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MECKLENBURG
COUNTY OFFICIALLY NAMES RURAL HILL
HUNTERSVILLE, NC – May 31, 2008: At the
May 20th meeting of the Mecklenburg County Board of
Commissioners, the historic site in Huntersville and home of popular
family attractions such as the Amazing Maize Maze, Sheepdog Trials,
the “Spirit of the Hornet’s Nest” Revolutionary War Re-enactment and
the Loch Norman Highland Games, was officially named “Rural Hill.”
The homestead of Major John and Violet Davidson is county park
property operated by and leased to the Catawba Valley Scottish
Society (CVSS) and is open to the public for daily tours, annual
events and historical education. Among other names through the
years, the site has been called Rural Retreat, Rural Hill
Plantation, and Rural Hill Farm, but historical documents provided
by the CVSS refer to the site as simply “Rural Hill,” and so the
County Commissioners voted to continue that heritage as the official
name. Rural Hill Executive Director Ed McLean comments, “This is a
wonderful step for Rural Hill. It gives us an opportunity to brand
this beautiful site and all the events and activities that we offer
here. This provides a way for the community to better identify with
its historical significance in the area and be able to enjoy it.”
Located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties
Ford Road) in Huntersville, Rural Hill is a restoration in progress.
The 265 acres offer magnificent rural vistas, a variety of farm
animals, and walking trails throughout the site. Eleven historic
buildings and reconstructions provide a setting for cultural
heritage events, preservation seminars and self-guided tours and
games.
Rural Hill’s popular Amazing Maize Maze
will be open Thursdays through Sundays from September 11 – November
2, 2008. A field of corn miraculously turns into a fascinating
seven acre maze. A historical or related theme to Rural Hill is
carefully chosen for each maze, and volunteers spend countless hours
preparing the Amazing Maize Maze for the public’s enjoyment.
Corporate outings, school groups, church groups, families and
friends all have fun gathering clues to make it through.
The 14th Annual Rural Hill
Sheep Dog Trials will be held November 7 – 9, 2008. Another family
favorite, more than 100 border collies and other herding dog breeds
come to Rural Hill to compete in events that mirror what the working
dogs are required to do when working with livestock. The team of
dog and handler who can do the work with the most precision and in
the time allowed wins.
For more information on Rural Hill and
details on the Amazing Maize Maze at Rural
Hill and the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials, please visit
www.ruralhill.net.
Rural Hill
and the Catawba Valley Scottish Society
The Catawba
Valley Scottish Society, Inc. (CVSS) was formed by
descendants of the Scots and Scots-Irish of the Catawba River Valley
region. The Carolinas are home to one of the highest concentrations
of people of Scottish or Scots-Irish decent in the U.S. and on May
9, 1995, CVSS accepted stewardship of Rural Hill. The homestead of
six generations of the family of Major John and Violet Wilson
Davidson, Rural Hill now serves as a working example of the farming
heritage of northern Mecklenburg County as well as a focal point for
artistic, historical and cultural activities. It is a regional
center where all people interested in the contributions of the Scots
and Scots-Irish and the Davidson Family can experience the rich
legacy of this culture. The CVSS developed a Master Plan to
preserve Rural Hill as community resource for historical,
agricultural and environmental programs
and a family attraction for visitors, as well as providing a venue
for cultural heritage events. CVSS invites everyone to visit
Rural Hill. www.ruralhill.net.
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