Rural Hill Piper Piper.Fall.pdf · bonfires put out. Friends and family have come and gone, taking...

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Rural HillWhere History Springs Alive

P.O. Box 1009Huntersville, NC 280704431 Neck RoadHuntersville, NC [email protected]

Facilitated in cooperation with

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Fall Newsletter 2014

Mark Your Calendars!

Jeff’s CornerFall has made its way out and the cool, crisp winter air has arrived in time for the holidays.Fall is always a busy time on the farm with the growing and mapping and fun of theAmazing Maize Maze followed by a weekend of canine talents at the Rural Hill SheepdogTrials and Dog Festival.

This fall we had thousands tackle the Maze as wewelcomed families, friends, as well as groups andorganizations for team building events andgatherings.

The Cultural Center continues to grow as apopular event venue and fall weddings wereplentiful. Brides-to-be will have an opportunity tosee the Center and meet with area vendors at

our upcoming Bridal Show in March.

Plan to start the New Year right and join us for

our annual First Footin’ on January 1. Planning isalso underway for our Scottish Festival and Loch

Norman Highland Games and the North CarolinaBrewers and Music Festival.

Happy

Holidays from

all of us atRural Hill.

Hope to seeyou at the

farm!

Rural Hill First Footin’ & 5 Miler

January 1

Sip & Seek Bridal Show

March 8

Rural Hill Scottish Festival andLoch Norman Highland Games

April 18 & 19

North Carolina Brewers andMusic Festival

May 9

Warrior Dash

June 6

AmericanRevolutionEncampment

Scenes from FallThe Amazing Maize Maze

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Fall 2014 -

We had a lot of fun last week!

- K. Lensvelt via Facebook

Antique Tractor Show

Huntersville Halloween

The Maze Welcomed Vietnamese Youth


Thank you so much for providing me with free tickets to this year’s Amazing Maize Maze so

that I could take these wonderful refugee pre-teens/teens to the event. I know they have

never seen, nor heard, of anything like this and I know they all had a wonderful experience!

These kids are Montagnards from the Central Highlands of Vietnam; likely their grandparents

assisted American soldiers during the Vietnam War era. Cha, Tina, Thom, and Khoi were all

born in Vietnam and have lived in Charlotte since 2005 (Thom & Tina) and 2008 (Cha and

Khoi). They are wonderful kids and were so thankful that I took them to this event. I so

appreciate your giving them this great experience, something I could not afford to do myself

for them!

- Marci Mroz, Volunteer

Refugee Support Services

Did you know that three couples poppedthe question in the Amazing Maize Mazethis year?

We love the originality and thought behindeach of the engagements!

Congratulations to all of the couples!


Great Day at RuralHill!! - P. Gardner

via Facebook

It was a beautiful fall day with 4 leggedand 2 legged friends at Rural Hill Farm.- T. Crawford via Facebook

We had a wonderful time. 5th year attending.Especially enjoyed Carolina Dock Dogs andPurina Frisbee Dogs. As usual, the BorderCollies wowed me w/ their intelligence andsheep herding ability. - L. Hosick-Hobbs via

Facebook

Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival


The staff and friends of Rural Hill are

excited to share the birth

announcement of Davis Michael. He

is the son of our very own Event

Director, Lauren Petervary!

Davis Michael was born November

21, weighing 7.9 lbs and was

20.25". Congratulations to

Lauren and Chris, and welcome

baby Davis!!

Rural Hill WelcomesDavis Michael

The fall events season has wrapped here at Historic Rural Hill. The corn has turnedbrown and the dog pens have been put away. Pumpkins have been chunked andbonfires put out. Friends and family have come and gone, taking with them memoriesof fun and festivities.

2014 was a great year for us andwe are sharing this note to saythank you to all who came out to

share a day or two with us. And

thank you to our many volunteerswho make everything possible!

As winter approaches, drawing a

close to 2014, we look forward toseeing you all again soon.

Sincerly,

The Staff of Rural Hill

Thank you


Mecklenburg County has been pursuing making all county property either tobacco free or smoke-

free, depending on the facility.

The Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has adopted a two-part

Mecklenburg County Ordinance of which one will make most Mecklenburg County Parks tobacco free.

In this ordinance, tobacco is defined as all smoking products, as well as smokeless products (chew,dip, snuff, etc.) and electronic cigarettes. This rule affects most parks, greenways, parklands, nature

preserves, and facilities owned by Mecklenburg

County Park and Recreation, exceptions being

regional parks and golf courses. It applies to

buildings and property located in all municipalitieswithin the County.

Signs are being prepared and will be placed at each

of our affected properties, including all nature

preserves with facilities including Latta PlantationNature Preserve and Historic Rural Hill.

Please be aware of this new ordinance as violations

of the rules can carry a fine up to $25 for each

infraction. The ordinance will take effect on March

18, 2015.

Rural Hill Becomes Tobacco Free

Rural Hill Members for 2014

THANK YOU and congratulations to those individuals and families that continue to

support Rural Hill through the purchase or renewal of an individual or family

membership. Membership monies go into the general fund to help “keep the lights

on” at Rural Hill.

Holly Adkisson

Lois Alexander and Family

Don and Beverly Cameron

Barbara Caine

Mary Christenbury

Sam Dow

Charles and April Dunn

Sally Dupuis

Beth Eakes

Jason Ehrlich and Family

James K., Donna and Ross FlynnClaude Hamilton and FamilyLynn and Bruce HendersonJack InceRon Kinney and Family

Please consider becoming a member - membership has it’s privileges. With eachmembership comes a complimentary admission to one of Rural Hill’s signature events,volunteer opportunities, advance notices of special events and recognition of yoursupport. New or renewing memberships may be purchased through the Rural Hillwebsite, in person at an event, or by calling the Rural Hill office at (704) 875-3121.

Joyce Krimminger

Pamela Lewis

Sun-Mi Maston

Bob Morrison

Bob J. Neil

Robert A. Neill

Sally Norris

Georgina Petrosky

H. Ben Stone and Family

John Taggart

Daphne TaylorMark VandivierRodney and Miriam Whisnant

Auxiliary Corner

Come join the Rural Hill Auxiliary! Open to men and womenwith a passion to keep history alive. Send an email to

[email protected] with your interest in joining.

We look forward to welcoming you!

by Peggy Franklin

Friendships

As I reflect back on 2014, I am very pleased that Rural Hill’s Auxiliary has grown in membership to

over forty volunteers and supporters and continues to be open to those with a passion to keep

history alive at Rural Hill. Many of my friends are volunteers and members of the Auxiliary.

The other day as I got the mail from the mailbox, I leafed through the pile and found a handwritten

envelope with my name on it. I was immediately curious to see who had taken the time to send me

a letter. I walked inside the house, set the rest of the mail on the counter, and opened the envelope.

It was from an Auxiliary member wishing me a speedy recovery from my recent surgery. That card

is still in view as I write. I have received many e-mails and Facebook well wishes that I very much

appreciate, and all have lifted my spirits knowing I have friends who care.

How many friends do you have? It is a tough question. Immediately our mind thinks of the number

of friends on our social networking sites. And then there are our friends at work, school, in our

neighborhood, churches, organizations, etc. When we think of it like that, it seems like we are rich

in friends.

Since the advent of social media, our very definition of friendship has changed and the letters and

cards sent regular mail have dwindled. We may have “friends” on our various social networking

sites some of whom we do not even remember how we know. While social media has often reunited

us with friends from childhood, military, school, and college days, all we really know about them is

what we see on our feeds: pictures of their kids, updates on hobbies, vacations, celebrations,

quotes, recipes, and videos of interest posted from the internet. Although I do enjoy staying

connected to family and friends across the miles, my closer friends I interact with give me more

enrichment.

Rural Hill Auxiliary members are a strong group of men and women who are positive, focused, and

do not mind giving of their time and talents, nor getting sweaty and dirty, if that is what it takes, to

help make events at Rural Hill successful - all while volunteering together with smiles as they feel

the rewards at the end of the event.

On behalf of Rural Hill Auxiliary, come join the Auxiliary and make genuine friendships with other

volunteers who have the same interests and passions at beautiful Historic Rural Hill throughout the

year. Enjoy planning and being a big part of Miss May’s Garden Tea, hearth cooking and

blacksmithing, building log cabins, baking for and selling at the Auxiliary Bake Sales, cooking for

the Maze workers, and having fun making scarecrows for the Maze, setting up for the handler’s

dinner at the Dog Trials, planning and decorating for the upcoming volunteer appreciationChristmas party, helping and cooking for First Footin’, keeping the gardens and flower beds

beautiful, helping with administrative overflow, and filling in wherever needed at the many events

and projects around the farm as your time allows.

There is so much to experience in the Auxiliary, all while making stronger friendships with those youhave known and seen for years.

Thank you to all of the Auxiliary members current and new to join, for all of your hard work this

year.

I look forward to 2015 and the friendships and rewards it will bring.

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 HillLiving History Fund for yourannual charitable giving. Visitus at www.ruralhill.net foreasy, secure online giving.

Give online at

www.ruralhill.net

Volunteer at Historic

Rural Hill

Historic Rural Hill’s events existbecause of the generous andenthusiastic support of volunteers.

For more information onvolunteering, please contact us at

[email protected] or

(704) 875-3113.



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Celebrating more than 250 years in history…

Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties FordRoad) in Huntersville, 28078. The former homestead of

Major John and Violet Davidson, the 265 acre site ismaintained and promoted by Historic Rural Hill Inc. and

features annual events such as the Rural Hill ScottishFestival and Loch Norman Highland Games, the Rural Hill

Amazing Maize Maze, the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials, andthe NC Brewers and Music Festival. Historic Rural Hill Inc.

is a non-profit organization supported through

membership and donations, and with proceeds from itsevents utilized for the preservation of Historic Rural Hill

and its education efforts. For more information onevents or for financial support accepted securely online,

please visit www.ruralhill.net.

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

Mark Vandivier, Controller

Zac Vinson, Education Director

Lauren Petervary, Event Director

Freddie Brown, Farm Manager

Eric Ferguson, Farm Operations

Carolyn Campbell,Administrative Assistant

Mission

An educational organization thatprovides for recognizing,celebrating and preserving therich heritage of Rural Hill.

www.ruralhill.net

Enjoy the holiday’s pleasures alittle too much? Stuffed to the gillsfrom all those parties? Determinedthat this is the year to make achange for the better? Come out toRural Hill and start 2015 off rightwith First Footin’ - our annual walkand celebration of Hogmanay(Scottish New Year)!

Schedule10 AM First Footin’ Five Miler Trail Run begins11 AM Step off for the First Footin’ Walk around

the farm groundsNOON Stone Soup Blessing and Gathering

www.ruralhill.net

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