McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter | |
Volume Nine: Issue Eightxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx August 2024 | |
Unique Fundraiser in September | |
|
Join us for Celebration Tables, a champagne luncheon with an antique china extravaganza on Thursday, September 12. Come be inspired by twelve tables creatively set to celebrate festive holidays such as New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, and so on. The decorated tables, filled with fine china from famous makers such as Haviland, Spode, Lenox, Wedgwood, Noritake, and more will be available for silent auction bids.
Pam Reed, Executive Director of the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, will speak on the care and preservation of antique pottery and china. Tickets for this fundraiser are $45 and include complimentary mimosas and a gourmet box lunch; wine will be available for purchase. Seating is limited, so make plans now to join us for a very special day at McCoy.
| |
Thanks to a recent gift of videography from David Cox of Valley Vista Drones, we have a beautiful video of the property from a unique vantage point. We hope you enjoy this lovely footage. David may be contacted at valleyvistadrones@gmail.com. | |
Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Collins | |
|
Linda Collins moved to Chattanooga in 1969, the same year Walter Cronkite announced that Chattanooga had the worst air pollution in the country. Over the years, she has watched Chattanooga's remarkable transformation into the vibrant green city it is today. After three years on the Ridge, her family moved to an 1890 summer house on East Brow Road where they raised their children. In 2013, she retired from a professorship in the Biology Department at UTC after 34 years.
Linda has been integral to the restoration of the property. McCoy Farm & Gardens’ start began at a Town meeting where a Walden resident told the Board of Mayor and Alderman that they were spending too much money on architectural fees to move the Town Hall to McCoy. That created quite a stir and resulted in an old-fashioned Town Meeting where residents could voice their opinions. Over 40 people came to the meeting. Anne Leonard wrote a survey asking for input from citizens. The results were clear: the Town should somehow save the McCoy property for future generations. The mayor appointed several people, including Linda, to begin the work in 2015 (not even 10 years ago!), and it has grown to an exceptionally hard-working board of 12 people.
Martha McCoy and her daughter, Sally McCoy Garland, transferred the McCoy property to the Town of Walden by three deeds which required the property to be used as an arboretum, park, and recreation area. Linda and Andy Jones led the effort to have the McCoy property certified as an arboretum by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, initially identifying 62 species. Today, McCoy has 72 individual tree species labeled including more than 100 labels for duplicates along the trail.
We are grateful for Linda’s many contributions to realizing the vision that the McCoy family had to turn their farm into a treasured community asset.
| |
- The Bachman McCoy House will be open for tours on Sunday, August 11 from 2-4 pm.
- W Road Clean Up on Sunday, August 25 at 8am. Enter at McCoy's Taft Highway gate.
| |
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, let us know 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 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 | |
|
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 38 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
Juanita Wade editor@mccoywalden.org
NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS
Karen Stone, Alyssa Neuhoff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mickey Robbins, President
Joe Davis, Vice President
Larson Mick, Secretary
Leanna Jones, Treasurer
Linda Collins, Arboretum
Elizabeth Hamilton, Gardens
Andy Jones, Grounds
Anne Leonard, House
Anne Hayes Pearce, Volunteers
Susan Snow, Policy
Karen Stone, Publicity
Fred Wildman, Projects & Property Maintenance
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Mary Catherine O'Kelley, Community Event Chair
Annette Wildman, Community Event Chair
| |  |
|
WALDEN OFFICIALS:
Mayor: Lee Davis
Vice Mayor: Lizzy Schmidt
Alderman Angela Cassidy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Melissa Nimon
423- 598-1658
melissa@mccoywalden.org
| | | | |
