McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Eleven: Issue Twoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx FeFebruary 2026

Anne Leonard Shares

House Restoration History

Anne Leonard remembers becoming involved with McCoy in 2015 after joining a group of concerned citizens who met at the home of Susan and Tom Snow and later at Bachman Community Center. At the time, discussions centered on the Town of Walden’s proposal to remodel the Bachman-McCoy House to accommodate Walden Town Hall. Anne's primary concern was preserving the house's integrity and ensuring it was restored rather than altered.

“From the very beginning, my hope was to keep the house intact and allow it to tell its own story.”

Then mayor Bill Trohanis expressed interest in a community Memorial Day picnic in 2015, and a committee was soon formed. Anne took responsibility for preparing the Bachman-McCoy House for that first picnic, an event that proved to be a great success. Following the picnic, the mayor invited several committee members to form an organization dedicated to restoring the property and its buildings. Anne was asked to oversee the house, and the group formally established a nonprofit organization, naming the property McCoy Farm & Gardens.

As head of the House, Anne formed a small committee of four, including Clare Hetzler, Susan Jensen, and Gene Adams who worked together on numerous projects to refurbish and restore the interior. That committee has since grown to eight members, including the original four, and their work continues today.

There have been many meaningful milestones along the way.

When the organization first assumed responsibility for the property, the house's upper floor was used as offices for Forest Rangers. After eight months, the space was finally vacated. Another early milestone was locating a replacement mantel for the living room, as the original had been claimed by the McCoy family as an heirloom years earlier. A beautiful antique mantel from her family homestead was generously donated by former mayor Elizabeth Akins, who also played a key role in the Town’s acquisition of the McCoy property.

The kitchen renovation marked another significant step forward. The project included removing 1980s updates, stripping wallpaper and Beaver Board to reveal original wood walls, and installing new flooring. Refinishing the downstairs oak floors was another major improvement that helped restore the historic character of the home.

The House committee continues to meet regularly, maintaining the furnishings, incorporating donated art and furniture, and decorating seasonally.

“Protecting the house while still opening McCoy to the community has always been about finding the right balance.”

Propagating From Seed Workshop

March 5

Have you tried planting seeds and been frustrated with the outcome? Achieving good results with seeds can feel unpredictable and challenging. But with a little information—and the right tools—you can grow fabulous flowers and vegetables from seed.

Propagating from Seed with Success will cover:

• The anatomy of a seed
• The key elements seeds need to germinate
• The tools you absolutely need (and what to avoid)
• How to minimize disease pathogens while caring for seedlings
• Seed-starting project ideas you can use at home

Instructor Anne Hayes Pearce is a Master Gardener with a special interest in plant propagation and nearly a decade of hands-on experience working with seeds. She is excited to share the lessons she has learned along the way, helping other gardeners avoid common pitfalls and build confidence in growing from seed. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased below.

Weed Wrangle

March 7

The Weed Wrangle, launched in 2014 by the Garden Club of Nashville and the Friends of Warner Parks (also in Nashville), is a now a nationwide volunteer effort to remove invasive plant species from public lands and natural areas. These events help protect native plants, wildlife habitat, and healthy ecosystems.

On March 7, from 9:00 am to noon, McCoy Farm & Gardens will host its 6th annual Weed Wrangle, inviting community members to take part in hands-on stewardship. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, such as English ivy and privet, to make space for native plants to thrive across the property.

No experience is needed—just a willingness to help care for this special place. Together, we can support the long-term health of McCoy while connecting with our community and the land. We'll meet at the Welcome Station.

Mahjong Class at McCoy

February 22

Only 2 spots left!

Are you curious about Mahjong but not sure where to start? This Instructional Mahjong Party on Sunday, February 22, 2026, will include a lesson taught by Beth Newbold, refreshments, plus a mahjong card for you to keep after the event! Space is limited. Tickets are $60/each, and all proceeds benefit McCoy.

A Big Thank You

For the Ice Storm Clean-up

More than 30 volunteers have contributed over 100 hours cleaning up damage from the January 23rd-24th winter storm. The cleanup will continue for many weeks to come, but we are amazed and grateful for what has been accomplished so far. Thank you to Jeremy Rardin for capturing these photos of some of the hard work.

Also, a big thanks to Tree Worx who supports McCoy year-round and was quick to send help in the first days.

What's Coming Up

Grounds Group

Every Tuesday | February hours 4:30-6:30 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.

Propagating from Seed with Success

Thursday, March 5 | 5:00–6:00 pm

Weed Wrangle

Saturday, March 7 | 9:00–Noon

Open House

Sunday, March 8 | 2:00–4:00 pm

The Bachman McCoy House is open 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, and Emma Bell Miles merchandise will be available for purchase.

Egg Roll

Sunday, March 29 | 1:00–4:00 pm

The Egg Roll promises to be fun for the family, including games, food, visits from the Easter Bunny, and, new this year, LIVE barnyard animals! Watch for more information in the March newsletter.

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.

Docent Volunteers Needed

McCoy is also seeking friendly volunteers to serve as docents, welcoming visitors at community events and open houses. Docents share the story of the property and people of this special place. No special experience is needed, just a love of people, history, and gardens. Training is provided, and all are welcome to join our team. Please contact 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 home, 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.