CELEBRATE HOGMANAY (SCOTTISH NEW YEAR)
ON JANUARY 1 AT RURAL HILL’S FIRST FOOTIN’

HUNTERSVILLE, NC:  The Catawba Valley Scottish Society invites you to “step off” with them on January 1, 2009 as they celebrate Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year, with a day of First Footin’ activities at Rural Hill.  The First Footin’ Walkabout begins at 11 AM and other activities include a presentation of the story Stone Soup followed by a lunch at Rural Retreat.  Executive Director Ed McLean extends the invitation, “Everyone is welcome – come, and enjoy the fellowship.  It is a wonderful time even if you do not want to go on the walkabout.  It is about friendship and preparing for the year ahead.  Eddie Ferguson will be stirring the Stone Soup while we are working up an appetite on our walkabout.”  The First Footin’ event concludes at 2 PM unless you want to stick around and discuss New Year’s Resolutions!  Rural Hill’s First Footin’ event is free and attendees are encouraged to bring an item for the lunch such as a can or fresh vegetables for the soup, bread or a dessert.  Bring beverages of your choice to keep warm!  For more information, contact Rural Hill at 704-875-3113, office@ruralhill.net, or visit online at www.ruralhill.net. 

First Footin’ is a 1-2 mile walk around the property with stops along the way to hear stories of history and folklore.  To take part in the walk, wear good walking shoes and appropriate clothing for the outdoors.  Several towns throughout the hillsides of Scotland continue this age old annual ritual of a "walk of the town limits" to restate or reclaim the boundaries of the township. This tradition has been adopted as part of the Rural Hill Hogmanay celebration to assure good crops, good health, and good fortune in the coming year.  For all who are coming to walk, please arrive between 10 and 10:45 as we will officially “step off” at 11 AM. 

First Footin’ activities include visiting the Davidson log cabin “Rural Retreat” where Sue Kashino will be cooking at the open hearth fireplace.  Rural Retreat is the first home built at Rural Hill by the pioneer family, and where six generations of Davidsons have lived.  After serving the family for more than 130 years, it burned in 1896.  With generous donations of logs and construction materials Bill Bigham, Roy Pickett and Danny Patterson have led a crew of volunteers to hand hew the logs and construct a cabin to represent the Rural Retreat back country homestead. This cabin, with a blacksmith shop, corn crib, root cellar, garden and livestock shed, is used for living history programs and interpretation of the early American settlers.

For full information on First Footin’, the Davidsons’ Rural Retreat, or details regarding Rural Hill, Hogmanay, and the Catawba Valley Scottish Society, please visit our website at www.ruralhill.net.

Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville, 28078.  The former homestead of Major John and Violet Davidson, the 265 acre site is maintained and promoted by The Catawba Valley Scottish Society (CVSS).  Rural Hill features annual events such as The Loch Norman Highland Games at Rural Hill, The Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill, Revolutionary War Battle Reenactments at Rural Hill, and the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials.  CVSS is a non-profit organization supported through membership and donations.  For more information on events or for financial support accepted securely online, please visit www.ruralhill.net.