McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Ten: Issue Threexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx March 2025

Leashed Dogs Welcome at McCoy

Warmer days are around the corner and we’re looking forward to more visitors, both human and canine. While we take pride in providing a space where dogs may enjoy the outdoors with their owners, there are several important reasons why keeping them on a leash is required at McCoy. 

McCoy is a shared space for everyone to enjoy, including families, joggers, and people with animals. Leashing dogs ensures that they do not approach people or other dogs who may feel uncomfortable or frightened by them. Even the friendliest dogs may become startled or overwhelmed by unfamiliar people or dogs. Some dogs feel threatened by an approaching off-leash dog, leading to aggressive behavior.  

Leashing dogs also protects McCoy's landscaping and wildlife. Off-leash dogs may disturb the gardens or natural habitat, compromising McCoy’s beauty for everyone. 

The Puppy Patch is available for owners who want their dogs to enjoy off-leash time on the property. 

By leashing dogs, we create a safer, more enjoyable experience for all of McCoy’s visitors, allowing both humans and dogs to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.  

Ed Allen, Andy Jones, and Karen Stone complete the foundation course while dog Shelley looks on.

The “Serpentine Wall” is a stone retaining wall that separates the terraced lawn on the east side of the McCoy house from a lower area with trees and native vegetation. It is called The Serpentine Wall because it curves like a snake as it gracefully contours the land.

Over the years, the wall has fallen into disrepair. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, Peter Newson of Newson Stone and Masonry, led a class in dry-stack masonry to rebuild it without using cement. The principle of drystone walling is to build two faces that lean slightly toward each other and are interconnected by weaving stones together. Gravity holds them in place, making this type of wall stable, beautiful, and long-lasting.

Six eager students first learned terminology used by dry stone wallers. They dismantled failing parts of the wall, sorted and organized the material by size and shape, and placed the stones on edge in rows to make a “library.” They learned that “hearting” was not just rubble but was rock that should be kept for use as fillers and shims. It is also valued as “pinning” stones to hold the “face stones” or “wallstones” in place. 

Next, the students dug down to the frost line and laid a course of large “foundation stones” or “footings.” Then came the “first lift,” the lower portion of the wall made of larger wallstones, hearting, and pinning. As they worked, the amateur builders chose “through stones,” long stones that reach from one face to the other to tie the two faces together as the wall grows in height. Through stones are absolutely crucial to building a sound wall structure. They can be decorative and sometimes extend out past the faces of the wall to provide a sort of stair for humans to cross. The student wallers continued placing stones with short sides facing outward and long sides interlocking with their partner stones against the bank in the “second lift,” or upper part of the structure. 

Since the class was scheduled for only one day, the participants were unable to complete the rebuild and place “coping” (cap) stones. However, they ended their workday with great satisfaction and pride in a task well done and skills learned. Andy Jones and Sam Meagher returned on following days to assist Newson as he continued restacking the wall.

Interesting takeaways from the exercise are these: first, who built the wall and when cannot be factually determined. In an interview with Kim Fookes, long-term McCoy caretaker Neavon Hatfield said some of the stones came from the Bell house at the corner of Anderson Pike and what is now Taft Highway. He did not know who did the work. Evidence for dates of construction and repair are found in the mortar. Yellowish sand-lime putty mortar was used before about 1930, and grayish Portland cement was used after that time. Both types of mortar are in the remains of the wall.

Second, though not actually a through-stone step, a very large rock is integrated into the wall near the driveway. This stone appears to have been set to provide a way to cross the wall without having to go all the way around either end to reach the other lawn.

In evaluating the value of the Serpentine Wall to McCoy, Peter Newson said, “Drystone walls have many advantages. They will drain water right through them, unlike many types of retaining walls. They move and flex with the seasons and last much longer than mortared walls. And like many types of stonework, the older they get, the better they look!”

Top left: Sam Meagher, in green, and Doug Eichner dig a foundation after laying out their “library” of stones and “hearting” pile. Top right: The same section of the wall as shown above with Ed, Andy, and Karen, now rebuilt. Bottom: Serpentine wall showing serpent-like curves and crossing block steps. Although not pictured, Chuck Jones also participated in this important restoration project.

Volunteer Spotlight-Terry Knox

In 2014, Terry Knox joined Sam Powell in building the elevated walkway over the wetland at McCoy with the encouragement of then-mayor Elizabeth Akins. Terry had met Sam years before as they both made natural birdhouses from poplar logs. Sam was famous for his trail and bridge-building skills, and Terry enjoys working with his hands, so it was a natural for Terry to join in the project. In trail building, clearing, and maintenance, Terry met many of the original board members and volunteers. He enjoyed those people and experiences very much, and he has volunteered consistently ever since.

Over the years, Terry has made dozens of bluebird houses from poplar trees on the McCoy property as a fundraiser for McCoy. In the last year, Audrey Workman has joined the bluebird house team. The unique houses are for sale for $80 each and come with a pole for mounting.

A native of Signal Mountain, Terry grew up on Signal Road. Growing up, neither he, his brother, nor his sister ever noticed Mrs. McCoy’s home hidden from view. Terry and his wife, Susan, have been married for 32 years and have lived on the mountain most of that time. Susan was a special education teacher, and she also enjoys serving in the community and helping her neighbors. Terry attended Red Bank High School, UTC, and Chattanooga State before working at Combustion Engineering nuclear test lab and World Carpet dye-line automation. He retired from TVA where he worked at the control center on SCADA communications.

Terry says, “If you like to work, McCoy is a good place to make new friends and to get outside. Volunteering also allows you to get outside of yourself and your normal sphere.” Won’t you join the team, too, and reap the benefits?

The McCoy Weed Wrangle took place on Saturday, March 1. Approximately 30 volunteers helped to remove invasive species like English ivy and privet from the Woodland Garden area. Juniors and Seniors from Signal Mountain High School were there representing Riki-Lynne Wilmon's psychology class, Beta Club, and Leo Club. Students in the psychology class are given extra credit for an exam for participating in an outdoor activity and then reflecting on the mental benefits of getting outside. Other community organizations represented were the McCoy Garden Committee, Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, and Wild Ones Tennessee Valley Chapter.

What's Coming Up

New Grounds Committee, Tuesdays from 5:00-6:30 pm

Maintaining almost 2.5 miles of trails and 38 acres is a big but rewarding task. We invite you to join the team, which will meet at the Welcome Station at the Horse Ring gravel parking lot. For more information, contact Beth Myers at 330-256-1472. We hope to see you there!

Bachman-McCoy House Open, Sunday, March 9, 2:00-4:00 pm

Maintaining almost 2.5 miles of trails and 38 acres is a big but rewarding task. We invite you to join the team, which will meet at the Welcome Station at the Horse Ring gravel parking lot. For more information, contact Beth Myers at 330-256-1472. We hope to see you there!

Garden Workdays

Tuesday, March 11, 1-3:00 pm, Garden Workday 

Saturday, March 22, 1-3:00 pm, Woodland Garden planting day 

Want to stay up to date and catch additional pop-up workdays each month? Join the Garden Committee’s mailing list by signing up here. 

Egg Roll, Sunday, April 13, 1:00-4:00 pm

Join us for the third annual Egg Roll, where there will be fun and games for all ages. Activities include visits with the Easter bunny, kite-flying demos, a silent auction of antique spring china, and much more. Look for all the details in April's newsletter.

Get your 2025 collectible wooden McCoy Farm & Gardens Easter egg early for $10 at March's Open House, Sunday, March 9, from 2:00-4:00 pm. Supplies are limited.

Spring Migratory Bird Walk

Saturday, April 26, at 8:00 am

Join Kevin Calhoon, Curator of Forests at Tennessee Aquarium, for a bird walk and learn about spring migration. All ages are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them, and meet in the Horse Ring gravel parking lot.

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 us to continue the restoration and improvement of the property and buildings and to expand our programming. If you are interested in more information about becoming an Annual Sponsor, please contact the office at 423-598-1658.

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 Level 2 Arboretum contains over 70 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.