McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Eight: Issue Eleven xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx November 2023

Christmas Tree Lighting November 30

McCoy Farm & Gardens invites all our Walden's Ridge neighbors on Thursday evening, November 30, as we continue the Bachman-McCoy family tradition of lighting a big Christmas tree for the whole mountain to enjoy.

The McCoy House will be open at 5:00 PM for you to enjoy a visit with Santa. Take a docent-led tour. Make a personalized wooden ornament. Browse in the holiday boutique for McCoy Merchandise and Emma Bell Miles artwork. Bid for beautiful antique and vintage china and stemware. Select among Tina Hullender’s watercolors and note cards. These items offer a great opportunity to choose a unique Christmas gift associated with our special landmark and heritage of Walden’s Ridge.

We are pleased to have television and radio personality, Jed Mescon, host the Tree Lighting ceremony which begins at 6:30. Town of Walden Mayor Lee Davis and Town of Signal Mountain Mayor Charlie Poss will jointly light the McCoy tree. Other elected officials will serve complimentary hot chocolate on the side porch. Pizza will be available for purchase, as well.

Join us in a tradition that started over 75 years ago when the Bachman-McCoy family displayed a giant tree with lights that could be seen from Anderson Pike and provided a special and rare treat for everyone passing their home.

Deck Your Table

China and Stemware - Special Silent Auction

at the Christmas Tree Lighting, November 30

Throughout the McCoy House, find beautiful antique and vintage china and

stemware for purchase through a silent auction. In the dining room are samples of compete sets of china. Some sets are relatively small with 8 pieces, and some are extensive with up to 67 pieces. Included is a charming 28-piece

child’s tea set. As you tour the beautiful McCoy home, other tables grace

upstairs rooms to showcase separate accessories to add to

your holiday festivities or make unique Christmas gifts.

The origins of these sets range from generous donors to estate sale finds.

They have been inspected, washed, and researched as to their history and value.

Place setting samples displayed on the dining table are indicated below.

While the children and grandchildren are visiting with Santa and making ornaments, come browse our selection. We truly have something for everyone.

New Open House Hours

For the past several years, recreational visitors to McCoy Farm & Gardens have asked if the Bachman-McCoy House is open or available for tours. The creation of McCoy's new docent program has now made open houses and guided tours possible. On Memorial Day of this year, docents hosted an open house for visitors, and docents have also provided guided tours to groups over the summer and early fall of 2023.

Beginning Sunday, November 12, McCoy Farm & Gardens will offer regular open house hours hosted by docents, on Thursday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and each 2nd Sunday of the month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. During these hours, visitors can walk through the house and learn about its history, as well as the history of the families who have called it home.

In announcing dates and hours, Executive Director Melissa Nimon said, "McCoy Farm & Gardens is pleased to achieve our goal of opening the house to the public. Much work has gone into making this possible, from restoration and preservation of the house and grounds to historical fact-finding. We are excited to share with you the rich history of the property. On behalf of all who have made this possible, I invite you to take advantage of our new program."

McCoy is still recruiting volunteers for its docent program, and an orientation for new docents is planned for January 2024. For additional information on becoming a docent, contact Anne Hayes Pearce at 706-575-1620 or volunteers@mccoywalden.org.

Historic Preservation Class Meets at McCoy

At left, students of historic preservation listen as Professor Todd Morgan, Anne Hayes Pierce and Mary Bach, at right, give an overview of the property.

Historic preservation students from UTC work at the dining room table as they prepare a mock application for National Register of Historic Places.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Professor, Todd Morgan, who also serves as executive director of Preserve Chattanooga, brought his historic preservation class in late October to tour the McCoy House and learn about the property. Docents Anne Hayes Pearce and Mary Bach led the informative session. Afterwards, the students prepared a mock initial inquiry application for National Register of Historic Places as practice.

McCoy Farm & Gardens's official application for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places is in progress.

Fiddles & Vittles a Big Success

A rather chilly evening on October 15 was warmed by the lively music provided by The New Dismembered Tennesseeans who entertained at the successful Fiddles & Vittles fundraiser. About 130 patrons reported they had a wonderful time as they listened to the concert and enjoyed the tasty BBQ dinner served by volunteers from the Walden's Ridge Guild.

Community Events Coordinators Mary Catherine O'Kelley, Anne Leonard, and Annette Wildman thought of everything - including warm blankets guests could borrow to stay comfortable. Hot cider and coffee accompanying the lovely picnic baskets were appreciated, too.

The concert is expected to be the first of other such fun events imagined by Bob Bernhardt, Walden resident and former Director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association. Fiddles & Vittles proved that Bob can provide exciting musical entertainment that is not too "high brow" for McCoy Farm & Gardens which is beautifully situated near the high brow of Signal Mountain.

Many hands made quick work of setting up the tables and chairs for Fiddles & Vittles. In the foreground are, left to right, Don Drumm, Peter Hetzler, and Karen Stone who worked alongside the other volunteers in the background.

Assembling the very attractive picnic baskets are Susan Jensen. left, and Christina Collona, right. Both ladies are members of the Walden's Ridge Guild. Other Guild members efficiently delivered the baskets to the guests.

Some Special Volunteers

Jess Allison is pictured at left with her children, Kat and Artie. Jess is employed by Vizient. The company gives their employees one day off a year to participate in community service. She and her children worked for several hours picking up walnuts, picking up trash along Anderson Pike, and clearing sticks along the trail. We love our volunteers! To become one yourself, sign up below.

Beautiful Benches

About three years ago, a giant white pine fell here, and grounds chairman Andy Jones needed to clear it from the trail. He realized the wood was beautiful and asked himself how it could be used to benefit McCoy. Visitors had suggested that benches along

the trail would be nice, so he decided to build a bench from the pine log. That first effort was the beginning of a project that is still ongoing with over a dozen hand-crafted benches enhancing the property today. Most have been created and installed by Jones, while some have offered other volunteers an opportunity to learn skills in wood crafting.

If you are looking for a very special gift or memorial, sponsorship of one of these works of art is $500 and includes a brass plaque with wording of your choice. For further information, contact info@mccoywalden.org.

Above, Andy Jones under his outdoor

workshop in June 2021, and below,

as he installs one of his creations.

Still a puppy, Shelley, constant companion as Jones works, curled up on a dry stump to watch while the bench in front was installed.

Aubrey Workman rests on a bench in 2023 with Shelley who has grown quite a bit and remains a faithful bench enthusiast. At right Shelley is shown again with her special friend, Andy Jones.

The newest bench at the boardwalk was built with assistance from Robert Newsome, Bob Street , Karen Tinsley,and Lilly Zaga.

We're happy to host Tree Worx on Friday, November 3, from 5-9 PM in the Horseshoe Garden for their fall tree giveaway. Come enjoy great food, beer, and bluegrass, and take home a free native tree sapling.

Visit Our New Website

Explore the new McCoy Farm & Gardens website

www.mccoyfarmandgardens.org.

and discover

Maps of the trail, arboretum, and gardens
History of the property and former residents
Event Venues illustrated by photographs
Rental information for weddings and other occasions
Passes for Professional photographers
Tours of the McCoy home
Archives of monthly Newsletters beginning in 2015

Interested in Volunteering?

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.

Interested in Scheduling an Event?

Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens

at info@mccoywalden.org

to learn more about renting space at McCoy for your next event.

Give Online

Donate Today

Or mail your check to McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

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.

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.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Karen Stone newsletter@mccoywalden.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MxxxxxxxxxMxM WALDEN OFFICIALS:

Mickey Robbins, President xxxxxxxxxxxx Mayor: Lee Davis

Joe Davis, Vice President xxxxxxxxxxxxx Vice Mayor: Lizzy Schmidt

Larson Mick, Secretary xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Alderman Angela Cassidy

Leanna Jones, Treasurer xxxxxxxxxxxxxx EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Linda Collins, Grants xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Melissa Nimon

Elizabeth Hamilton, Gardens xxxxxxxxxx 423- 598-1658

Earl Hereford, Projects xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx melissa@mccoywalden.org

Andy Jones, Grounds xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anne Leonard, House xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anne Hayes Pearce, Volunteers xxxxxxxx

Susan Snow, Special Events XxxxxxxxxxX

Karen Stone, Publicity xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mary Catherine O'Kelley, Community Event Co-chair

Fred Wildman, Property Maintenance xxx Annette Wildman, Community Event Co-chair