Wiffle Ball Tournament is a Big Hit!

The Inaugural Wiffle Ball Tournament, sponsored by the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum and the City of Athens Parks and Recreation was a big hit Saturday, July 28, 2007 despite the overcast skies. Fourteen teams spent the day trying their hand at this classic game invented over fifty years ago in an attempt to bring home the Mullany Cup (named after the inventor of Wiffle Ball) for the year. The 2007 Champions are the “Old Timers” with team members Mike Frank, Casey Mason, Christian Mason, Jason Burke and Heath Mason. The Old Timers defeated the Braves (Ethan Starr, Trevor Wade, Ajay Singh, Zach Driggers and Blake Young) in the final game 19-1.

So get your team together and start practicing for next year to bring the Mullany Cup home with you.

Thanks to all our teams!

Old Timers (2007 Champions): Mike Frank, Casey Mason, Christian Mason, Jason Burke, Heath Mason.

Braves: Ethan Starr, Trevor Wade, Ajay Singh, Zach Driggers, Blake Young.

Sun Devils: Bryce Mason, Andrew Sampson, Clint Oliver, Ryan Oliver, Trevor Crisp.

Cardinals: Hayden Fesmire, Austin Fesmire, Ronnie Woods, Adam Powers.

Heavy Hitters: Jamie King, Josh Withrow, Hunter Starr, Jay Johnson, Israel Brown.

Hollarboys: Mart Shelton, Patrick Tallent, Ben Watson, Will Hooper, Austin Norris.

JoJo's Rejects: Bane Calhoun, Delaney Calhoun, Shane Miller, Ben Boggess, Crystal Miller.

The Staff: Diane Hutsell, Travis Haun, Sara Dillion, TK "Spiderman" King, Chase Clifton.

The Tribe: Blake Powers, Dylan Plaster, Corey Wade, Alex Vinre.

The Fantastic 5: Nathan Bell, Mike Bell, Christian Prince, David Ward.

The Fighting Squirrels: Drew Masingale, Tripp Hicks, Austin Masingale, Scott Moses, Wes Miller.

Diamond Jaxx: Chris Baker, Scott Odum, Jay Odum, Zach Odum, Garrett Baker.

The Diamond Dandies: joey Sasson, Dustin Moser, Taylor Hawkins, Tanner Moses Try Strickland.

Redsox: Cole Plater, Levi Woods, Jacob Saffles.

Wiffle Ball Pictures

More Wiffle Ball Pictures

Still More Wiffle Ball Pictures

Alice in Wonderland UnBirthday Party

On June 13th the Living Heritage Museum offered its first in hopefully many family oriented programs in honor of the Museum 25th Anniversary. Kids (and the kid at heart) experienced the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, a costume contest, arts & crafts, games, Queen of Hearts Croquet led by Dan and Gail Fisher & were read the story of Alice the the EG Fisher Public Library's own Liz Thigpen.

The Museum would like to the thank Walden Trucking, Mayfield Dairy, Jerry Smith,Laurie Powell, Elaine Cathcart, Laura LeNoir, Lorie Royal, Judy Reece, Rick Lay, Tops hat & tuxedos, Food Lion, Total Life Encounters Youth Ministries, Dan & Gail Fisher, EG Fisher Library & Liz Thigpen, Denise Hoffman, the Junior Docents and the Museum Trustees.

More Pictures

Celebrating Our Past, Present and Future

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Bill Landry, host and co-producer of The Heartland Series, spoke at the Museum in June 9th, 2007. The celebration will also included guest speaker Bill Akins, published author and former McMinn County Historian. The afternoon was concluded with cake and Mayfields icecream.

The Museum would like to thank Dr. and Mrs. B.E. LeNoir III, Mayfield Diary Farms, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Hacker Signs, Greeks Bearing Gifts, Dan Kelly, Rick Lay, David McKee, Carl Hutsell the Museum Trustees, Museum Guild Members and the Reception Committee for their help in making this event a success!

Nationally Known Quilt Designer to Present Workshop at Living Heritage Museum

Pam Bono, nationally known designer, publisher and teacher in the quilt world will be presenting a quilting lecture and class August 17th and 18th at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens, Tennessee. If you have ever wanted to take a class from a well-known teacher, but can’t afford the time and expense to go to a big quilt show, here’s your chance. Sign up today to enjoy the experience of learning from someone who is creative, fun and down to earth.

Friday, August 17, 2007 at 7 pm Pam will speak on her experience as a pattern and book designer. She will explain the process of how she got into the publishing business as she shows quilts that she has made over the years. Admission is free to Heritage Quilt Guild members and $7 for nonmembers for the lecture and trunk show. Preregistration is not required.

Saturday, August 18, 2007 from 9 am to 3 pm Pam will teach her speed piecing technique using the Angler 2 that she developed several years ago. Accuracy and speed are the emphasis as each student completes a good portion of the project. Registration for the class is $75 and includes your kit, which consists of first quality fabrics that are accurately cut and labeled for the Iris Table Runner, 4 Placemats and 4 Napkins project. A total of 7 yards! There is also an Angler 2 in the kit, cut and ready for use. The only other supplies needed for the class are a sewing machine and basic sewing supplies. The deadline for class registration is August 10th on a first come, first served basis. In order to secure our spot in the class, a (nonrefundable) $35 must be received as a down payment, with the rest due at the time of the class.

Presented by the Heritage Quilt Guild of Athens, TN. For more information or to register, contact Jane Phillips at 423-745-1367 on weekdays, 423-744-9877 on evenings and weekends or by email at jm.phillips @comcast.net.

Bill Landry to Speak at Living Heritage Museum

Bill Landry, host and co-producer of The Heartland Series, will be speaking at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens June 9th, 2007 as part of the Museum’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. The celebration will also include guest speaker Bill Akins, published author and former McMinn County Historian. The day will begin at 2:00 pm in the Guild Room of the Living Heritage Museum and will conclude with cake and Mayfield’s Ice Cream. This program is free to the public. For more information contact the Living Heritage Museum at 423-745-0329.

"Celebrate Quilts" 25th Annual Quilts Show & Competition

“Celebrate Quilts” the 25th Annual Quilt Show and Competition opens May 5th at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens. 200 antique and contemporary quilts will be on display in one of the south's largest quilt shows. The Awards Ceremony begins May 5th at 2 pm with quilts judged in a variety of categories including beginners through advanced. Lectures, videos, workshops and a miniature quilt silent auction are highlights of the Show. Nationally recognized instructor Cindy Blackberg will teach a workshop on June 30th. Retired seniors will also be demonstrating traditional quilting around a quilt frame each Thursday morning.

A few new components to the Quilt Show have also been added this year. A new category to the show has been added and includes over 80 paper quilt squares made by Athens City School students that visitors to the Museum will be able to vote on for winner of the Kids’ Viewers Choice Award.

Along with these beautiful quilts, the exhibit will include a brief history of quilting and explain some of the techniques and terms used by quilters that may not be familiar to some folks as well as the opportunity to try your hand at designing your own quilt square. Throughout the exhibit there will also be quilting story times for children that will be scheduled during the two-month exhibit and an opportunity to have your quilt appraised.

Cindy Blackberg will be presenting a workshop about the Mariner’s Compass June 30, 2007 from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM. Registration is $45 for Museum Members, $50 for Non Members. Learn to easily hand or machine piece the classic pattern Mariner’s Compass. Piece on 11” block (sewn into a 16” square) in class that can be made into a pillow or the center of a medallion quilt. Accuracy will be achieved by using template stamps. Tips will also be given in color placement and how to make your block lie flat with no ruffling! See the example at www.cindyblackberg.com.

The Quilt Show formerly won the prestigious "Top Twenty Tourist Attractions In The Southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society. It has also been featured in several national magazines including Southern Living, Country Living, Quilter's Newsletter Magazine, Quilts, Reader's Digest and more.

Funding for the 25th Annual Quilt Show was provided by the Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee South East Development District, Stitches From the Heart, Mammaw’s Thimble Fabric and Quilt Shop, Heritage Quilt Guild, Athens Federal Community Bank, Southeast Bank and Trust, BB&T Bank, Little Blessing Quilt Shop, Out of Towners Quilting Group, Smokey Mountain Quilters of Tennessee and the The Cherry Pit Quilt Shop.

For more information on the exhibit or workshop contact the Museum at 423-745-0329.

By Order of the Queen!

By order of the Queen of Hearts, you are here by summoned to attend the Living Heritage Museum’s Very Merry Unbirthday Party!

Don't be late for this very important date! We are celebrating the Living Heritage Museum's Very Merry 25th Unbirthday June 13, 2007 at 10:00 am until 2:30 pm. (Rain date June 20th).

Come dressed as your favorite character & fall into the kaleidoscopic world of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Living Heritage Museum & the start of the Kid’s Club. Kids (and the kid at heart) can experience the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Queen of Hearts Croquet, a costume contest, arts & crafts, games & story time at our Very Merry UnBirthday Party!

Admission: $5.00 per child & one free adult. Ask about Group Rates!

Enjoy the afternoon on your lunch break. Order your lunch at Keith Mansion ($10.00 box lunch) and have it waiting for you at the Museum. Don't miss the fun and the free croquet demonstration!

Contact the Museum today for tickets or more information! 423-745-0329

Kids and Quilts

As part of the celebration of the Living Heritage Museum's 25th Annual Quilt Show, Museum staff recently brought the quilts into the classroom as part of the Kid's Connection After School Program where the children, in Kindergarten through the sixth grade were able to make their own quilt square after getting an introduction into the history and construction of quilts. The squares are on display at the Museum until June 30th when the quilt show closes, so be sure to come in an vote for your favorite!

Seeking Donations: Living Heritage Museum Hosts Annual Trash and Treasure Sale

Are you ready to do your spring house cleaning? The Living Heritage Museum Guild’s Annual Trash and Treasure Sale is coming up April 17th-21st in the old CVS Drug Store building located in the same strip mall as the McMinn County Courthouse Annex. Guild members will be receiving your tax-deductible items from April 12th through April 14th, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at that location. If you would like to donate your items earlier, please contact the Living Heritage Museum at 423-745-0329 to make an appointment.

The Guild is looking for your gently used quality items to donate to this good cause. This is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Museum Guild and all proceeds are donated to fund the operating costs of the Living Heritage Museum and help the Museum reach over 22,000 visitors annually including several thousand area school children with our programs and exhibits. In the past items have included linens in good condition, books, cooking utensils, sporting goods, toys, crystal, china, silver, holiday decorations and camping equipment. There are some items that will not be accepted such as computer monitors, clothes and shoes, mattresses, any liquids such as paint, etc., large appliances or things that do not work.

There are a few new exciting changes in store for this years Trash and Treasure Sale. First, tickets for the opening preview night will be reduced to $5.00, as food will not be served this year. Secondly, the Guild will be adding the new “Treasure Hunt” to the opening night. If you find a specially marked item to purchase, you’ll receive a discount on your purchases that night. There other surprises scheduled for opening night that you don’t want to miss along with the silent auction.

The sale continues through the week and the hours are Wednesday, April 13th through Friday April 20th from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. The sale hours for Saturday are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
For more information contact the Living Heritage Museum at 423-745-0329.

Living Heritage Museum Offers Free Day to Area Girl Scouts

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens, Tennessee honors area Girl Scouts March 17, 2007 when Girl Scouts can tour the Living Heritage Museum for free! Girl Scouts has been making a difference in the lives of girls for over 90 years. Just as membership has grown (from 18 to nearly 4 million!), so has their place in history and their role as innovative and committed advocates for girls everywhere. In 2003 the Girl Scouts of the USA proudly announced passage of Senate Resolution 79, declaring the week of March 9th to 15th as National Girl Scout Week. The resolution passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent. Each year Girl Scout Week commemorates the 1912 founding of Girl Scouting in the United States by Juliette Gordon Low. In the 91 years since, the organization has helped shape the lives of more than 50 million women.

The Museum will also have information that will be available about the new Girl Scout Badge Program that will available this spring that is sponsored in part by a grant from Volunteer Electric. This is your chance to be one of the first to see the new Living Heritage Museum Badge. Admission is free to Scouts but we do ask that Scout Leaders call in advance to let us know they are coming and to encourage their Scouts to wear their uniform. If you have any questions, or if you would like to be placed on our emailing list to receive updates on Scouting programs, please contact the Living Heritage Museum at 423-745-0329. Can’t make it on Saturday? Call today to find out how you can reschedule your free Scout Tour!

Museum Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Closed on major holidays.

Kofi and Rebekah Mawuko Perform

Kofi and Rebekah Mawuko. Kofi, a native of Ghana who now lives in Chattanooga where he has a band, dance studio and drumming classes, performed traditional African dance. Rebekah, a professional storyteller who also teaches dance, also performed with her husband Kofi.

Museum Offers Needlepoint Program

There’s still time to register for the “Common Threads” Sampler Symposium workshops sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission on February 23rd and 24th, 2007 at the Living Heritage Museum in Athens, Tennessee. The cost is just $35 and includes a series of lectures starting at 10 am and concludes with the keynote address by Kathleen Staples at 7 pm. Dana Anderson, a certified appraiser specializing in samplers on February 23rd, will also conduct Sampler consultations and a trunk show and boutique will be at the Museum on February 24th. Registration begins at 9:30 February 23rd. For more information, contact the Living Heritage Museum at 423-745-0329. Symposium agenda includes:

Friday, February 23, 2007

10:00 AM
“An Introduction to Samplers”
Darlene Lara

11:00 PM
“Antique Samplers and Their Role in Genealogical Research”
Dana Andrews
Genealogical research is being conducted everyday on the Internet and while it is a great source for research it is not the only place. Many people thank that if it’s not on paper or online it can tell little about the historic record, but they are mistaken. Dana Andrews will briefly highlight how objects can be used to determine family histories, then delve into the use of samplers as keys to unlocking those histories.

1:00 AM
“A Beautiful Mourning: Mourning Art and Embroidery”
Janet Hasson
Ms. Hasson will discuss the cult of mourning, which began with George Washington’s death in 1799. The cult of mourning was manifested in costume, the arts, etiquette and décor. Examples of mourning art from many genres will be shown in the slide lecture, with a special emphasis on embroidery and Tennessee examples Janet will provide a historical context fro this national obsession, which lasted from 1799 until after the Civil War.

2:00 PM
“Know Your Needle Arts”
Annelle Ferguson
Annelle has been involved with miniatures since 1978. Like so many, she built a dollhouse for her then three-year-old daughter. While building that first dollhouse, she learned to do needlepoint in order to furnish the house with rugs and carpets beginning her research of the hundred of charming antique design and interest in adapting the originals into 1/12 scale. Her favorite periods are 18th century English and American designs for samplers and chair covers and panels for fire screens and embroider stands. Today, Annelle serves as US Representative for the Miniature Needlework Society, organized in England in 1997 to encourage all forms of miniature work with needle and thread.

3:00 PM
“Textile Tour of Tennessee”
Jennifer Core
Jennifer Core will present the most recent samplers the Tennessee Sampler Survey has documented. Beginning in East Tennessee with the early settlers, she will trace the development of samplers as the move to Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee. Approximately 80 slides of previously unseen samplers will be shown.

4:00 PM
Sampler Walking Tour
Darlene Lara

7:00 PM Keynote Address
“Sampler Making: The Southern Experience”
Kathleen Staples
In contrast to 18th- and early 19th-century New England, where little girls stitched recognizable styles of samplers in a disciplined classroom governed by a teacher who probably distributed the same pattern to everyone in the class, the colonial and antebellum South adopted and adapted a variety of practices for girlhood education. This lecture is an introduction to those practices as they applied to sampler making and to the girls, African-American and American Indian as well as those of European descent, who created these important cultural artifacts

Saturday, February 24, 2007

9:00-12:00 AM
Alison Smith Workshop
Ackworth Style Medallion

Medallion samplers from Ackworth School were similar, yet each one was unique. Schoolgirls used a variety of motifs, which from one sampler to the next were in different placements, and often had variations in actual stitches in the motif. This makes it easy to disguise "mistakes" since you can just call it your own variation of a motif! Get the chart, linen and silks for an Ackworth-style medallion sampler. Done in cross-stitch, with the option of adding initials in cross or eyelet stitch, you will use the provided design to personalize your own Ackworth sampler, just as girls at Ackworth school did (though they most probably used stitched examples, not paper patterns).

In addition to the chart, you will receive the charted motifs as color medallions to cut out and rearrange to create and personalize your own sampler. Additional motifs will be provided that you can add to the base design elements, plus an alphabet to use for personalizing and/or adding initials (family, friends, other loved ones) throughout. Supplemental information about Ackworth School and the Ackworth needlework will also be provided, as well as some hints for how to unlock that personal creativity. And, of course, stitching the chart exactly as provided is always an option.

11:30 AM
“The Scottish Presence in Southern Samplers”
Kathleen StaplesIn the 18th century, in parts of Scotland, girls made crewel-on-linen samplers that are especially distinctive for their color scheme: red and green. In the 19th century girls from North Carolina and central Tennessee also worked samplers of red and green crewel yarn on linen. Join Kathleen Staples as she discusses this idiosyncratic sampler feature and what it says about immigration, settlement pattern, and the transference of aesthetic preference by a culture over time and space.

• Diane Hutsell, Executive Director

History Comes Alive

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The Living Heritage Museums school programs give students a lesson in McMinn County heritage they can't get out of any textbook, because here at the Museum, history lessons come alive.

The Living Heritage Museum celebrated Black History Month February 8th and 9th, 2007. Area school children heard from individuals in first person representations of important figures in black history as well as those in our community who experienced segregation and life in McMinn County first hand. Guest artists Kofi and Rebekah Mawuko also performed for the students.

Zelma McClure, an Athens native will speak about her experiences with Prof. Nash and the hardships Mr. Nash faced and the importance of his struggle and the founding of Cook High.

Ruth Malone will speak about segregation and life in McMinn County.

Travis Haun spoke about famous African American inventors including George Crum the inventor of the potato chip in 1853.

Students watched and participated dances from Ghana, Kofi’s native land. Students also got the opportunity to watch Kofi, a master drummer with Kyirem Cultural Troupe, a Ghanaian-based performing company, perform. Visitors to the Museum also got to see Rebekah, a professional storyteller who also teaches dance, will be performing with her husband Kofi.

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum sincerely appreciates the East Tennessee Foundation for support for this program.

• Diane Hutsell, Executive Director

Show Off Your Support of the Living Heritage Museum

Here’s your chance to show your support of the Living Heritage Museum where everyone can see! Order your very own Living Heritage Museum T-Shirt today! Shirts are made of 100% cotton, are a light gray and will have the Museum logo on the left breast pocket area in navy blue. Be stylish and support the Museum at the same time. Proceeds from t-shirt sales will go to Living Heritage Museum’s new “Kid’s Initiative” and give area youth the opportunity to participate in the Museum’s new Junior Docent Program after school and during school breaks. Area youth between the ages of 11-18 will be trained to participate in a variety ways such as leading tours, welcoming visitors, helping customers in the gift shop, supporting staff in research, hosting special events and assisting with hands-on projects.Please send a check for $10.00 for each short sleeve t-shirt and $16.00 for each long sleeve t-shirt you like made out the Living Heritage Museum. Please add $3.00 for shipping if you want us to mail your shirt to you. Shirts will be available in adult and youth sizes. Make checks payable to Living Heritage Museum. Sorry, no credit cards. You may drop off your order at the Museum or mail to the Living Heritage Museum; PO Box 889; Athens, TN 37371. The Museum will be taking orders through March 12, 2007. We will contact you when your shirts are ready. For more information contact the Living Heritage Museum at 745-0329.

• Diane Hutsell, Executive Director

Museum Junior Docent Program-Orientation March 1st!

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens, Tennessee has begun a Junior Docent Program for students between the ages of 12 and 18. In a recent effort to recruit new volunteers at the Living Heritage Museum, several of our area youth have expressed an interest in volunteering. To fill this need, the Living Heritage Museum has developed a Junior Docent Program.

There’s more to being a Junior Docent than just being a tour guide. From helping in the gift shop to doing research to helping develop exhibits there’s sure to be something to stir your interest. Students are trained to participate in a variety of educational programming such as leading tours, welcoming visitors, helping customers in the gift shop, supporting staff in research, hosting special events and assisting with hands-on projects.

The Museum asks its volunteers for a commitment of time and effort, enthusiasm, and a positive and supportive attitude. In return, we offer the benefits of interacting with artists, scholars and museum staff; developing and expanding public speaking skills; broadening your knowledge of history; a sense of achievement in working with the public and the rewards of working in a warm and friendly environment. No formal background is required and no experience is necessary. We seek dependable, friendly, enthusiastic and committed people who enjoy working with diverse groups of people, learning through doing, and examining the world through its artifacts.

Join us for a fun filled evening Thursday, March 1, 2007 for the Junior Docent and Parent Orientation. This informal get-together will be held in the Guild Room of the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, located on the bottom floor of the Museum. Class begins at 6:00 pm and end at 7:30 pm. And don’t worry, dinner’s on us!

This is your opportunity to meet the Museum staff, get a “Behind the Scenes” tour of the Museum and find out what the guidelines and expectations are for the Docent Program. Docents will also receive their official Junior Docent Handbook full of important information. This is also the perfect time to come with any questions you may have about the Program.

Please have your Junior Docent Applications returned to the Museum by February 26, 2007. If you would like a copy of the application forms, stop by the Museum between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, call 745-0329 or go online at http://www.livingheritagemuseum.com/. Docents should be between the ages of 12 and 18.

• Diane Hutsell, Executive Director

Celebrating History and Families

It's an exciting time at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum. The year 2007 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Museum and is the catalyst for several new and exciting changes that will take place as we celebrate our anniversary and next generation of Museum visitors.

The Living Heritage Museum is all about visitors and we’re striving to make everyone not only feel welcome once they have entered our doors, but feel able and eager to take those first few steps towards them. Museums often have the stereotype of being a highbrow place that are fine for kids to visit as long as they’re quiet and touch nothing. However, if we curtail their unfiltered attraction to history as a child, how can we demand they appreciate it as an adult?While we have always welcomed families, we are working hard at the promotion of family-friendly policies, attitudes and exhibitions with our new “Kids Initiative.” We will provide the tools parents need to help themselves and their kids interact with history with several new components sure to spark kids, and parents, interest, including a Kid’s Club, a Passport to History Program, a Junior Docent Program, a Junior Board of Directors to get ideas from kid’s themselves and a Boy/Girl Scout badge program. And that’s not all! Kids Club members will receive newsletters full of fun information and games. Every exhibit and program that is offered will include something that visitors of all ages are sure to find enjoyable and engaging.We’ll still continue with the great annual exhibits and shows that have made the Living Heritage Museum a success. The 25th Annual Quilt Show will take place May 5 – June 30, 2007 and will include several new programs to help celebrate the anniversary of the Museum and the quilt show.

So make your plans to visit the Living Heritage Museum throughout 2007. You'll never know what you'll find when you get here. And be sure to come back to our new blog, Museum Pieces, every day. Museum staff and volunteers will be contributing to the website on a daily basis so you can keep current with what's new at the Museum.

• Diane Hutsell, Executive Director