McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Eight: Issue Twelve xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx DDecember 2023

Annual Fund Drive Underway

McCoy Farm & Gardens

Revenue Sources

(based on 7-year average)

Individual donations make up more than a quarter of the McCoy Farm & Gardens annual operating budget. With your help in 2023, we hosted three inaugural community events, launched a new website, built a 120' boardwalk, buried the utility lines, and much more. These projects and the continued restoration and maintenance of the property would not be possible without the support of our generous community. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to McCoy today and thank you so much for your continued support.

Arboretum Recertified at Level 2

McCoy Farm & Gardens is pleased to announce that the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council has recertified the property as an arboretum with 72 tree species, one of only 18 in Tennessee at Level 2. Mitch Shakespeare, a McCoy summer intern, and Nyssa Hunt, UTC GIS Assistant Director, made digital maps of the trees, including links to the Virginia Tech site which gives more information about each species. It is easy to access on the MFG website at McCoy Farm & Gardens Arboretum.

We are grateful to Dr. Hill Craddock of the UTC Biology, Geology, and Environmental Sciences Department and Dr. Paola Zannini, formerly of Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, who spent hours in the inspection process. They checked every tree label and every point on the digital map. Certification is a rigorous process and a fine way to honor Martha McCoy’s family’s legacy to save the property as an arboretum, a park, and a recreation area. The McCoy Arboretum Committee chairs, Linda Collins and Andy Jones, plan to add more species in 2024.

Beautiful Christmas Tree at McCoy

A tradition continued last Thursday night with the lighting of a huge Christmas tree at McCoy Farm & Gardens. In the 1930s the Bachman-McCoy family was among the first to display a big outdoor Christmas tree for the benefit of the community. Every year they festooned a giant pine tree with colored lights that their neighbors could see from Anderson Pike. The tree was a rare treat in those days when electricity was a luxury many mountain residents could not afford.

Thank you to Robert Clark, Brandon Spain, Russ Harwood, Matt Wildman, and Dylan Brock, left to right above, of the Signal Mountain Fire Department who hung the lights on the Christmas tree. They

used the ladder truck to reach to the top, and they did a wonderful job.

This year hundreds of families came to witness Signal Mountain Mayor Charlie Poss and Walden Vice Mayor Lizzy Schmidt light the tree together soon after the arrival of Santa Claus. Public officials of both towns served complimentary hot chocolate to the crowd. On the front porch, the choir of Signal Mountain Methodist Church entertained with Christmas music. Betty Julian, Bonny Clark, and Debby Hearn accompanied. The McCoy house was open and parents enjoyed touring and shopping while the kids made personalized wooden ornaments. 

The Christmas tree lighting was a big success, and we look forward to continuing this happy tradition in the future.

Santa Claus arrived in a special wagon pulled by an antique tractor driven by board member Andy Jones. Elves Samantha Thurston and Cleo Cofer accompanied Santa and "reindeer-wanna-be" Shelley.

Holiday Shopping at McCoy

What could be a better gift for a resident of our beautiful mountaintop than something special from the iconic McCoy Farm & Gardens? Come and shop during our Open House hours between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM any Thursday, December 7, 14, or 21, and Sunday, December 10, as well.

Find McCoy Merchandise such as T-shirts with our logo and water bottles already packaged for giving. Local honey in jars featuring the McCoy emblem makes the perfect hostess and teacher gift. Prints of Emma Bell Miles' watercolors of the W Road and Hanging Rock are available at $40.00 for someone special. Credit cards, cash, and Venmo are all accepted.

Accepting Summer Internship Applications

McCoy Farm & Gardens is pleased to announce a third summer of paid internships sponsored by a grant from a generous local foundation. College students studying in fields associated with natural resources management and environmental science are eligible to apply for the six-week internship. This past summer our interns built the popular boardwalk, and next summer they will tackle another similar project. They will also work on invasives removal and other grounds improvements. We incorporate field trips and visits with many professionals working in the fields of our interns' professional interests. To apply, students should send a cover letter and resume via email to Paul Ensminger at ensming@comcast.net by January 5, 2024.  

Fences Aglow at McCoy

As you drive along Anderson Pike, or enter the grounds from Taft Highway, you will be greeted by beautiful white lights gracing the fences. These brilliant displays are due to a gift of the lights themselves and to the volunteer work of friends.

Lee Davis and Heather Ott donated the lights. Boy Scout Troop 60, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Jason Lockery and Assistant Scoutmasters Jaime McPherson and Sam Snow, placed the lights along the entire length of Anderson Pike and on the columns, gate, and drive at Taft Highway. Mickey Robbins, Winston Robbins, and Terry Knox installed the cords for the safe low-voltage LED light bulbs. Thanks to all involved. Your efforts have made the atmosphere at McCoy magical. 

Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens

at info@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 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.