Formally organized groups and clubs abounded in 19th
century America, even in the Village of Cooksville. These organizations provided
entertainment, amusement and sometimes intellectual stimulation for the
residents in this small, isolated village by-passed by the railroad — “the town
that time forgot.”
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| Wilder Newell, c.1880, farmer |
The Cooksville Debating Society spoke out on a number of
subjects. For instance, on February 27, 1860, the debate at the schoolhouse by
six local men was on the subject, “Secret Organizations are contrary to the
spirit of Free Government,” which was decided in the negative. Another debate
on March 5, 1860, was on the subject, “Woman’s Rights should be identical with
Man’s”; six men and women debated, but the records do not indicate which side
prevailed. The debate still goes on in some circles.
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| Dinner party: Margaret Rice, daughter and dressmaker, Anna Belle, and friends, c.1890 |
On February 16, 1864, the Stoughton Reporter announced,
“The young ladies of Cooksville have a ‘Grand Leap Year Party’ [planned] at the
Masonic Hall in that place, Friday evening. The tickets read ‘yourself and
gentleman are respectfully invited.’ Room managers, Ellen Galt, Stella
Savage, Melvina Howard, and Electa Johnson. Music by Love’s Band. Tickets 25ȼ.”
The Masonic Hall above the General Store was the scene of
many such social gatherings, as was the Schoolhouse and the new Cooksville
Congregational Church and its basement. Van Vleck’s Hall (the Opera House) on
the second floor of the meat market was another venue for certain events, but
the record of its use is sparse, except for the Kickapoo Indian Medicine
Troupe—which was performing there when the Opera House burned down in 1893.
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| Fred Miller, farmer, Evansville hotel owner, c.1895 |
The Cooksville Dramatic Club was a very active cultural
institution. Its first productions,
presented at the schoolhouse on Saturday evening, January 25, 1873, were “Miriam’s
Crime,” a “glowing comedy,” and “The Irish Tutor,” a “laughable farce,”
according to the handbill. Performances began promptly at “7½” and admission
was 15 cents, 10 cents for children. So well-received were the plays that the
Club had new “scenery painted in Evansville, which will aid in rendering their
life-like plays more real still,” and took the productions on the road to Eagle
School (Porter Township), and to Stoughton and Fulton. “Down by the Sea” was performed
at the Cooksville Congregational Church in 1882, at which “Anderson’s Band will
furnish the orchestra music and also for a dance which is to follow at Masonic
Hall,” all this after an oyster supper in the church basement. The newspaper
reported that the event and “social hop” dance raised “over 60 dollars… towards
the church debt.” Other plays performed
were “The Irish Tutor,” “Lost in London” and “Nevada, or the Lost Mine,” which
were taken on the road to Stoughton, Brooklyn and the Stebbensville Church. A
very busy group of local thespians.
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| Myrtle Dow, actress, Buenos Aires, London, c.1895 |
In early 1881, the Cooksville Glee Club gave an
entertainment in the new Congregational Church that consisted of “a concert of
vocal and instrumental music to conclude with that inimitable play ‘Cool as a
Cucumber!’” Later in 1881, the Glee Club, assisted by Porter’s Orchestra Band,
presented another concert which concluded “with that mirth-provoking play: “Who
is Who? or, All in the Fog.” Most of the funds raised by the ticket sales went
to pay for the furnishing in the new church built in 1879, the first and only
religious structure in the village for almost 20 years.
The Jolly Club of Cooksville (about which little is
known, unfortunately) gave “a rousing New Year’s Party at the Masonic Hall” in
early 1886, with about thirty couples in attendance at its first dance. The
Evansville newspaper reported it was “a very pleasant party” and also announced
that there would be another dance party in February at the Hall and that “arrangements
are in progress for the laying of a new canvass so the ladies can wear their
Cinderella slippers. Music by the Albion Band, four pieces.” (Rough wooden
floorboards with splinters may have been a problem for the dancers.)
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| Avis, teacher, and brother Paul Savage, farmer, c.1900 |
In November 1893, the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Troupe
arrived in Cooksville for a three-week stay at the Cooksville Opera House,
otherwise known as Van Vleck’s Hall, located on the second floor above Van
Patten’s and Newkirk’s meat market on the corner of Main and Dane streets. Led
by Dr. Red Wolf, the Medicine Troupe performed a series of lectures and
entertainments, with “a crowd of small boys are on hand every time,” according
to the Evansville Enterprise newspaper.
Dr. Red Wolf had a large display of “old and rare coins, medicines,
paraphernalia, etc.” as well as musical instruments used by himself and his two
assistants. Unfortunately, a fire broke
out on December 5, 1893, and the Cooksville Opera House and Meat Market burned
to the ground. Not one article of Dr, Red Wolf’s paraphernalia was rescued from
the devastating fire.
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| Joseph B. Porter, farmer, c.1884 |
Beginning in 1901 and for fifty years, Old Settlers
Reunions were formally organized and took place on the Public Square in June of
every year, weather permitting. (Previously in the late 19th century
“Pioneer Reunions” had taken place now and then.) In addition to the picnic
food—“tables decorated with choice flowers and fruits, and loaded with the most
delectable achievements of the culinary art” —the Old Settlers Reunions
featured entertainments with fond reminiscences shared by the descendents of
the old pioneers and with tributes to those who had passed on. Poetry was
composed for the occasion and recited, and short plays (such as “Grandmother’s
Story” and “Why the Cannon Wasn’t Fired”) depicting Cooksville events were
performed. Music was an important
element in the festivities. Jack Robertson provided his award-winning fiddle
music as well as tricks with his violin in the 1930s; the Cooksville Lutheran
Quartette and the Janesville Male Quartette sang; Webster Johnson played his
bagpipes; Eloise Eager played the violin; June Porter sang vocal solos; and a
Drum Corps composed of men from the Town of Porter, Evansville and Janesville
got feet tapping with their rousing rendition of “Marching Through Georgia.” By
the 1950s, the descendents of the 19th century pioneer settlers had
mostly marched on to other locales, and the Reunions ceased.
Later, in the mid-20th century, the Cooksville
Mothers’ Club and the Cooksville Community Center continued the tradition of
providing the village with social events, educational programs, and organized
activities, in the old Schoolhouse and in the old Congregational Church, as
well as in the Cooksville Lutheran Church, which had been constructed in 1897.
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| Anna Graves, teacher, c.1888 |
All in all, the Cooksville community embraced their
pleasures, enjoyed their leisure, and had a good time. In fact, in 1885 the
Evansville Enterprise newspaper concluded that, “The Cooksville people seem to
enjoy themselves about the best of any community we know…they have had some
delightful gatherings where all joined together as one family without any
jealousies or hard feelings, and no scandals or brawls have their starting
place there. As a progressive, literary, talented people we think they are
above the average.”
[These bits of Cooksville life and history—and many more—
are found in the diaries, written memoires, newspaper clippings, letters,
personal interviews and stories told to me, all of which are contained in the
Cooksville Archives. The Archives is available to interested persons. Donations
of photographs, clippings, anecdotes, family histories, etc., are welcomed.
Contact Larry Reed, (608) 873-5066 or email lreed@chorus.net.]
