Virtual Visit to Historic Rugby

Our next “virtual visit” takes us to Historic Rugby, an 1880s Victorian village located on the Cumberland Plateau, where we’ll tour the 1882 Hughes Public Library. Join Jordan Hughett, development associate at Historic Rugby as we tour the most complete Victorian library in the United States!

Rugby was founded in 1880 by best-selling English author Thomas Hughes as a haven for the second sons of English gentry to come to the U.S. and pursue careers of their choosing rather than the "honorable" vocations that were available to them in England. In Tennessee they would be free to farm, pursue crafts, and work with their hands, things that were frowned upon for their class in England. 

The library opened on October 5, 1882, and contains the original 7,000 volume collection, none of which are newer than 1899. The library in Rugby was the first free public library in the Southern U.S.

Jordan Hughett is from Scott County and has been a development associate at Historic Rugby for two years.  He has been involved in historic preservation and interpretation since the age of 12 at different sites in the area. Jordan graduated as a double major from Tennessee Technological University with degrees in history and secondary education, and he was recognized as a Folk and Traditional Master Artist Fellow through South Arts in 2020.

Join via Zoom or watch live on Facebook. To receive an invitation to the interactive Zoom session, please RSVP here or e-mail eths@eastTNhistory.org by Wednesday, June 17, 2020.