The Washington County, TN Heritage Fair takesplace Friday, September 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.and Saturday, September 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. indowntown Jonesborough. This event’s purpose is to bringlocal heritage engagement to the public as well as bring together allof the county’s heritage groups.

Heritage organizations and individuals withspecific heritage topic interests will display exhibits on theirareas of local interest in the Jonesborough Visitors Center Auditorium. 

A ‘Living History Timeline’ will be displayed throughout the town ofJonesborough’s greenspaces and parks including artisans, musicians andcraftsmen/craftswomen.

Antiquetractors will be showcased in the greenspace outside the Jonesborough VisitorsCenter. The Heritage Alliance will also host two town tours duringthe event, costing $5 (one on Friday and one on Saturday), and Old JonesboroughCemetery tour on Saturday, costing $5. The Central Christian Church Lawn willbe turned into Artisans Village with a basket weaver and chairmaker,Herbalachia, and a pottery maker. Sabine Social Society will host colonialdancing and games in front of the Christopher Taylor Cabin. Storytelling Parkwill have a ‘History Timeline’ dating from Colonial Period to WWII includingCherokee history and diorama, Overmountain Men and Longhunters, Revolutionarymilitary display and Women's Suffrage. 

Schoolor homeschool groups are welcome to attend the fair on Friday,September 2 during the School Day event. If they would like a scheduled day ofevents with links to particular curriculum needs, contact ChadBailey at 423.791.8295.

Moreinformation can be found at jgstn.org/annual-heritage-fair/ orcall Chad Bailey at 423.791.8295.  

The Washington County, TN Heritage Fair takesplace Friday, September 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.and Saturday, September 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. indowntown Jonesborough. This event’s purpose is to bringlocal heritage engagement to the public as well as bring together allof the county’s heritage groups.

Heritage organizations and individuals withspecific heritage topic interests will display exhibits on theirareas of local interest in the Jonesborough Visitors Center Auditorium. 

A ‘Living History Timeline’ will be displayed throughout the town ofJonesborough’s greenspaces and parks including artisans, musicians andcraftsmen/craftswomen.

Antiquetractors will be showcased in the greenspace outside the Jonesborough VisitorsCenter. The Heritage Alliance will also host two town tours duringthe event, costing $5 (one on Friday and one on Saturday), and Old JonesboroughCemetery tour on Saturday, costing $5. The Central Christian Church Lawn willbe turned into Artisans Village with a basket weaver and chairmaker,Herbalachia, and a pottery maker. Sabine Social Society will host colonialdancing and games in front of the Christopher Taylor Cabin. Storytelling Parkwill have a ‘History Timeline’ dating from Colonial Period to WWII includingCherokee history and diorama, Overmountain Men and Longhunters, Revolutionarymilitary display and Women's Suffrage. 

Schoolor homeschool groups are welcome to attend the fair on Friday,September 2 during the School Day event. If they would like a scheduled day ofevents with links to particular curriculum needs, contact ChadBailey at 423.791.8295.

Moreinformation can be found at jgstn.org/annual-heritage-fair/ orcall Chad Bailey at 423.791.8295.  

Conversations That Matter will host another event in their series this September. In this upcoming “Conversation,” hear from local artists Ren Allen and Jason Flack. This conversation will be moderated by McKinney Center Advisory Board Members and friends of the McKinney Center, Michelle Treece and Brittany Butler. It will take place via Zoom on September 8, at 7pm. Register at McKinneyCenter.com.
Ren Allen lives and works in the mountains of East Tennessee where she’s surrounded by nature’s beauty every day. This makes gardening an interesting proposition at her wee cottage tucked between a historic district and a cemetery. Her work as a full-time makeup artist and body painter takes her to many interesting places with other creative humans. She has spent 21 years exploring the ways that this art form can transform humans, not only for film/commercial purposes, but for important events and celebrations.
Jason Flack is an “Urban Folk” & pop-artist, speaker and native of Johnson City, Tennessee. His work has been heavily influenced by personal life experiences as well as many cartoons, comic books and music. He has been drawing for over 30 years, painting for over 10 and has entrenched himself in an all-things-art lifestyle being a part of local art advocacy and bridging the gap between self-taught and academia. He was called to start painting after the sudden death of his twin sister, Jessica, in 2010. His work elicits energy by using bright colors surrounded by bold black lines. Since the beginning, he has used painting as therapy to direct grief into movement, thoughtfulness and to hold a mirror up to society. He is influenced by the work of many artists including Mike Judge, Margaret Kilgallen✝, Ed Roth✝, Genndy Tartakovsky and two major inspirations; Keith Haring✝ & Jean-Michel Basquiat✝.
Supported by a grant from the East Tennessee Foundation, “Conversations that Matter” is a monthly series produced by the McKinney Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee. In each “Conversation” two local guests from different backgrounds (age, race, religion, culture, etc.) explore their own culture and perspective, and talk to each other about what makes them unique, discover their similarities, and explore their differences. They will look at where their lives might intersect personally and in the community. The goal of each “Conversation that Matters” is for guests and participants to hear real stories, from real neighbors.
This monthly series is inspired by the Diversity & Equity Subcommittee at the McKinney Center, and their desire to highlight the experiences of all voices in Washington County, Tennessee, with an intention to include marginalized groups. By showcasing these conversations, the Diversity & Equity subcommittee hopes to open doors to new ideas and perspectives amongst our very own neighbors. Questions such as, “What was your experience in grade-school and how did that make you feel?” or, “Have you experienced exclusion or racism?” For many of us the answers are different and unique. The McKinney Center believes it is time to talk about our experiences and share them.
There is value in uplifting these stories so that we may learn from one another. Then, after hearing from one another our moderators and guest conversationalists will give insight on how to move forward.

Opening to the public on Friday, September 9, theMcKinney Center’s next installment of its artist exhibition series will featureartist Nancy Jane Ernest.  The exhibitionreception will take place on Friday, September 9, 5-7pm, during which timeattendees may meet and talk with the artist. This free exhibition will be on display through Friday, October 14.

Nancy Jane Earnest is anative of Elizabethton, Tennessee and a current resident of Johnson City,

earned her Master of FineArts degree in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing from East Tennessee StateUniversity, which ultimately led to a fulfilling career as a goldsmith forseveral regional jewelers. But she has always had a pencil, crayon, orpaintbrush in her hand since before she can remember.

Predominately self-taughtas an artist until her graduate work at ETSU, she continued exploring the manyfacets of two-and three-dimensional art with several well-known artist/teachersin workshops both foreign and domestic. One of her fondest memories is paintingin Monet’s Garden at Giverny. A “tri-cornered creative,” as she calls herself,Nancy Jane is also a musician and writer. She plays several musical instrumentsand is currently studying the harp. In addition to her previously publishedbook of poetry, “Kitchen Zen and Now,” a book of humorous essays is a currentproject.

“Nature’s Faces…SacredSpaces” showcases a number of oil on canvas paintings, her process of choice atthis point in time. You will find several paintings executed with a paletteknife. This method of painting with oils directly out of the tube is like“spreading icing on a cake,” she says. Characteristic of her palette knife workis a highly textured alla primapainting surface, meaning that each stroke is part of the final painting. Shealso attains an incredibly tactile surface in other pieces by applyingprogressive layers of paint to an already dry rendering, capturing thejewel-like atmospheric quality often found in her garden paintings.

In stark contrast, shehas recently been experimenting with alcohol ink, which is a highly pigmentedand fluid medium much like watercolor. The ink is flowed onto a surface ofpaper-like synthetic material that is non-absorbent, allowing her to manipulatethe ink in many different ways. Alcohol ink’s brilliant color is an amazingcharacteristic of the medium.

During the Covid crisisand ensuing lockdown, Nancy Jane produced a large body of art, many pieces ofwhich you will see at the McKinney Center. Owing to her early and continuingfascination with the human face and the beginning of her portrait painting at avery early age, she has included portraits and figures in this exhibit.“Nature’s Faces...Sacred Spaces,” is a celebration of people and landscapesthat have sparked her creative spirit and speak to her of her East Tennesseeroots.

Artwork on displaywill also be available for sale.

For moreinformation you may contact the McKinney Center, 423.753.0562. 

In 1820, Elihu Embree published hisnewspaper The Emancipator on MainStreet, Jonesborough. The seven edition paper is the first publicationdedicated solely to the cause of abolitionism. Embree passed away in Decemberof 1820. Even though the paper was short-lived, The Emancipator had over 2,000 subscribers and its reach went allthe way to Boston and Philadelphia. In spite of his abolitionist beliefs,Embree himself was an enslaver. Nancy was an enslaved woman owned by ElihuEmbree, and her story will be shared at the Telford Ruritan Club on Saturday,September 10^th in the original play entitled “Nancy.”

Written by Anne G’Fellers-Mason,Executive Director of the Heritage Alliance, “Nancy” follows a year in thewoman’s life, from January 1820 when Elihu Embree wrote his will to January1821 when his will was read before the Washington County court. In his will,Embree tried to free Nancy and her five children, but were his wishes carriedout? What was Nancy feeling and thinking during this time? The play is based onprimary research relying heavily on documents from the Washington CountyArchives. The role of Nancy will be performed by local actress Ubunibi-Afia Short.“Nancy” won an Award of Excellence from the Tennessee Association of Museumsand an Award for History in the Media from the East Tennessee HistoricalSociety. The show has been performed twice in the region to sold-out crowds. Donot miss your chance to see this powerful performance. These performances wereoriginally scheduled for June 25^th, but they had to be postponed dueto health reasons.

“It is an honor to bring the show tothe stage at the Telford Ruritan Club,” Mason says. “The Heritage Alliance isall about making connections with our community, and we are so glad we can dothat through Nancy’s story. We have performed this play in the Sarah SevierMemorial Chapel at the Embree House Historic Farm and on a stair landing atHarris Hall at Washington College Academy. Nancy’s story can be shared justabout anywhere. This time, we’re taking to the stage in the old, schoolauditorium. ”

There will be two performances onSeptember 10^th at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm. The show is a fundraiser for theTelford Ruritan Club and the Heritage Alliance. The show will be performedonstage in the old Telford School located at 101 Telford School Road. Ticketsare $15.00 and can be purchased directly through the Town of Jonesborough’sticketing system at Jonesborough.com/tickets or by calling theJonesborough Visitor’s Center at 423.753.1010. Seating is limited to only 50people per performance, so make sure you purchase your tickets in advance.

The Heritage Alliance is dedicated tothe preservation of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of ourregion and to providing educational experiences related to history and heritagefor a wide range of audiences. For more information, visit our website at heritageall.orgor call our office at 423.753.9580.

The Telford Ruritan Club has beenserving their community since 1961. They host a BBQ supper on the second Fridayof every month. They support various organizations including Wreaths AcrossAmerica, Tilted Tavern Animal Sanctuary, and St. Jude’s Second Harvest FoodBank. They maintain a Little Lending Library, a Community Produce Stand, and aroadside food pantry box at their site. 

In 1820, Elihu Embree published hisnewspaper The Emancipator on MainStreet, Jonesborough. The seven edition paper is the first publicationdedicated solely to the cause of abolitionism. Embree passed away in Decemberof 1820. Even though the paper was short-lived, The Emancipator had over 2,000 subscribers and its reach went allthe way to Boston and Philadelphia. In spite of his abolitionist beliefs,Embree himself was an enslaver. Nancy was an enslaved woman owned by ElihuEmbree, and her story will be shared at the Telford Ruritan Club on Saturday,September 10^th in the original play entitled “Nancy.”

Written by Anne G’Fellers-Mason,Executive Director of the Heritage Alliance, “Nancy” follows a year in thewoman’s life, from January 1820 when Elihu Embree wrote his will to January1821 when his will was read before the Washington County court. In his will,Embree tried to free Nancy and her five children, but were his wishes carriedout? What was Nancy feeling and thinking during this time? The play is based onprimary research relying heavily on documents from the Washington CountyArchives. The role of Nancy will be performed by local actress Ubunibi-Afia Short.“Nancy” won an Award of Excellence from the Tennessee Association of Museumsand an Award for History in the Media from the East Tennessee HistoricalSociety. The show has been performed twice in the region to sold-out crowds. Donot miss your chance to see this powerful performance. These performances wereoriginally scheduled for June 25^th, but they had to be postponed dueto health reasons.

“It is an honor to bring the show tothe stage at the Telford Ruritan Club,” Mason says. “The Heritage Alliance isall about making connections with our community, and we are so glad we can dothat through Nancy’s story. We have performed this play in the Sarah SevierMemorial Chapel at the Embree House Historic Farm and on a stair landing atHarris Hall at Washington College Academy. Nancy’s story can be shared justabout anywhere. This time, we’re taking to the stage in the old, schoolauditorium. ”

There will be two performances onSeptember 10^th at 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm. The show is a fundraiser for theTelford Ruritan Club and the Heritage Alliance. The show will be performedonstage in the old Telford School located at 101 Telford School Road. Ticketsare $15.00 and can be purchased directly through the Town of Jonesborough’sticketing system at Jonesborough.com/tickets or by calling theJonesborough Visitor’s Center at 423.753.1010. Seating is limited to only 50people per performance, so make sure you purchase your tickets in advance.

The Heritage Alliance is dedicated tothe preservation of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of ourregion and to providing educational experiences related to history and heritagefor a wide range of audiences. For more information, visit our website at heritageall.orgor call our office at 423.753.9580.

The Telford Ruritan Club has beenserving their community since 1961. They host a BBQ supper on the second Fridayof every month. They support various organizations including Wreaths AcrossAmerica, Tilted Tavern Animal Sanctuary, and St. Jude’s Second Harvest FoodBank. They maintain a Little Lending Library, a Community Produce Stand, and aroadside food pantry box at their site. 

This month’s History Happy Hour features retired historyteacher Leonard Pipitone and his collection and knowledge all about inventorextraordinaire Thomas Edison!

Mr.Pipitone’s presentation is entitled “Thomas Alva Edison and the Origins ofRecorded Sound.”  Originally from California, Mr. Pipitone’s sideline has been researchingeverything Edison and collecting early phonographs and music for over fortyyears.  He is a current, long-time member of the Antique PhonographSociety and a former member of the London Phonograph Society. “Thomas AlvaEdison and the Origins of Recorded Sound” is a glimpse into the greatinventor’s process, from the accidental discovery that spawned the first“Talking Machine” through the development of the later phonographs which wouldchange the world of entertainment forever. In addition to his knowledge, Mr.Pipitone will be bringing several phonographs as well as cylinder and discrecords representative of popular music styles and themes from the 1880sthrough the 1920s.

Theprogram will take place at the International Storytelling Center at 6:30 pm onThursday, September 15^th. The program is free and open to thepublic. The presentation will also be livestreamed to the Chester Inn Museum’sFacebook page.

This project is funded under an agreement with the TennesseeDepartment of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Historical Commission. For more information on the Chester Inn Museum, History HappyHour, or the Heritage Alliance please call our office at 423.753.9580 or theChester Inn Museum at 423.753.4580.  Youcan also contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Additional information about the HeritageAlliance and its mission can be found online at http://www.heritageall.org/.Be sure to follow the Chester Inn and Heritage Alliance Facebook pages forupdates about events at the Chester Inn and other Heritage Alliance programs.

Benefit Concert for the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre
Cocktail hour at 6:45pm in the Eureka Courtyard
Concert at 8:00pm at the JRT

An actor and fan of the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, Andy Rogers will bring entertainment to the JRT stage by sharing songs and stories of his life’s journey from New York to Los Angeles and back home to East Tennessee. Accompanying his songs from the Broadway stage will be none other than JRT favorite Joy Nagy on the piano, world-renowned artist and composer Dave Eggar on the cello, special appearances by the brilliant Jenny Rogers on the piano, and a surprise JRT guest. You will not want to miss out on this night of music and fun and giving. Come support this beloved community theatre.

More details to come.
McKinneyCenter.com