered a setback the last few days, but nonetheless certain wildflowers are continuing to grow and open up. I don't worry a lot about them. Most of our earliest flowers are pretty hardy or else they wouldn't have evolved to bloom in March in the first place. Two days ago, I found Early Meadow Rue and Blue Phox blooming, and a couple of White Trout Lilies trying to bloom at The Lindens. To see a photo of a white trout lilly go to: http://www.blogger.com/goog_34517907
Vi Biehl and I went to Leatherwood Ford in Big South Fork last Tuesday and were thrilled to see a good many Sweet Betsys, Allegheny Spurges, Star Chickweeds, Yellowroots, and Trout Lilies in flower. Also a lot of Leatherwood and Spicebushes with dainty yellow flowers. Plenty of Wood Betony and Virginia Bluebells getting ready to flower.
A brief visit to Frozen Head State Park rewarded me with the sight of Long-Spurred Violets, Virginia Spring Beauties, Wood Anemones (Windflowers), and even a few tiny Mazus flowers against the sidewalk going into the Park office.
Of course, you don't have to go to a park these days to enjoy the lovely wildflowers that may be springing up in your very own yard--shy beauties like common purple Violets, Speedwell, Gill-Over-the-Ground, Henbit, etc. Ah, Spring!
Historic Rugby’s Spring Workshops
April 16 and 17 - Honeysuckle Basketry is a perfect workshop for beginner basket makers. Instructor Bobby Edwards is an award-winning basket maker from Fentress County who has been practicing his art for 15 years in the Southeast. Bobby got his start right here in Rugby making White Oak baskets in a basket workshop. Workshop fee is $75. Register now so class minimums can be met!
May 28 - Spring Wildflower Walk and Picnic Lunch ~ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - attendees can take part in one of the most diverse wildflower walks in Tennessee, led by instructor Jack Carman. His book Wildflowers of Tennessee is a definitive guide. Jack leads field trips and photo workshops for the Gatlinburg Spring Flower Pilgrimage, among others, and has won awards for his wildflower photos. The fee is $25, including a plant list of expected sightings. The day will finish with a film presentation and book signing in the late afternoon.
June 11 - Imagery In Writing Workshop - 10 a.m to 4 p.m. This workshop will focus on voice and imagery. Struggling to find a voice in writing? The student will produce writing a reader will listen to and read. Included are exploring subject matter, diction, point of view, syntax, grammar, and imagery to allow the voice of an author to be distinguished from that of others. Come prepared to write and bring along some work you have already begun. The instructor is K.B. Ballentine. She has attended writing academies in both America and Britain and has published in Alehouse, Bent Pin, Front Range, River Poets Journal, Touchstone and others. The fee is $28.
To register for workshops, call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441. Lodging may be available at 1880 Newbury House and local cottages at a 10% discount to students. Food service is available at the Harrow Road Café.
Historic Rugby’s website at http://www.historicrugby.org/ lists all workshops for the year.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
