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Volume Eight: Issue Two
February 2023
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New & Improved Newsletter Format Launched | |
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The McCoy Farm & Gardens newsletter has a new look, as you see below. Please let
the editor, Karen Stone, know at newsletter@mccoywalden.org if you have suggestions or would like to see coverage of particular subjects. Our hope is to provide the news in an easy-to-read format with more flexibility in photographs and column length.
To receive full value from new features, please look at the bottom of the monthly newsletter content for the links to Volunteer or to Donate, or click on a Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube icon.
The newsletter has been published consistently on the first of every month since its
inception in July 2016. Most of the seventy-nine issues are on the website
www.mccoywalden.org where you can follow the record of our progress through the
years. Thank you for your continued interest.
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Andy Jones, Terry Knox, and Robert Newsom install decking on the Welcome Station | |
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Are you one of the many visitors who have stopped to talk with the men working
on the new welcome structure at the parking lot? Board member Andy Jones says they
enjoy all the comments and advice. He and Terry Knox have invested countless hours
in the construction, handling almost 200 individual wood pieces that have required 4
gallons of stain. Now, with the help of Robert Newsom, they are installing 96 ceiling-
decking boards. Andy says, though it looks relatively easy, hoisting and putting together the heavy 12'-long, 2” x 6” tongue-and-groove planks is difficult, and making the joints fit properly is even more taxing. The roof pitch is hard to deal with, and joining the crown boards is complicated. Soon they expect to add an insulating liner before installing a metal roof to complete the construction.
Thank you for stopping to admire and comment on the structure and its progress.
We are proud of the workmanship of the stonemasons, and our valued volunteer construction crew. We welcome our guests to shelter there, rest, and learn about McCoy Farm & Gardens. A team is in the process of planning the information displays that will be in the center. Soon you will be able to write your comments on our visitor log, follow the interactive map using QR codes, learn about upcoming events, make donations, sign up to volunteer, and more. Welcome!
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Martha Alford Donates Mrs. McCoy’s Original Telephone | |
Interns Mitch Shakespeare and Brooks Barber date the original phone to as early as 1908. | |  |
Look closely to see the holes and rounded corner markings on the butler's pantry wall that reveal the original location of the recently returned phone. | | |
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Martha P. Alford’s late husband, Carlton “Nick” Alford, displayed this phone for many years in their home. Nick worked for Bell South for 37 years, from 1957-1994. He bought Martha McCoy her first “push button” phone to replace this wall phone that hung in the butler’s pantry. He installed the new phone for her, perhaps as a thank-you for a horse bridle given to him by Martha McCoy. They both shared a love of horses, and Nick always enjoyed doing work for Mrs. McCoy.
McCoy Farm & Gardens is thankful to Mrs. Alford for the opportunity to rehang the phone in the House and appreciates Jeremy Logan for facilitating this treasured donation.
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New Board Member Anne Hayes Pearce, and her daughter Mary Evelyn, work near the Wellhouse. | |
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McCoy Farm & Gardens is pleased to announce the addition of three fine members to the Board of Directors. Elizabeth Hamilton heads the Gardens Committee; Fred Wildman has accepted the challenge of Property Maintenance, and Anne Hayes Pearce is looking forward to working with Volunteers.
Your board is a “working board” -- not just a governing board. Each member has a specific area of responsibility. Mickey Robbins is President; Joe Davis is Vice President; Larry Mick is Secretary; Leanna Jones is Treasurer; Anne Leonard chairs the House Committee; Susan Snow handles Policies and Procedures; Andy Jones is in charge of Grounds; Linda Collins supervises the Arboretum; Earl Hereford is Projects Chair; and Karen Stone takes care of Publicity and the Apple Orchard.
Meet Anne Hayes Pearce, who welcomes all potential volunteers and enthusiastically helps them find the areas where they want to serve. Originally from Georgia, Anne Hayes is married to Signal Mountain native Lee Pearce. She moved to Signal Mountain in 2017 after seven years in the Washington DC area, where she served as a senior advisor to the US Department of Treasury. Anne Hayes began volunteering at McCoy in the Gardens as a Hamilton County Master Gardener. She has continued to volunteer alongside her daughter, Mary Evelyn, establishing the propagation beds, weeding, deadheading, and more. Anne Hayes and Lee also have a son, Peyson, 20, who is a midshipman at the Merchant Marine Academy.
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A very large pine fell on January 19 and took down smaller trees in its path. The deadfall blocked the drive before volunteers cleared it away. | | |
McCoy volunteer Matt Bernard sprang into action with his chainsaw when he found another pine down near the Emma Bell Miles spur trail. | | |
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Along came the wind, and a very large pine came crashing down, bringing other trees with it. They fell across the driveway just inside the Taft Highway entrance and blocked access.
Volunteers to the rescue! In no time at all, Andy Jones was on the backhoe, and Matt Bernard, Mickey Robbins, and Winston Robbins were there with chainsaws. What would we do without our dedicated volunteers who are willing to come at a moment's notice and save the day? Thank you, Fellows.
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Weed Wrangle at McCoy
Saturday, March 4, 9 AM-Noon
State-wide, volunteers will be working on March 4 to remove invasives to promote healthy native plants in their communities. Come join other volunteers to learn to identify and remove some of the harmful species at McCoy Farm & Gardens. We'll meet in the parking lot. Please bring gloves, a water bottle, hand pruners or loppers, and wear sturdy clothes and closed-toe shoes.
Questions? Contact Riki-Lynne Willmon at rikilynne@gmail.com
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Mark your calendars for the inaugural
McCoy Egg Roll
Sunday, April 2, 2-4 PM
We're planning fun on the lawn for the whole family with a traditional wooden spoon egg roll, a downhill egg roll, cookie decorating, visiting with the Easter Bunny, and more. Plan to join us and look for more details in the next newsletter.
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Interested in Volunteering? | |
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Volunteers are essential to McCoy Farm & Gardens.
When you sign up, tell us about how you'd like to help. Volunteer opportunities include: Grounds, House, Gardens, Communications, History, Events, and Administration. If you don't see your particular interest, tell us how you'd like to volunteer. Sign up below to receive information about regular volunteer days and events.
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Interested in Scheduling an Event at McCoy? | |
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Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens Event Director
Cynthia Pennington cynthia@mccoywalden.org
to learn more about renting space at McCoy for your next event.
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Or mail your check to McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377 | |
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We are now able to receive your contribution of securities.
If you would like to support McCoy in this tax-advantaged way,
please contact our office at
423-598-1658.
McCoy Farm & Gardens is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All contributions are charitable and tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law.
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McCoy Farm & Gardens covers thirty-eight acres and features the Bachman-McCoy home, gardens, and several outbuildings including the Pavilion, Carriage House, Barn, and Blacksmith Workshop. The perimeter walking trail is 1.1 miles. | | | | |
