McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Eleven: Issue Fourxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx F April 2026

4th Annual Egg Roll

The Fourth Annual Egg Roll at McCoy Farm & Gardens will be held on Sunday, March 29, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, bringing back a favorite spring tradition filled with games, treats, and family fun for all ages.

A highlight of the event is the collectible McCoy commemorative wooden egg, dated for this year’s celebration and featuring a bunny riding in a carrot car. The hardwood eggs are made by Wells Wood Turning of Maine, the same craftsmen who create the wooden eggs for the White House Easter festivities. Eggs are $10 and include an activities punch card for games such as the Egg Roll Obstacle Course, Egg-in-the-Hole, and the Bunny Hop Prize Walk, with prizes for participants.

Children can also enjoy the Egg Scramble, crafts, face and hair painting, and photos with the Easter Bunny. Food and treats will be available for purchase, including hot egg rolls, lemonade, cotton candy, kettle corn, and homemade sweets. Inside the house, the dining room will feature Easter Bunny Bargains, a sale of spring-themed vintage china, glassware, and accessories at discounted prices.

New this year, Barnyard Friends, sponsored by the Animal Hospital of Signal Mountain, will include a Scottish Highland cow, goats, sheep, an alpaca, rabbits, a donkey, and a miniature horse near the Bachman-McCoy barn. The Bachman-McCoy House will also be open, with docents available to share the history of the property. McCoy merchandise, Emma Bell Miles items, and handmade bird feeders and bluebird houses will be for sale, with proceeds supporting McCoy facilities and programming.

The event is organized by Special Events Co-Chairs Mary Catherine O’Kelley and Annette Wildman, along with Board Member Anne Leonard and many dedicated volunteers who help make this annual tradition possible.

Follow McCoy Farm & Gardens on Facebook and Instagram for updates and event information.

Donation of Emma Bell Miles Art

Joan Rawlings with her family's gift of an Emma Bell Miles painting of Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bachman at his home on McCallie Avenue. Dr. Bachman is Joan's great-great-great-grandfather and Martha McCoy's grandfather.

We are delighted to share the arrival of a remarkable new addition to the Emma Bell Miles collection. The Peter and Milly Rawlings family has generously donated a painting of Rev. Dr. Jonathan Bachman, dated December 1913, sitting on the front porch of his McCallie Avenue home. This piece holds special meaning for us, as it beautifully connects several stories important to McCoy, including Emma Bell Miles, the Bachman family, and the Civil War. Rev. Bachman, father of Senator Nathan Bachman and grandfather of Martha McCoy, was a Civil War chaplain and a beloved pastor of First Presbyterian Church for 50 years. He is the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Peter Rawlings.

Emma first encountered Dr. Bachman while visiting his son shortly after being commissioned to paint Nathan and Pearl Bachman’s home, now the centerpiece of the McCoy property. She recorded the meeting in her June 27, 1913, journal entry, writing, “At Mr. Bachman’s I met Dr. Bachman for the first time—one of Chattanooga’s grand old men.”

The new artwork and a reproduction of Emma’s painting of Nathan and Pearl’s home will be on display in the Bachman-McCoy House during the Egg Roll on Sunday, March 29, and at the next open house on Sunday, April 12. We are deeply grateful for this gift, which enriches our ability to tell these intertwined stories with greater depth and richness. We are also very appreciative of Anne Davis for reframing the painting with archival materials.

Volunteer Spotlight:

Sherry Newcomb and Caroline Woerner

Two familiar faces on the McCoy Farm & Gardens Grounds Group, Caroline Woerner and Sherry Newcomb, came to volunteering in different ways, but share the same belief that if you enjoy McCoy, you should help care for it.

Sherry Newcomb, left, and Caroline Woerner, right, helping clean up after the recent ice storm. Photos by Jeremy Rardin

Caroline first became involved many years ago while working with the late Sam Powell, helping build the original trail around the McCoy property. As a volunteer trail builder with the Cumberland Trail Conference, she already knew the hard work that goes into creating and maintaining trails. After the first trail was completed, the work continued with clearing privet, cutting invasive vines, and rescuing trees that were being strangled. After stepping away for a time to care for her father, Caroline later returned to McCoy simply to walk the trails with her dog. It wasn’t long before she was asked to join the Grounds Group. She agreed because she believes strongly in giving back to the places she enjoys. She says there is real satisfaction in looking back at the end of the day and seeing what the crew has accomplished together, and she encourages anyone who enjoys the trails to pitch in, even if only for a few hours now and then.

Sherry Newcomb’s path to the grounds team began more recently. After hip replacement surgery in early 2024, she started walking at McCoy as part of her recovery. That same year, she lost both her brother and her sister within days of each other, making it an especially difficult time. Being outdoors at McCoy became both physical and emotional therapy, and she quickly realized how much the place meant to her. Sherry has always loved being outside, whether gardening, hiking, camping, or working in the yard, and says staying active keeps her going. After spending so much time enjoying the property, volunteering felt like the natural next step.

She says the grounds crew feels like a small family, with volunteers of all ages working side by side, sharing stories, laughter, and a love of being outdoors. For Sherry, volunteering is simply part of who she is. She believes that anyone who spends time at McCoy can find a way to help, even in small ways, whether that means picking up sticks, joining the crew once in a while, or coming out on a Tuesday workday.

Both Caroline and Sherry agree that McCoy Farm & Gardens has become something special for the community, and they hope more people who enjoy the property will consider giving a little time to help keep it that way.

What's Coming Up

Egg Roll

Sunday, March 29, 1:00-4:00 pm

Don't miss the fun for all ages this Sunday!

Grounds Group

Every Tuesday, 5:00-7:00 pm

The Grounds Group meets every Tuesday evening to keep McCoy looking its best. Activities vary by week and include invasive removal, storm clean-up, and planting natives. Times may vary seasonally according to sunset. If you're interested in joining this group, contact Beth Myers at 330-256-1472.

Open House

Sunday, April 12, 2:00–4:00 pm

The Bachman McCoy House is open on the second Sunday of each month. Docents will be available to share the history of the property and the people who have lived there. McCoy merchandise, including a few copies of Emma Bell Miles and the Mystery of the Shoe Flower, t-shirts, Emma Bell Miles prints, and notecards, will be available for purchase.

Newsletter Volunteers Needed

McCoy Farm & Gardens is seeking volunteers to help create our newsletter. Assistance is needed with writing short articles, editing, proofreading, and gathering photos. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please reach out to info@mccoywalden.org for more information.

Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens

at katie@mccoywalden.org

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

Or mail your check to

McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377.

McCoy Farm & Gardens is grateful to our Annual Sponsors, whose support allows the continued restoration and improvement of the property and buildings, as well as the expansion of McCoy's programming. If you are interested in more information about becoming an Annual Sponsor, please check out our Partners page on our website or contact the office at 423-598-1658.

McCoy Farm & Gardens encompasses 38 acres and features the Bachman-McCoy House, gardens, and several outbuildings, including the Pavilion, Carriage House, Barn, and Blacksmith Workshop. Our Level 2 Arboretum contains 72 species. With over 2 miles of trails, the grounds also include the site of the former home of artist, poet, and naturalist Emma Bell Miles.