Sheep Shearing At Rocky Mount, Tennessee

Sally Scruggs, shown here churning butter at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee. Photo: Tennessee Tourism Development. Front Cover photograph of May 1991 edition.By Rocky Mt. Historical Association

Issue: May, 1991

The annual shearing of Rocky's Mount's horned dorset flock of sheep will be a special event on May, 25 [1991]. This program is in cooperation with the American Minor Breeders Conservancy, an international association to assure that minor breeds of animals don't become extinct. The program beginning at 10 am, will demonstrate the processing of the wool fiber from shearing to the finished product. Visitors may observe the fleece and carding and spinning the wool fiber. Visitors can also observe the dyeing of the fleece using natural dye stuffs and mordants and the weaving process on the loom. Admission to the program from 10 am until 2:30 pm will be the regular admission price. If you are considering bring a group, it would be wise to call for reservation times.

Rocky Mount is a living history farm that was the first capitol of the "Territory of the United States South of the River Rocky Mount Historic Site.Ohio" and is one of the few original territorial capitols left standing in the United States. It was built by William Cobb in 1770 and is located at Piney Flats, Tennessee, on Highway 19 West, about a fifteen minute drive south of Bristol. They are open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 am -5 pm and on Sunday from 2-6 pm. Admission is $4.00 for adults, $2.50 for students (through college), under six years of age is free and group rates are available. They offer a 50 cent (adult) discount for AAA auto club members.

Rocky Mount has one of the most interesting interpretive programs The Mountain Laurel has seen at a historical site. If you would like more information, their phone number is 615-538-7396. You can write to them at: Rocky Mount Historical Association, 200 Hyder Hill Road, Piney Flats, TN 37686.