Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS BY PMSS
NOTES 2005
Fall

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TAGS: Notes from the Pine Mountain Settlement School 2005 Fall, Nancy Adams, Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve, “In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun” workshop, Marc Evans, Ben Begley, Dr. Wendell Kingsolver, Matthew Boggs, Reading Camp, Community Programs, Fall Arts Weekend, Ellwood J. Carr Collection, Mosaic Community Arts project

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NOTES 2005 Fall

The NOTES – 2005 Fall issue is one of the Director Nancy Adams‘ most carefully crafted mailings of this traditional PMSS publication. It highlights the emphasis the Director placed on environmental studies during her tenure. and pays homage to the accomplished staff who maintained the programming at the School in 2005.

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GALLERY: NOTES – 2005 Fall

[quote]

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5 Fall Arts Weekend Workshops
Notes on the five (5) upcoming Fall workshops including Nature Writing taught by Erik Reece; Oil Painting taught by Larry May; Portrait Photography taught by Malcolm Wilson; Pattern Weaving taught by Pat Begley; Dry Stone Wall Construction taught by Richard Tufnell of Scotland.

Appalachian Plant Lore: The Ellwood J. Carr Collection
Describes the Planning Grant received from the Kentucky Humanities Council to process the donations associated with the  E. J. Carr Plant Center Collections. Amy McIntosh, Emily Lancaster, and Dr. David Cozzo are recognized for their important contributions.

Tile Mosaic Community Art Project
A grant from the Kentucky Arts Council and Artist Joyce Ogden of Spalding University plans a hopscotch tile work for the playground at PMSS. [See ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Stream Ecology Hopscotch Mosaic]

How Can You Help Pine Mountain Settlement School?
Outlines the methods for financial support of the institution:
Direct Cash
Contributions to the Endowment
Transfer of Stock
Bequest and Life Insurance

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TRANSCRIPTION: NOTES – 2005 Fall

P. 1

NOTES FROM
THE PINE MOUNTAIN
SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
PINE MOUNTAIN ~ HARLAN COUNTY ~ KENTUCKY
Telephone/Fax 606-558-3571
FALL 2005

[Cover photograph: “A hike through Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve up to Knobby Rocks is one of the highlights of the “In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun” workshop, led by Ben Begley, director of environmental education at Pine Mountain. Participants in the August workshop in- cluded, from left, Marc Evans, Ecology Program Manager for the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission; Nick Holland; and Dr. Wendell Kingsolver.”]

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September 2005

Dear Friends,

As I write to you, the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effects on the Gulf States is clear, but the power of the storm remains beyond comprehension. Like so many others, we pray for those who have lost loved ones and homes and think about ways we might help ease the suffering.

I am sure that in coming weeks and months, we’ll see analyses of this disaster which will include the role global warming may be playing in more intense storms. We’ll also hear more about the actions that left New Orleans so vulnerable: flood control measures and the draining of wetlands that allowed for building on land that otherwise would have been unsuitable.

For thirty-three years, the primary educational mission at Pine Mountain Settlement School has been environmental education. The natural lands serve as a classroom for students to learn about microorganisms, mammals, birds, plants, wildflowers, trees, geology and the events that led to the formation of rock. The common thread in these classes is the interdependence of ecosystems. I hope that if students learn one thing, it is that nothing exists in isolation. A single action has consequences.

In the face of immediate disasters and earth-changing climate trends, it would be easy to be discouraged about the future. To adopt that attitude, however, would be to squander the precious days we have and the opportunities to contribute to the education and well-being of children and adults, to the health of communities near and far.

It is a good time to examine our actions and way of life and the effect they have on others and on the environment. We have started to do that at Pine Mountain. Some things, like switching to energy-saving light bulbs and further limiting our use of gasoline, we can do immediately. Other initiatives are possible given time and financial resources. I hope that by being more mindful, we can better demonstrate our hopefulness and reverence for the wonders we experience here daily.

In the Spirit of Pine Mountain,
[Signed] Nancy R. Adams
Nancy Adams

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Pine Mountain Notes To Be Available by E-mail
Starting in 2006, those who would prefer to receive the Pine Mountain Notes via e-mail will be able to do so. All you need to do is send us your e-mail address. Our e-mail address is pinemountain@earthlink.net.

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Thank You to our Volunteers!

The School has been fortunate to work with our cherished long-time friends and make new friends who have helped with special projects this spring and summer. We appreciate these volunteers for sharing their time and talent.

During Little League Baseball season in April and May, community members served as coaches, umpires, and concession workers. At day camp, young people and adults helped with activities, picked up free lunches provided by Harlan County Community Action Agency, and painted the backdrop for the play performance.

Members of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference spent a week at the School in May. During their stay, the group worked to install stone steps and water bars on the summit trail, and cleared the Galax Trail on the north side of the School’s property, which had not been in use for several years.

[Photograph: “Members of the Pine Mountain Trail Conference are: Front row, from left, are: Judy Burt, Dave McDonald, Chuck Rowlands, and Bill Willis. Back row, from left, are: Joe Burt, Duane Miksch, Jack Sautter, and Chuck Hogan.”]

Abby Mouser, a senior at Madison High School in Richmond, volunteered her time this summer to help Pine Mountain staff with off-season tasks.

During her five weeks at Pine Mountain, Abby helped with cleaning of classroom equipment and the gift shop, served as a girls’ counselor at Reading Camp, and assisted with new bulletin boards in Draper Building.

[Photograph: “From left, Abby works with staff member Kellie Phelan on a new bulletin board.”]

Daisy Ray of Cumberland pieced and sewed the 2005 Reading Camp quilt. Daisy is a regular participant in our spring wildflower and fall color weekends.

We are most grateful to Helen Wykle of Asheville, NC and Ann Angel [Eberhardt] of London, Kentucky, who continue to organize the School’s archives and help with efforts to secure funds for its safekeeping.

Michael Carmack, instructor in the Industrial Technologies department at Southeast Community College in Harlan, and his students repaired Henry Creech‘s grist mill, which dates from 1889. Henry was the son of William Creech Sr., whose desire for a school and generous donation of land led to the founding of Pine Mountain Settlement School. The mill now sits on the porch of Creech Cabin.

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Matthew Boggs – From Past to Present

One of the reasons Pine Mountain is a special place is because of its employees. Several people have worked at the School for many years. No one has worked at the School longer than Matthew Boggs. He is marking his 53rd year as a Pine Mountain employee.

Matthew, now 73, is a direct link to the early history of the School. He knew Mary Rockwell Hook, architect of many of the School’s buildings. Mrs. Hook joined with William Creech Sr., Katherine Pettit, and Ethel DeLong Zande to get the school up and running.

[Photograph of Matthew Boggs]

Matthew is a soft-spoken and patient man. He oversees the School’s gardens, repairs historic furniture crafted at the School, and tends the flower beds, shrubs and apple trees.

Matthew was born on Greasy Creek at Big Laurel to Ray and Cindy Ellen Boggs. He had three brothers and three sisters. In 1956, he married May Huff and they had two children, Debbie and Don. He and his family lived on campus and his children attended Community School at Pine Mountain. “It was a great place to raise kids,” he says.

As a young man, he worked on a logging crew using crosscut saws to fell the trees and teams of horses to pull them out of the forest.

In 1951 he was hired at Pine Mountain as maintenance staff, but soon transferred to the farm. Together with Bill Hayes, longtime farm manager, they milked cows twice a day, took care of large gardens, and looked after chickens. At that time, Pine Mountain took eggs that the School didn’t need to Harlan to sell. Twice a week, Matthew would crate 12 cases of eggs, 30 dozen to the case, and take them over the mountain. Pine Mountain eggs were popular; people would line up early outside Turner’s Store waiting to buy them.

In the mid-50s, the School closed its dairy operation and Matthew once again joined the maintenance staff. One of his jobs was to cut timber, most often maple, to sell to Intermountain Lumber Company. He also worked with part-time maintenance worker Gib Lewis, to repair chairs and tables, a job he especially enjoyed.

A short time later, when the School was having trouble finding a night watchman, he was asked to take on that position. For 30 years, he worked the night shift – patrolling the grounds and taking care of problems.

His work world was filled with night sounds, of foxes barking and owls calling. He was witness to spectacular night skies. As day broke, he was…

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…treated to the morning opera of birdsong as he calls it.

In the 1980s, the School’s director, Paul Hayes, asked him to work with Mary Rogers and Afton Garrison on the environmental education staff. His knowledge of nature grew out of his experience on the logging crew and from growing up in the mountains. “If you walk out into the woods, it is a book,” he says.

Since 1990, Matthew has worked on the garden staff and in the woodshop. He continues to teach woodcarving to School visitors and volunteers his time to teach a weekly woodcarving class for the community. His beautiful carvings serve as models and inspiration to the students.

In 1998, Matthew suffered a terrible accident. While mowing his lawn, the riding mower overturned, leaving him pinned beneath it in a shallow stream. He lay there for 22 hours, his dog Monday by his side, until his grandson arrived and called for help. His right arm was seriously injured and he spent months in treatment and rehabilitation to gain some use. He was right-handed so he had to train himself to use his left hand. He devised clever ways and tools to compensate for the weakness of his right hand.

Matthew is always eager to share stories and to answer questions, whether the questions come from students, visitors or co-workers. This summer in the garden, he was asked about when to plant corn. He remembered that his grandmother’s advice on that subject was: “When oak leaves get as big as a mouse’s ear” and “When you hear the first whippoorwill holler in the spring.” While Matthew enjoys the sayings, he never plants corn until after May 10, the last frost date for the Pine Mountain area.

The success of Pine Mountain’s gardens can be traced to the care with which Matthew treats the plants from seedling stage until time for harvest and to the hard work of his crew. On his days off, it is not uncommon for Matthew to go to the greenhouse to check on his vegetable plants. He employs good soil management by sowing cover crops in the fall, adding composted leaves in the spring, and rotating crops. During the growing season, he and his staff are constantly thinking of ways to discourage crows, rabbits, opossums, and deer from damaging the plants and eating the vegetables.

Matthew has a knack for establishing a rapport with visitors. This, he says, is his policy: “Treat people like you want to be treated. You’ll be alright.”

To Matthew, we say: Thank you a thousand times for your many years of service to Pine Mountain. We look forward to more memorable days with you.

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Reading Camp – Where Learning is a Mountain of Fun

In mid-July, most students are enjoying a break from school. They play video games, go swimming, hang out with friends. But at Pine Mountain Settlement School, a group of 38 third and fourth graders from southeast Kentucky chose to buckle down with books for a weeklong camp designed to improve reading skills.

[Photograph: Group of third and fourth graders from southeast Kentucky who attended Reading Camp at PMSS.]

The students spent their mornings in the library, in colorful learning centers, where they sat on carpet squares and worked with reading specialists. They concentrated on the building blocks of reading: phonics, strategies for word recognition and comprehension. They stretched their imaginations in creative writing and read aloud to teachers and volunteers. Small groups allowed the teaching staff to accommodate individual learning styles.

Sara Meekins, teacher coordinator, says she and her staff strive to mix learning and fun. “The setting and the teaching materials are new to the children. Each child is helped to read books of their choosing, encouraged to develop a love of reading, and given tools for reading proficiency. The children receive personal attention in a ‘failure-free’ setting.”

After lunch, groups headed out in all directions to take advantage of the many activities available to them in the streams, fields and woods that surround the school. Settlement School staff led classes in stream ecology, bird watching, orienteering, pioneer history and Native American culture.

[Sidebar] Four years ago, the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington established a program at its Cathedral Domain camp near Richmond, Kentucky to help struggling or reluctant readers improve their literacy skills and become more confident students. Studies have found that reading skills are closely related to success in other subjects and open doors to greater opportunities later in life. The program has expanded to include camps in Danville, Hazard, Lexington, and Pine Mountain.

Pine Mountain Settlement School staff work with the Diocese on planning and fundraising for the Harlan County camp by recruiting students, processing forms, and providing teachers for afternoon classes and some evening activities. The staff also works with Christ Church in Harlan and Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation and sorority chapters to recruit volunteers to serve as teachers and counselors.

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Special activities included a professional clown whose performance mixed magic tricks with an underlying message about the importance of reading. Harlan native George Ella Lyon and Nancy Kelly Allen of Hazard, both authors of children’s books, shared how their love of books led to careers in writing.

[Photograph of a young woman seated before and talking to two students.]

Linda Reeves of Versailles, one of the camp directors, said that students leave with a fresh enthusiasm for reading. Students, however, are not the only ones who benefit. Teachers and volunteers leave with a deeper appreciation for the efforts of students and their willingness to work hard to master important skills.

[Photograph: Four children standing at the edge of a muddy creek.]

“We’ve made a lot of young friends that we care deeply for. We’ve grown to love this mountain, and in years to come, we hope to hear wonderful news of the children and the paths they’ve taken.”

In 1913, William “Uncle William” Creech Sr., a founder of the Pine Mountain Settlement School, had a lofty vision for the children of the Kentucky mountains. He wanted them to have opportunities to learn and become “a bright and intelligent people.”

Linda Reeves said, “If we have had any part in carrying on Uncle William’s dream, we are honored.”

[Photograph of a mural, balloons, and decorated table: “Because the theme for the camp was ‘Circus on the Mountain,’ the library’s reading centers bore little resemblance to a typical classroom.”]

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Pine Mountain Reunions

[Three photographs: “(Top left) Alumni enjoy catching up on news and sharing stories during Homecoming. (Top right) Harold Caudill (Class of 1949) and his wife Dottie made the trip from their Florida home for the Alumni Homecoming. (Photos courtesy of Brian K. Caudill.)” (Above) Harold Lewis, who attended Community School, enjoyed folk dancing with his daughter Debbie Napier.]” (Photo courtesy of the Harlan Daily Enterprise.)

Every summer, we are happy to welcome back former students and alumni from the days when Pine Mountain operated as a boarding school and community school. The stories from these students inspire and amuse us. Their experience here is part of the rich heritage of this institution.

On the weekend of Aug. 13 and 14, nearly 70 people attended the annual Homecoming of the Pine Mountain Association of Alumni and Friends. They enjoyed meals, music, and stories. These students represent the boarding school era of the school, which ended in 1949.

On Sept. 3, more than 100 former students, teachers and their families attended the annual Pine Mountain Community School Reunion. The Community School served students in the Pine Mountain area from 1949 through 1972. Participants enjoyed good food, folk dancing, pitching horseshoes and reminiscing with classmates.

If you missed this year’s reunions, mark your calendar for next year. The Association of Alumni and Friends Homecoming is scheduled for Aug. 11 through 13. The Community School reunion will be Sept. 2.

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[Sidebar] Group Retreats at Pine Mountain

One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is: “Do you allow groups to come to Pine Mountain for retreats?” The answer is yes.

Every year, we serve as hosts for church groups, educational conferences, and arts- oriented retreats. For adult groups, we can accommodate up to 40 people comfortably. We have small and large meeting rooms. If you would like more information, you may call Deb Callahan in the office at (606) 558-3571.

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P. 10

Appalachian Plant Lore: the Ellwood J. Carr Collection

In 1985, Pine Mountain Settlement School was the recipient of Ellwood J. Carr‘s plant collection; personal notebooks; 20,000 slides; 1,000 books; and sound recordings of his lectures. Known to many as “Bud,” Mr. Carr was widely recognized as an authority of edible and medicinal plants.

Mr. Carr was associated with the Living Arts and Science Center in Lexington, Kentucky; the National Audubon Society; and the Kentucky Society of Natural History. He also served as naturalist at Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary in Frankfort. In 1976, he was named Kentucky’s Naturalist of the Year. In the 1970s and ’80s, he led workshops and programs relating to the enthnobotany of Appalachia. He led annual workshops on medicinal and edible plants at the Settlement School. After suffering a stroke in 1985, Mr. Carr was not able to continue his workshops and programs. He died this spring in Lexington.

In June, Pine Mountain received a planning grant from the Kentucky Humanities Council to assess the collection and begin to organize, preserve and outline ways the collection could be used for public education. Dr. David Cozzo, a specialist in ethnobotany of the southern Appalachians, met with staff and volunteers to direct the planning process. Emily Lancaster, a 2005 graduate of University of North Carolina, began the tedious process of cataloguing thousands of slides. Amy McIntosh, a graduate student at Eastern Kentucky University, started on an inventory of 30 notebooks which contain articles on a range of subjects including the decline of the country store and pages of recipes using native plants. Amy is putting together a digital presentation of Mr. Carr’s life and his study of the uses of native plants, which will be shown to the public. Tentative completion date is October 2005.

[Photograph: “From left: Emily Lancaster and Amy McIntosh take inventory of the Ellwood J. Carr collection of notebooks and slides.”]

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[Sidebar] Tile Mosaic Community Art Project

Thanks to a grant from the Kentucky Arts Council, Pine Mountain Settlement School will soon be the site of a tile mosaic outdoor art installation! The installation is tied in with a county-wide project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation which seeks to build communities through participation in the arts. Harlan County projects include building tile mosaic structures, photographing local images, collecting oral histories which will be the basis of a play to be produced in October. Joyce Ogden, associate professor of art at Spalding University, and Larry May, a noted painter from nearby Benham, Kentucky guide the PMSS project. They have met with PMSS staff and local teens to develop ideas for types of structures and possible sites for the installation. It is our hope that the local community will join with these young people to help with making tiles and placing them on the structure. If you are interested in participating in this project, please call Mary Dresser at (606) 558-3586.

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How you can help Pine Mountain Settlement School

Since its founding 92 years ago, Pine Mountain Settlement School has served as an educational and community center. The School and its programs are supported by earned income, contributions, public and private grants, and an endowment.

We welcome your financial support of Pine Mountain. If you want to make a contribution, you may choose from several options: a direct contribution, a contribution to the endowment, and transfer of stock. You might also consider naming Pine Mountain in a bequest or life insurance policy.

Contributions. Direct cash contributions support the Settlement School’s on- going program and help to maintain its historic buildings and archives. The School is a non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax-exempt to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Contributions to the Endowment. Gifts to the endowment help to create a secure future for Pine Mountain Settlement School. The endowment is managed so that it provides interest income while the principle is protected and allowed to increase.

Transfer of Stock. Stocks can be transferred directly to the endowment. Gifts of stock are normally tax deductible for the value on the date they were given. A gift of stocks can provide a tax advantage for the donor. Please contact Pine Mountain before you transfer stock so that we can complete the required paperwork.

Bequests and Life Insurance. One of the most generous and enduring gifts is to remember Pine Mountain in your will or to list it as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.

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[Sidebar] Needs List

From time to time, Pine Mountain has needs that fall outside the regular operating budget. Those interested in helping with these items may contribute part or all of the cost.

Blankets – $20.00
Commercial stove – $3,000.00
Bird feeders – $100.00 to $200.00
Printer for Environmental Education department – $200.00
Stained glass equipment – $100.00
Plastic mammal skulls – $20.00 to $300.00
Reptile and amphibian room equipment – $25.00 to $200.00
Commercial lawn mower – $5,000.00
Auto-folding machine for Office – $600.00

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P. 12

2006 Calendar of Events

Wildflower Weekend    April 21-23
Black Mountain Weekend    May 5-7
In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun      June 7-11
Reading Camp     July 9-15
Community Day Camp K-6th    June 12-16
Community Day Camp 7-12th    June 19-22
Alumni Homecoming    Aug. 11-13
In Search of Wild Mushrooms    Aug. 18-20 (tentative date)
Rags to Rugs Weaving Workshop    Aug. 18-20 (tentative date)
Quilting Workshop    Aug. 18-20 (tentative date)
In the Footsteps of Lucy Braun    Aug. 23-27
Weaving for Beginners    Aug. 25-27
Fair Day     Aug. 27
Community School Reunion    Sept. 2
Fall Arts & Crafts Weekend    Oct. 13-15
Fall Color Weekend    Oct. 20-22
Nativity Play    Dec. 17
Preservation Schools    (to be announced)

You can keep up with Pine Mountain news on our website: www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com

To make reservations for events or to receive information,
please call between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The telephone numbers are:
(606) 558-3571 or 558-3542.

You may also write to:
Weekend Coordinator
Pine Mountain Settlement School
36 HWY 510
Pine Mountain, KY 40810-8289
or e-mail: pinemountain@earthlink.net.

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Previous:
NOTES – 2004
Next:
NOTES – 2006 [Missing]
NOTES – 2007 Fall

See Also:
E. J. CARR PLANT CENTER Guide
MATTHEW BOGGS Student, Staff – Biography
EMMA LUCY BRAUN Visitor – Biography
EVENTS ANNUAL Fall Color Weekend 2005

Return To:
NOTES Index