Rural Hill Piper Fall Newsletter 2015 Rural Hill Where History Springs Alive P.O. Box 1009 Huntersville, NC 28070 4431 Neck Road Huntersville, NC 28078 704-875-3113 www.ruralhill.net office@ruralhill.net Facilitated in cooperation with Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Jeff s Corner Mark Your Calendars! First Footin & First Footin Five Mile Trail Race January 1 Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games April 16 & 17 K. Franklin photo While we enter this season of thanksgiving and celebration, we think of all the blessings we have and as always we are overwhelmed by the continued support of our volunteers, staff, and everyone that enjoys our events and the farm. While fall was a challenge for us here at Rural Hill due to the weather, we are thankful for all of the people who have shown their support for us, and who came out for the Amazing Maize Maze and the Sheepdog Trials even when the forecast called for rain. We are thankful for the friends, old and new, that made our first annual Oyster Roast fundraiser the success that it was. And we are thankful for the ability to plan ways to recover lost revenue with a Go Fund Me campaign, and continue to plan an exciting new year ahead of us. We will kick off 2016 with our Annual First Footin event and the First Footin Five Mile Trail Race. Our First Footin is a time of fellowship and fun, and a time to walk the farm s borders for prosperity in the year ahead. I hope that you will join us on New Year s Day for our walk and common meal. And mark your calendars for the Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games and North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival! Please keep Rural Hill and all our area farms in your thoughts this holiday season. Consider giving to our fundraising campaign and see the details on page 2 of this edition. North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival May 6 & 7 Support where you can. Visit where you can. Hope to see you on the farm!
Help Historic Rural Hill at Go Fund Me Our history is what brings over three thousand area school children to Historic Rural Hill annually to learn about everything from what school in the late nineteenth century would have been like, to how to make fire and candles using period-appropriate technology. We are able to provide these low-cost field trips due to being an event driven destination for families and friends alike. Annual events such as the North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival, Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games, the Amazing Maize Maze, and the Sheepdog Trials, allow us the funds we need to supplement educational programs in schools by bringing children here to learn. This year, our most profitable of these events, The Amazing Maize Maze, was victim to a record drought. During the growing season this summer we had less than three inches of rain on our corn. In the photo below, farm managers Freddy Brown and Eric Ferguson stand in the maze. In a normal year the corn should be over each of their heads. While the drought forced us to cancel all mazes in September, and all of our night mazes, when the rain finally DID get here it caused us to cancel our first planned weekend of the maze as well as the last weekend. Other events such as our Fall Food Truck Rally and Sheepdog Trials were rained on as well, greatly affecting attendance. We cannot even begin to express how devastating these losses have been to our organization. Please help us in our time of need to raise the $100,000 we need to continue operating as a farm, as a historical and cultural center, and as a place for your family to come enjoy for years to come. Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to saving Rural Hill (a 501-c3 non-profit organization) from a crippling year. If you are unable to give, please consider sharing this page with others. Thank you, The Staff and Volunteers of Historic Rural Hill Please Give Now gofundme.com/ruralhill Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2015 - Page 2
Scenes from Fall Amazing Maize Maze [Amazing Maize Maze] Fun event every year. Family and groups make it more so. Great people run the place. Definite good time. - Posted on TripAdvisor Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival Great weekend performing Treibball Demos...enjoyed the trials, dock diving, demos and vendors. This is our third year and we look forward to this event every year!! - Suzie K. via Facebook This puppy had serious ups. At 20 ft. he s pretty much NBA talent. - Andrick D. via Instagram I can not wait!!! - Flavio C. via Facebook (with photo, left, in anticipation of the weekend) Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2015 - Page 3
Oyster Roast Thank you! On November 15, Historic Rural Hill held its first Oyster Roast fundraiser and it was a success! We thank everyone who came out for the fun and food, and who showed their support for us. It is well known now that we were hit hard by this summer s drought, and it drastically affected our Amazing Maize Maze this season. As a non-profit historic site, the corn maze has been our largest fundraiser for over 10 years, and the annual event helps us raise money to provide quality lowcost educational programs to students throughout the year. The Rural Hill Oyster Roast was our first effort to make up for some of those losses, and every dollar earned and raised helps to make the difference. Nationally recognized chef and award winning author Dan the pig man Huntley served up the delicious fare, and wine, beer, and other beverages were available. A good time was had by everyone! Thank you for a great ending to a hectic weekend. Well done! - The Destination Magazine via Facebook Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2015 - Page 4
Auxiliary Corner Cookbooks for Sale To the many volunteers and members who so generously shared their family recipes and to the Rural Hill Auxiliary members who were determined with endless hours to make this cookbook fundraiser a reality... we are excited to tell you the Auxiliary has cookbooks for sale in its second printing! You will enjoy holding this historic and beautifully bound 3-ring cookbook as you read the appreciation, acknowledgments, and In Memory Of pages. Be taken back in time as you read the history of Rural Hill, about the Davidson and Bethesda school houses, and from John and Violet Davidson s Rural Retreat log cabin to their Rural Hill mansion. The cookbook would not be complete without sharing the knowledge of colonial gardening and why there is a Cairn at Rural Hill, and from Violet Wilson Davidson in 1818 to May Davidson in 2011, the Davidson Family Burying Ground and its history. There are nearly 700 recipes in all categories including hearth cooking. 34 color photos taken around Rural Hill and at its annual public events were chosen to be forever in print in this historic cookbook. May we suggest this wonderful idea for your Christmas gift giving, birthday gift, thank you gift, or one for yourself! Purchase one or more copies at $25 each (plus $4 per cookbook if mailed). Place your order via email to carolyn@ruralhill.net or call 704-875-3113. This fundraiser cookbook will inform many people near and far of Historic Rural Hill and its many offerings and events. All proceeds go to projects around Rural Hill. Thank you in advance for your orders and responses. On behalf of Rural Hill Auxiliary, Thank you and Merry Christmas
Weddings and Events at Historic Rural Hill The Historic Rural Hill Cultural Center continues to grow in its popularity for weddings, rehearsal dinners, and other special occasions and retreats. The rustic atmosphere of the venue offers a unique combination of vast outdoor spaces and inviting indoor comforts. The 2000 square foot May Davidson Hall accommodates up to 200 guests for cocktail style receptions and there are options to expand the space and guest capacity with the covered patio and tent annex. The decorative and functional finishings include aptly appointed restrooms, a generous catering kitchen, pleasing architecture of soaring barn-style rafters with ironwork chandeliers, a barn door opening to the west end covered patio (perfect for admiring the sunset), four sets of French doors leading to the wraparound brick walkway, and turn-key audio/visual amenities. Don t miss securing the date for your special occasion at the Historic Rural Hill Cultural Center. Contact our private events director Lauren Petervary to schedule a personal tour. Call 704-875-3113 or email Lauren@ruralhill.net. Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2015 - Page 6
Rural Hill Living History Fund With funds raised dedicated to the restoration and support of this historic site and its heritage, we can maintain and expand the incredible offerings Rural Hill provides through living history for its thousands of visitors annually. While all donations are greatly appreciated and tax deductible, becoming a donor has a variety of benefits associated with your generous gift. Various memberships are available and you can lend your support with a one time gift or a three year pledge. Through your support, we can keep history alive! Please consider the Rural Hill Living History Fund for your annual charitable giving. Visit us at www.ruralhill.net for easy, secure online giving. Give online at www.ruralhill.net Volunteer at Historic Rural Hill Historic Rural Hill s events exist because of the generous and enthusiastic support of volunteers. For more information on volunteering, please contact us at office@ruralhill.net or (704) 875-3113. Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2015 - Page 7
Board of Directors Robert G. McIntosh, Chair Jim Puckett, Vice Chair Sam Fuller, Secretary Brent Lewis, Treasurer Maurice D. McIntosh Sarah Belk Gambrell Beth Eakes Martina John Cherry Henry Mummaw LD Bass Danny Phillips Duncan McFadyen Matthew Cooper Staff Jeff Fissel, Executive Director Zac Vinson, Education Director Lauren Petervary, Private Events Director Jessica Bustamante, Controller Freddie Brown, Farm Manager Eric Ferguson, Farm Operations Carolyn Campbell, Administrative Assistant Mission An educational organization that provides for recognizing, celebrating and preserving the rich heritage of Rural Hill. www.ruralhill.net Celebrating more than 250 years in history Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville, 28078. The former homestead of Major John and Violet Davidson, the 265 acre site is maintained and promoted by Historic Rural Hill Inc. and features annual events such as the Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games, the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials, and the NC Brewers and Music Festival. Historic Rural Hill Inc. is a non-profit organization supported through membership and donations, and with proceeds from its events utilized for the preservation of Historic Rural Hill and its education efforts. For more information on events or for financial support accepted securely online, please visit www.ruralhill.net. Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2015 - Page 8