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Rural HillWhere History Springs Alive

P.O. Box 1009Huntersville, NC 280704431 Neck RoadHuntersville, NC 28078704-875-3113www.ruralhill.netoffice@ruralhill.net

Facilitated in cooperation with

Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation

Winter Newsletter 2016

Jeff’s CornerK. Franklin photo

Spring is in the air and we could not be more excited.Our winter season began with our annual First Footin’event and we welcomed future brides to our annualbridal show. We continued with planning andpreparation for coming events.

We can not begin to express our gratitude for theoutpouring of support for Rural Hill and our fundraisingefforts. We are now more than halfway to ourfundraising goal! Details of our Go Fund Me Campaignare on page 2 of this edition. We are greatlyencouraged and are focused on additional ways togenerate revenue, plan for our incredible spring events,and hope for perfect weather in 2016.

Spring will be a season full of activity including ourhallmark Scottish Festival and Loch Norman HighlandGames and the increasingly popular North CarolinaBrewers and MusicFestival. See our fullCalendar of Events tothe left!

Support where youcan. Visit where youcan. Hope to see youon the farm!

Mark Your Calendars!Community Egg Hunt

March 26

Spring Food Truck Rally

April 2

Wood-Fired Oven Build

April 2 & 3

Family Movie Night “Brave”

April 9

Scottish Festival and

Loch Norman Highland Games

April 16 & 17

Purina Bark in the Park

April 30

North Carolina Brewers andMusic Festival

May 6 & 7

Warrior Dash

June 4

One of the best shows of its type in the East.

For bagpipe fanatics, there were 400 pipers atopening ceremonies. Many re-anactors,

vendors, athletics, music and entertainment,food, you name it. Search your Scottish roots

too. - Posted on TripAdvisor

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 2

gofundme.com/RURALHILL

C’mon friends of Rural Hill! I helped out lastmonth and will likely add to it this month

again. Best of luck in the New Year, RuralHill! - Debbie S. M. via Facebook

Last fall our most profitable annual event, The Amazing Maize Maze, was victim to arecord drought. The drought forced us to cancel weeks of the Maze and then whenthe rain finally DID come, more weekends of the Maze had to be cancelled. Otherevents such as our Fall Food Truck Rally and Sheepdog Trials were rained on aswell, greatly affecting attendance. This has been devastating to our operatingbudget.

Please help us raise the $100,000 we need to continue operating as a farm, as ahistorical and cultural center, and as a place for your family to come enjoy for yearsto come. Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to saving Rural Hill (a 501-c3non-profit organization) from a crippling year.

The cows got to participate in aprom proposal this March!

Did you know that we are a working farm? This is Freddie.He and Eric keep our 265-acres of land pristine!

In the NewsOur Educational Director, Zac Vinson, was included in awonderful article from the Arts and Science Council. “CulturalFieldtrips Create Lifelong Memories” by Amy Mitchell,Communications Manager at the ASC, addresses theimportance of the field trip experience in cultural exposure forstudents and the impact made.

“Cultural field trips can also open students’ eyes to careers

they may not have considered,” said Zac Vinson, director of

education at Historic Rural Hill. Vinson credits a field trip to

the Schiele Museum in Gastonia as the event that shaped who

he is today.

He still remembers a man dressed in buckskin clothing, with

long hair and a black beard, made a spear point from a piece

of flint.

“The American Indians and early pioneer settlers were always my favorite things to readabout,” he said. “And to see this man was a revelation to me. Here was a realembodiment of all my long-dead heroes, talking to my class. I am often struck with thenotion that had I not been on that field trip and seen that man, then I would be doingsomething entirely different.”

Now we know a bit more about Zac and what drives him to create the learningexperiences we offer here at Historic Rural Hill. Thank you, Zac, for making a difference inthe lives of young people. And thank you, ASC, for helping to keep fieldtrip opportunitiesavailable for our area students.

Good job Freddie!!! Keep upthe hard work. - Kristen K.

via Facebook

Around the Farm

Scenes from WinterFirst Footin’

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 4

Thank you to The Charlotte Observer for thegreat coverage of our First Footin’ Event. Seethe entire photo gallery atwww.charlotteobserver.com

On New Year’s Day we celebrated the Scottish New Year tradition of walkingthe borders of the Rural Hill property, hosted the First Footin’ 5 Mile TrailRun, and enjoyed the dramatic reading of the story“Stone Soup” before our community luncheon. Theweather was great as we gathered together. Weloved seeing familiar faces along with new friends aswe ushered in 2016! Thank you to all who attendedand those who volunteered to make it all possible!

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 5

Our Third Annual Sip & Seek Bridal Show was held thefirst weekend in March. Our largest and best show yet,we had approximately 400 guests attend! We connectedbrides-to-be with 31 vendors including Elite PrivateBartenders, The Wow Factor Cakes, Roots Farm Food,Jimmy Blooms- Floral and Gift Design, La Goûteuse, ThePremier Concierge, The Whimsical Rose, Honeymoons,Inc., Lisa Pleasant Events, MARY KAY, BAREskin, StefanieHaviv Photography, Little Dreamer Productions, and BIGLOVE WEDDINGS (photo, top). Photos courtesy ofSimply Couture Photo.

“I love connecting brides with all the vendors that canhelp make their special day happen,” commented ourevent coordinator Lauren Petervary. “My favorite part ofwedding coordination is making it simple for the brideand groom so they can focus on each other and knowthat all the little details are being covered for them!”

Needless to say, Rural Hill and our Cultural Center willhave a busy wedding season! Thank you to everyonewho came out and contributed to the success of ourBridal event!

Such a great day! Thank you so much forbringing all of the wonderful vendors toone place. - Shelley R. via Facebook

We got married in May 2015 and it wasstunning! Lauren was exceptional to workwith and the whole staff made it effortless.I highly recommend! - Jean M. viaFacebook

Sip & Seek Bridal Show

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 6

The Historic Rural Hill Cultural Center continues to grow in its popularity forweddings, rehearsal dinners, and other special occasions and retreats. The rusticatmosphere of the venue offers a unique combination of vast outdoor spaces andinviting indoor comforts.

The 2000 square foot May Davidson Hall accommodates up to 200 guests forcocktail style receptions and there are options to expand the space and guestcapacity with the covered patio and tent annex. The decorative and functionalfinishings include aptly appointed restrooms, a generous catering kitchen,pleasing architecture of soaring barn-style rafters with ironwork chandeliers, abarn door opening to the west end covered patio (perfect for admiring the sunset),four sets of French doors leading to the wraparound brick walkway, and turn-keyaudio/visual amenities.

Don’t miss securing the date for your special occasion at the Historic Rural HillCultural Center. Contact our private events director Lauren Petervary to schedule apersonal tour. Call 704-875-3113 or email Lauren@ruralhill.net.

Weddings and Events at

Historic Rural Hill

Learn how to build your own backyard Wood-FiredOven during a fun filled and educational two dayseminar to be held April 2 & 3!

Wood-fired ovens (also known as beehive, cob,masonry, stone, or brick ovens) are ovens that usewood fuel for cooking. We will be constructing a“Black Oven” in the common “beehive” form ofconstruction. Black ovens are heated by burningwood in a chamber. Food is cooked in that samechamber while the fire is still going, or in the heated chamber after the fire and coalshave been swept out. These ovens are typically seen outdoors, date back to the middleages of Europe and make a perfect addition to your backyard cooking experience!

This class will be taught both days from 9:30 AM - 3 PM by Roy Pickett, Director of theRural Hill Cabin Crew and Rural Hill Blacksmith. Students will work alongside Roy andhelp construct an oven onsite for future use at Rural Hill events and programs. Comeprepared to get dirty, work with your hands, stomp mud with your feet, and learn howyou and your family can make your own backyard an outdoor cooking destination!

Tickets are $22.39 per individual (includes taxes and fees). Discounts areavailable for couples and groups! Get details and register at www.ruralhill.net

Wood-Fired Oven Build

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 7

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 8

Rural Hill Scottish Festival and

Loch Norman Highland Games

April 16 & 17

Tickets on

Sale Now!

lochnorman.com

Our Scottish Festival and Loch NormanHighland Games are on the cover of thismonth’s Destination Magazine!

Rural Hill

Living History Fund

With funds raised dedicated to the restoration andsupport of this historic site and its heritage, we canmaintain and expand the incredible offerings Rural Hillprovides through living history for its thousands ofvisitors annually.

While all donations are greatly appreciated and taxdeductible, becoming a donor has a variety of benefitsassociated with your generous gift. Variousmemberships are available and you can lend yoursupport with a one time gift or a three year pledge.

Through your support, we can keep history alive!

Please consider the Rural Hill Living HistoryFund for your annual charitable giving. Visitus at www.ruralhill.net for easy, secureonline giving.

Give online at

www.ruralhill.net

Volunteer at Historic

Rural Hill

Historic Rural Hill’s events existbecause of the generous andenthusiastic support of volunteers.

For more information onvolunteering, please contact usat (704) 875-3113 or connect withus on Facebook.

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 9

Historic Rural Hill Piper - Winter 2016 - Page 10

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Celebrating more than 250 years in history…

Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties FordRoad) in Huntersville, 28078. The former homestead ofMajor John and Violet Davidson, the 265 acre site ismaintained andpromoted by HistoricRural Hill Inc. andfeatures annualevents such as the

Rural Hill Scottish

Festival and LochNorman HighlandGames, the Rural Hill

Amazing Maize Maze,

the Rural HillSheepdog Trials, andthe NC Brewers and Music Festival. Historic Rural Hill Inc.

is a non-profit organization supported through

membership and donations, and with proceeds from itsevents utilized for the preservation of Historic Rural Hill

and its education efforts. For more information onevents or for financial support accepted securely online,

please visit

www.ruralhill.net

Board of Directors

Robert G. McIntosh, Chair

Jim Puckett, Vice Chair

Sam Fuller, Secretary

Brent Lewis, Treasurer

Maurice D. McIntosh

Sarah Belk Gambrell

Beth Eakes Martina

John Cherry

Henry Mummaw

LD Bass

Danny Phillips

Duncan McFadyen

Matthew Cooper

Staff

Jeff Fissel, Executive Director

Zac Vinson, Education Director

Lauren Petervary, Private EventsDirector

Jessica Bustamante, Controller

Michelle Barbeau, DevelopmentDirector

Freddie Brown, Farm Manager

Eric Ferguson, Farm Operations

Carolyn Campbell,Administrative Assistant

Mission

An educational organization thatprovides for recognizing,celebrating and preserving therich heritage of Rural Hill.