Pioneer Cottage Volunteers Needed Tuesday
Staining and Painting to Begin on Historic Building
By Steve Logan
Volunteers are needed thisTuesday, June 14, to help stain and paint Pioneer Cottage now that it has had a bath.We will begin at 7 a.m. Rugby time, but if that's too early for you, feel free to come after your morning coffee (before the heat of the day) until lunch.
For those who don't paint, but have carpentry skill, there are a few new nails needed and some board replacement.Those painting should know that the paint and stain will not wash out, so dress accordingly.
Just bring yourself. All painting materials will be on site.
Photo shows Steve Logan helping to clean the outside of Pioneer recently. Photo by Rick Murphy
History Trip to WW II Museum Saturday
U.S.S. TENNESSEE
By Linda Konig
Join us this coming Saturday, June 18, for a History Group jaunt to the WWII Museum (chiefly about the U.S.S. Tennessee) and other museum buildings. The museum is across from Scott High School on Scott High Drive, which turns to the right off U.S. 27 just before you get to the traffic light. We'll be carpooling at 11:30 a.m. EDT Saturday in front of Christ Church. Bring along a sack lunch and drinks to enjoy at picnic tables at the museum. (There are shade trees. Hallelujah!)
Paul Dawson is curator of the U.S.S. Tennessee museum. It contains many photos made by his father, Lee E. Dawson, who was photographer aboard the warship. Many other artifacts, including the ship's bell, can be seen. The U.S.S. Tennessee building and others there, such as a pioneer schoolhouse, church, typical farm buildings, etc., were built by Scott High students as part of their education. Those contain artifacts and stories of Scott County's past. Admission is free but donations are appreciated and go toward upkeep of the museum site.
By George Zepp
Historic Rugby participated Saturday and Sunday in the first Cumberland Gap (TN) Geneaology Jamboree, passing out information about Rugby and its early residents as well as selling a bit of Rugby Commissary merchandise. Barbara Stagg and George Zepp worked at our tent on Saturday, and Cheryl and Dennis Cribbet on Sunday -- until bad weather chased them home.
Photo of Rugby's booth by George Zepp
Among those who visited the booth Saturday were folks from Connecticut, New York, D.C., Knoxville, Crossville, Scott County, and many from the area around Claiborne County, where Cumberland Gap is located. Longtime Historic Rugby members Tom Roland and Jim Sexton dropped by and Jim Edmondson (cousin of former HRI board president Larry Edmondson) purchased a Historic Rugby membership. A high school chum of Barbara's in Deer Lodge was also there to chat.
Larry generously kept us supplied with tasty cobbler from the iron pots in his iron cooking demonstration at the Jamboree. It was often hot, but everyone seemed to be determined to learn about history and families.
Photos This Week
Charles Gibbs out in his jeep recently.
Photos by Jim McBrayer
13th Annual Celebration
John and Kathy Hicks will host the 13th annual July 4th celebration picnic on Saturday July 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at their house (Lizzie's Place) in Beacon Hill. The popular duo of Butch Hodgkins and Doug Piercy will provide musical entertainment. Please bring a dish to share. John and Kathy will provide barbeque and soft drinks.
Ok, the photo has nothing to do with the picnic at the Hicks', but I thought it was a lovely photo of another Rugby green space showing one of the huge European Linden trees across from Newbury House. Photo by Hadley Hury
Carrie Thornthwaite recently took this photo of construction on a bridge pier on the new Rugby Bypass.
More photos from her recent hike along route (just keep hitting "next") are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thornthwaite/5820957875/in/set-72157626089751808/
Carrie’s by-pass pictures from February are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thornthwaite/sets/72157626089751808/show/
It's in slideshow format, but you can jump ahead anytime you get bored. Carrie noted that it is amazing to look back and see how much has been changed.
BIRTHDAYS
June 17 - Lloyd Stokes
June 18 - Jenny Young
CALENDAR
Photo shows Mara Trumbo painting on porch of Commissary on Saturday, June 11. Photo by Jim McBrayer
Rugby is in the Eastern Time zone, just barely
Friday June 17 and Saturday June 18 - Potluck Cast Iron Cooking with Rugby favorite Larry Edmondson - 4 p.m. EDT each day. Participants can sign up for either date. Learn to use and care for cast iron Dutch ovens. Enjoy a complete meal prepared during the class. The workshops will be conducted at Grand Vista Hotel, 11597 Scott Highway, Helenwood, Tenn. Fee is $25 per person including meal. Pre-registration required. Specify which day you prefer. Email potluckcooking@hotmail.com or call 931-432-4640.
Saturday, June 18 – History Field Trip to WW II Remembrance Museum in Huntsville, TN
Saturday, June18 - Chris Threet, local artist from Grimsley, demonstrating pencil drawing on Commissary porch. Noon to 5 p.m
Saturday, June 25 - Mary Curren, local artisan from Jamestown, demonstrating spinning on Commissary porch. Noon to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 26 – Historic Rugby Annual Membership Meeting – 1:30 p.m. at the Community Building
Saturday, July 2 – Hicks’ Annual Independence Day Picnic
Saturday, July 16 – Book Club. 7 p.m. at the Friendly House. We will discuss Hadley Hury’s book of short stories, “It’s Not the Heat.” This is a special chance to ask the author questions and get your book signed. The meeting will be held at the Friendly House at 7 p.m. Readers are also welcome to read Hadley’s novel, set on the Gulf Coast – “The Edge of the Gulf: A Novel of Suspense.”
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2–4 p.m. at the Friendly House
NATURE NOTES
South Americans in Rugby
By Linda Konig
These South Americans are named Hirundo rustica, meaning, I guess, that they like living in the country. Be on the lookout for these beautiful, graceful, musical migrants. I'm always a bit anxious for them to return in late spring, because I know they spend their winters in South America, and a lot can happen to them on such a long trip to and fro. I used to see them at Twin Oaks and flying in and out of the old barns and sheds across from Brooks Store. I'm talking about Barn Swallows, liquid and quick in their flight and possessing a sweet song. In the last few years, I haven't seen any at Twin Oaks and had thought maybe they were building more nests under the old and new bridges across the Clear Fork. However, last week I found a couple of their mud cup nests built in a neighbor's carport.
I wanted to watch them building their nests, so I got outside about 6 a.m., but I was too late in more ways than one. Back in the winter, I had read they build or repair their mud nests before 4 a.m. (which time zone? And was that Daylight Savings Time?) and I'd forgotten that till I re-read it last week. Anyway, I was getting out too late in the spring to observe this anyhow because the nests were already built or repaired and were being used. I hope to see them working on their nests next year. They like to go to nearby ponds and scoop up mud which they form into a ball, carry it to their homesite and smooth it onto the nest with their chins! A typical nest-building project may require up to 1000 beak-loads of mud. They also work grass, straw, etc. into the nest to make it stronger.
I did get to watch them feed their chicks, however. One of the nests had 3 big scruffy-looking chicks that took up the whole nest space, with no room for the parents. Where are the parents sleeping? I was surprised that one of the offspring didn't fall out onto the concrete floor below. Both parents were being kept busy flying back and forth, feeding the young ones. They catch many flying insects such as wasps, mosquitoes, and flies, making them major pest controllers. I was amazed at how brief their food-gathering flights were (usually not even getting out of sight) before they were back again, hovering only about one to two seconds (I'm not kidding) as they fed the chicks. When a parent catches an insect, it somehow rolls the insect up into a ball with its beak and carries it in his or her throat, then pops it into the chick's mouth in an instant.
Happy birdwatching!
Historic Rugby’s Workshops
Saturday, June 25 - Applique Basics for Quilters ~ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Instructor: Joyce Lantz. Fee $45. Learn the various methods of this time-honored form of quilting craft and create a block that can be a pillow top, wall hanging or centerpiece of a quilt. Choose from several patterns and designs available to appeal to your own style. Both machine and handwork will be incorporated.
Saturday, July 2 - Wet on Wet Oil Painting ~ “Rugby Christmas in July."10 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Mara Trumbo. Fee $60. For beginners to advanced, create an oil painting of Christ Church in Historic Rugby, learning design, wet-on-wet technique, color mixing and composition.
Saturday, July 9 - Ferns of the Cumberland Plateau ~ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Instructor: Dr. Patricia Cox. Fee $18. An overview of fern morphology and ferns of the Cumberland Plateau will be presented followed by a hike to put your newfound information to the test and to see how many species of native ferns we can find along the way.
Saturday July 16 - Kudzu Basketry ~ 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Fuzzy Orange. Fee $35. Learn to create a simple or complex basket woven with kudzu. Once student learn to weave a kudzu basket, they will have the skills to weave any vine basket.
Saturday August 27 - Vegetable and Flower Gardening For The Fall ~ 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Bob Washburn. Fee $15. Planting a fall garden provides an opportunity to garden with fresh vegetables and flowers throughout the fall and early winter. The cool season enhances the flavor of vegetables. You will also learn the varieties and proper times to plant for the best fall garden ever. Bob will have a delightful selection of vegetables and flowering plants from his 52-greenhouse nursery available for sale.
Saturday, August 27 - It’s All Done With Mirrors – “The Kaleidoscope” ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Sara Senft. Fee $65. The world of kaleidoscopes will be explored. This includes various mirror configurations, how object boxes are constructed, etc. Each student will complete a kaleidoscope to take home.
Saturday, September 10 - English Country Dancing For Beginners ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT (with a two-hour break). Instructor: Mary Hemminger. Fee $25. Come learn simple historic dances that were written and compiled in England in the 1600s and 1700s, the earliest being published in 1651. The dancing will be to recorded music. Individuals will use walking steps for most dances, as well as some slipping and skipping steps during the course of the day.
Saturday, September 17 - Victorian Decorations ~ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. EDT. Instructors: Beth Hester, JoNell Hester and Joyce Lantz. Fee $25. Using fabric, lace, paper, ribbon and reed, create charming Victorian ornaments. At the end of the day, take home 6-8 ornaments plus many ideas and patterns.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23, 24, and 25 - White Oak Basketry ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Bobby Edwards. Fee $130. This very popular 3-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.”
Saturday, October 15 - Autumn Gathering and Arranging ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Linda Konig. Fee $24. Join us in the fields and roadsides to gather dried wildflowers, seed heads, berries and nuts to create your own fall arrangement. Learn the names of and interesting information about all your “autumn gatherings”.
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
