HISTORIC RUGBY, TENNESSEE

HISTORIC RUGBY FACTS

Date organization established: 1966

Type of organization: Nonprofit membership organization

Number of Members: 400 (approx.)

2012 Annual General Operating Budget: Income $600,000. (approx.)

Areas of operations: Museum, museum craft store, restaurant, lodging, land development and easement protection

Current employees: 8 full time and 10 part time (includes 8 in food service)

Number of buildings maintained: 15+ Number of acres owned and managed: 500 (approx.)

Board size: 15 (can serve maximum of two three-year terms)

Special Events: Numerous events interpreting the British and Appalachian heritage of the community, including Spring Music and Craft Festival, Cemetery Tours, Historic and New Home Tours, Writers Series, Craft and Nature Workshops, Antique Car Shows, Halloween Ghostly Gathering, Thanksgiving Marketplace and Christmas Events

Hours of Operation: Open daily with partial seasonal closing in winter. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day.

Computerization: Mostly Mac, but some PCs. Software includes Word, Excel, Power point, Photoshop, FunDimensions, Multiledger, PastPerfect and Dreamweaver

RUGBY VILLAGE INFORMATION

Rugby, Tennessee, is a small, unincorporated rural community located about an hour and a quarter from Knoxville and two and a half hours from Nashville. It is adjacent to the 125,000-acre Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, a beautiful and rugged area developed as an alternative recreation area to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is also adjacent to the Rugby State Natural Area which is a State protected area of woods and streams that includes a trail to the Massengale Homeplace, the site of an historic Appalachian settlers' farm.

The Big South Fork offers many outdoor recreation opportunities including miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as rivers for swimming, fishing, canoeing, and rafting. Rugby is directly connected to several trails and it is an easy hike to the historic Gentlemen's Swimming Hole, a beautiful site for all ages and genders to enjoy a relaxing dip in the Clear Fork River. Three other state and national parks are nearby.

Today approximately 85 residents live full or part-time in Rugby including owners of some of the historic homes as well as modern-day colonist who have built architecturally compatible new homes. Historic Rugby works to assist the village in managing growth to help preserve the character of the community. As part of managing the growth, a highway relocation is currently being built around the historic center.

In addition to several lodging facilities and historic buildings for visitors, the village has a post office, a full service restaurant, a general store, and several arts/craft stores. It also has a community center which has rooms available for community activities, meetings, reunions, potlucks, and workshops. The Historic Rugby Visitor Centre has a 100 seat theatre and sponsors musical performances, presentations and films for the public throughout the year. Although Christ Church Episcopal is included in Historic Rugby's building tour, it is owned by the Diocese who holds services each Sunday year round. The parish hall, Friendly House, is available for various community activities and meetings. The community is served by a struggling local volunteer fire company which also has first responder medical capabilities, as well as 911 medical and fire services through Morgan County.

Residents have ongoing organized activities including yoga, a quilting group, a monthly community potluck, a book group and a monthly history presentation about Rugby or the surrounding areas. Historic Rugby sponsors numerous workshops, offering classes in various crafts and outdoor activities. A weekly email newsletter keeps residents and others informed about community happenings http://rugbyweek.blogspot.com/. Many members of the community are active with volunteer projects for Historic Rugby and Christ Episcopal Church.

Rugby residents patronize businesses in several towns that are within a half hour's drive. They include Jamestown to the west and Oneida to the east. Both have medical and dental services, as well as most other amenities and a selection of retail stores. Jamestown has a hospital. Allardt, 12 miles away, has groceries and an excellent meat market, a deli, hair salon and a gasoline outlet.

In addition to the cultural and commercial opportunities available through Knoxville and Nashville, there are three medium sized cities within an hours drive - Oak Ridge, Crossville and Cookeville.

Residents receive water, gas and electric through local utility districts. High-speed internet service is available from the local phone company and most residents subscribe to one of the satellite television providers.