Exhibit Wows Quilt Lovers
The hard work of the Rugby Quilters, volunteers and Historic Rugby staff paid off this weekend as quilt lovers came and enjoyed the incredible collection of handiwork displayed in numerous locations around the village. It was amazing how the colorful quilts, old and new, transformed the buildings throughout Rugby. They were admired as works of art, and as loving family treasures. They told many stories of the families which had treasured them and about the talented and patient people who made them.
It was nice to see so many quilts from the surrounding communities, including a wonderful display at Newbury House put together by the Jamestown quilting group.
Uffington House and Christ Church made great places for spectacular displays. Folks seemed to really enjoy getting to tour the downstairs of Uffington House, including one fellow from Fort Lauderdale who had not been in the house since visiting his aunt, Sadie Holloway, who lived there in the 1950’s and early 60’s. Her nephew, Russell Tudor, generously donated family photos of the house inside and out during her time there and a family prayer book from Christ Church Episcopal.
Photos by Rick Murphy and Sharon Garrett.
Jody Hester, who was one of the key organizers, sends these thanks:
“The Quilting Girls wish to thank everyone who did anything to make the Quilt Exhibit a success.
“If you painted, cleaned, did yard work, made sandwiches and soup, drove a van, worked in the buildings, helped in the café or commissary, parked cars, displayed a quilt, emptied trash, put up and/or took down quilts, sat at a booth, built quilt stands, gave directions, opened your home, spread the word – you know who you are – all 60+ of you, we thank you.
“You know that we really could not have done this without you and we THANK YOU. We are PROUD of you. You be proud of you.”
Central Avenue Remnant Unearthed
By George Zepp
These hand-cut stones from the 1880s form the drainage culvert that once carried rain runoff beneath Rugby’s picturesque Central Avenue. Five of them are visible, stretching about 10 feet. They cover a stone passageway that appears to still drain a little water in rainy periods into a wet-weather creek.
When the state highway was built in the 1930s, a sharp decline there was filled in. Historic photos show a little swinging bridge at the spot that once let pedestrians cross from the area of Walton Court to the library. Now that we are about to get a highway bypass, it’s interesting that old Central Avenue is finally showing a forgotten part of its long-ago features.
Photo by George Zepp
Dancing Rescheduled
By Mary Hemminger
The dancing scheduled for Saturday, April 16, has been postponed until Saturday, April 30. That will likely be the last regularly scheduled dance of the winter/spring schedule, though other dance opportunities will surely be available later on. There are just so many things going on in the spring/summer for villagers, including for Bob and me, that it is best we end this semester now and regroup when we are able.
History Night Dinner
By Linda Konig
This Wednesday, April 13, is the deadline for letting Linda Jones know if you plan to attend the History Night Dinner at Grey Gables, this Friday night, April 15. That's at 7 p.m. As we used to say in the '6o's, “Be there or be square!” Not only will you be enjoying a delicious dinner for $12 including tax, but Willie Beaty, President of Fentress County Historical Society, will be speaking about Buck's Mill and Noah Buck.
BIRTHDAYS
April 13 - Betty Stokes
April 14 - Hadley Hury
CALENDAR
Rugby is in the Eastern Time zone, just barely
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 - Rugby Book Group – 7:00 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
Saturday, April 30 – Historic Rugby Board Meeting 1:00 p.m. at the Community Building
Saturday, April 30 - English Country Dancing 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 – Community Potluck 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 14 and 15 – Spring Festival
Saturday, May 14 – Rabies Vacination Clinic at Brooks Store 2:30 p.m. Price is $10 for a one year rabies vaccination. For qualifying animals a three year vaccination will be offered for $14, so bring proof of previous vaccinations.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2–4 p.m. at the Friendly House
NATURE NOTES
Linda Loves Skinks
By Linda Konig
I've always thought the blue-tailed skinks in and around Rugby were awfully cute and have always wanted to learn more about them. My chance came this past week when I purchased Lizards and Crocodilians of the Southeast by Whit Gibbons, Judy Greene, and Tony Mills. The first thing I learned is that we have three kinds of skinks around here with electric blue tails when they're young, and sometimes even the females retain the blue coloring after they're grown. So much for my thinking we only had one kind! I often see blue-tailed skinks on the stone steps of Christ Church or the Hughes Library while they sun themselves on the rocks, but they dart between the stones before you can blink, let alone stoop to grab one. If you do catch one, you have to grab it around the body rather than the tail. Their tails break off. This doesn't really hurt the skink and is one of their defenses. They can easily grow a new tail! An interesting fact I read in the new book is that the skink will often return later (if some predator hasn't eaten the tail) to eat their old tail which contains valuable fat for energy. How economical!
Actually, we have four kinds of skinks around Rugby, the Common Five-Lined, the Southeastern Five-Lined, the Broad-Headed, and the Little Brown. You might not guess it of a “cold-blooded” animal, but some of our skinks are quite maternal toward their eggs. Three kinds of female skinks whose young have bright blue tails, the first three of those named above will guard their eggs until they're hatched. Sometimes they'll push debris around the eggs to protect them or keep them moist or will eat damaged eggs to keep them from spoiling and thus contaminating the nest with fungi or bacteria. Their nests are usually found inside or under logs, in tree cavities, or in sawdust or mulch piles.
Another thing I learned is that you can find skinks by placing plywood boards or tin sheets flat on the ground near a wet area. They tend to hide under the boards. So there's a tip for the kids and for the young-at-heart. You can find a good photo of a young Common Five-Lined Skink at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon.
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.
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.
Jody Hester, who was one of the key organizers, sends these thanks:
“The Quilting Girls wish to thank everyone who did anything to make the Quilt Exhibit a success.
“If you painted, cleaned, did yard work, made sandwiches and soup, drove a van, worked in the buildings, helped in the café or commissary, parked cars, displayed a quilt, emptied trash, put up and/or took down quilts, sat at a booth, built quilt stands, gave directions, opened your home, spread the word – you know who you are – all 60+ of you, we thank you.
“You know that we really could not have done this without you and we THANK YOU. We are PROUD of you. You be proud of you.”
Central Avenue Remnant Unearthed
By George Zepp
A clearing away of vines, leaves and dirt on Sunday has revealed a remnant of Rugby’s past. In the ravine beside Hughes Library, about 12 feet below the pavement level of the present Highway 52, lie some huge cut sandstone blocks.
When the state highway was built in the 1930s, a sharp decline there was filled in. Historic photos show a little swinging bridge at the spot that once let pedestrians cross from the area of Walton Court to the library. Now that we are about to get a highway bypass, it’s interesting that old Central Avenue is finally showing a forgotten part of its long-ago features.
Photo by George Zepp
Dancing Rescheduled
By Mary Hemminger
The dancing scheduled for Saturday, April 16, has been postponed until Saturday, April 30. That will likely be the last regularly scheduled dance of the winter/spring schedule, though other dance opportunities will surely be available later on. There are just so many things going on in the spring/summer for villagers, including for Bob and me, that it is best we end this semester now and regroup when we are able.
History Night Dinner
By Linda Konig
This Wednesday, April 13, is the deadline for letting Linda Jones know if you plan to attend the History Night Dinner at Grey Gables, this Friday night, April 15. That's at 7 p.m. As we used to say in the '6o's, “Be there or be square!” Not only will you be enjoying a delicious dinner for $12 including tax, but Willie Beaty, President of Fentress County Historical Society, will be speaking about Buck's Mill and Noah Buck.
BIRTHDAYS
April 13 - Betty Stokes
April 14 - Hadley Hury
CALENDAR
Rugby is in the Eastern Time zone, just barely
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 - Rugby Book Group – 7:00 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
Saturday, April 30 – Historic Rugby Board Meeting 1:00 p.m. at the Community Building
Saturday, April 30 - English Country Dancing 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 – Community Potluck 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 14 and 15 – Spring Festival
Saturday, May 14 – Rabies Vacination Clinic at Brooks Store 2:30 p.m. Price is $10 for a one year rabies vaccination. For qualifying animals a three year vaccination will be offered for $14, so bring proof of previous vaccinations.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2–4 p.m. at the Friendly House
Linda Loves Skinks
By Linda Konig
I've always thought the blue-tailed skinks in and around Rugby were awfully cute and have always wanted to learn more about them. My chance came this past week when I purchased Lizards and Crocodilians of the Southeast by Whit Gibbons, Judy Greene, and Tony Mills. The first thing I learned is that we have three kinds of skinks around here with electric blue tails when they're young, and sometimes even the females retain the blue coloring after they're grown. So much for my thinking we only had one kind! I often see blue-tailed skinks on the stone steps of Christ Church or the Hughes Library while they sun themselves on the rocks, but they dart between the stones before you can blink, let alone stoop to grab one. If you do catch one, you have to grab it around the body rather than the tail. Their tails break off. This doesn't really hurt the skink and is one of their defenses. They can easily grow a new tail! An interesting fact I read in the new book is that the skink will often return later (if some predator hasn't eaten the tail) to eat their old tail which contains valuable fat for energy. How economical!
Actually, we have four kinds of skinks around Rugby, the Common Five-Lined, the Southeastern Five-Lined, the Broad-Headed, and the Little Brown. You might not guess it of a “cold-blooded” animal, but some of our skinks are quite maternal toward their eggs. Three kinds of female skinks whose young have bright blue tails, the first three of those named above will guard their eggs until they're hatched. Sometimes they'll push debris around the eggs to protect them or keep them moist or will eat damaged eggs to keep them from spoiling and thus contaminating the nest with fungi or bacteria. Their nests are usually found inside or under logs, in tree cavities, or in sawdust or mulch piles.
Another thing I learned is that you can find skinks by placing plywood boards or tin sheets flat on the ground near a wet area. They tend to hide under the boards. So there's a tip for the kids and for the young-at-heart. You can find a good photo of a young Common Five-Lined Skink at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plestiodon.
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.
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
