2019 Cooksville Community Events Schedule

Be sure to check the Cooksville Country Store for fliers or updates, and ‘Like’ the Cooksville Community Center on Facebook for notifications of upcoming events. Many activities are free and all are open to the public.

Saturday, April 27: Community Center Clean-Up Day
10:00am–1:00 pm, Schoolhouse

Sunday, April 28: Arbor Day Celebration on the Commons
2:00–4:00 pm, Commons, reception at Schoolhouse

Saturday-Sunday, June 1-2: Sustainability Skill Share weekend
Schoolhouse, various locations
A weekend of hands-on workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and
entertainment organized by Cooksville’s Low Tech Institute. The
event will include an open old-time music jam, and a free screening
of the film Albatross will be held at the Schoolhouse at 8:30 pm on
Saturday, June 1 (please check website for updates). Registration
and fees required for participation in workshops; other events open
to the public. Please visit https://lowtechinstitute.org/workshops/
sustainability-skill-share for details.

Tuesday, June 4: Visit from Snappers Brass Era Car Club
~ 1:00 pm, Around Commons
Car enthusiasts are welcome to visit the club and see some unusual
antique cars during their tour through Cooksville. Hosted by the
Cooksville Country Store.

Wednesday, June 5: Stoughton Chamber Singers Concert directed by John Beutel
7:30–10:00 pm, Cooksville Lutheran ChurchDue to renovations at the Congregational Church, this year’s concert
will be held in the Cooksville Lutheran Church. Handicap accessible.
Reception to follow.

Saturday, June 22: Cooksville Bell Choir Concert: Global Colors 
7:00 pm, Cooksville Farmhouse Inn
The 10-member Cooksville Bell Choir will present world music
selections arranged for hand bells and drums at the English Barn,
behind the Farmhouse Inn. Ample parking behind the Barn.

Thursday, July 4: Independence Day Picnic 
12:30–2:30 pm, Commons
Potluck community meal under the oaks. Share your favorite picnic
fare and outdoor games. Rain location is the schoolhouse.

Saturday, July 13: History Past . . . And Future? Stories about Cooksville, and the Meaning of History 7:00–8:30 pm, Schoolhouse
Come hear a fascinating presentation by Larry Reed, Cooksville
historian, and Ellsworth Brown, retired Director of the Wisconsin
Historical Society. They will draw from their impressive expertise
in local history, and tell how we become part of the stories of the
place where we live.

Sunday, July 28: HOT DOG!! 
4:00–6:30 pm, Commons
Nothing beats grilling out on a hot summer evening in late July!
Bring your best barbecue recipes, a healthy appetite, and your
dogs to the Cooksville Commons for a suppertime cook-off and
dog show! Rain location is the schoolhouse. Contest details will be
announced this summer.

Saturday, August 10: Christmas in Summer 

1:30–2:30 pm, Schoolhouse
Experience a one-room schoolhouse holiday pageant as it was
remembered by local residents who grew up attending small rural
schools and enjoyed performing for their classmates and families.
Always fun and full of surprises! This year’s theme is Bells, Whistles,
and Pumpkin Pie.

Tuesday, August 20: QPR: Question, Persuade, and Refer workshop
7:00 pm, Schoolhouse
Have you ever encountered a suicidal or severely depressed
family member, co-worker, or neighbor? Jean Papalia is the QPR
Coordinator of Safe Communities Madison-Dane County and will
provide a presentation on effective approaches for reaching out to
and helping discouraged people through difficult times. Booklet
included.

Monday, September 16: CCC Annual Meeting & Ice Cream Social 
6:30–8:30 pm, Schoolhouse
All Community Center members are invited to hear about the state
of the organization from its Board of Directors and participate in
Board elections. The community is welcome for ice cream before
the meeting. New to the Community Center? Join us with a $25.00
lifetime membership.

The Cooksville Community Center is the former one-room schoolhouse on the corner of State Rd. 59 and Church St. Although it is not heated, the schoolhouse has air conditioning, a kitchen with hot and cold water, and bathrooms (cold water only). The Community Center is available for rentals and is a popular spot for family reunions, weddings and picnics. The CCC is not handicap-accessible.

To our members: Thank you for your support! Not a member? Consider joining the Cooksville Community Center with a one-time membership fee of $25.00. You will receive news, information and first announcements of special events at the schoolhouse, and your dollars will support the on-going preservation of this historic building.

Event Locations:
Schoolhouse and Commons located on the Northeast corner of Hwy 59 and Church St.

Cooksville Lutheran Church, 11927 W. Church St.(handicap-accessible)

Cooksville Farmhouse Inn, 11203 State Hwy. 138.

Cooksville Country Store, 11313 N. State Hwy. 138.

The Cooksville Community Center is looking for a programming coordinator. Please contact Emily Beebe 608.712.2976 or etbeebe13@gmail.com for more information.

If you have an updated email address, phone number, or mailing address, please contact Emma Mallon at 608.490.3856 or elumallon@gmail.com.

Christmas In Summer 2018

Cooksville Celebrates 175 years with "Art In the Park", July 22, 2017

Wisconsin Assemblyman Don Vruwink, left,  presented a plaque depicting a proclamation congratulating Cooksville on its 175th anniversary to Cooksville Community Center President Kathleen Hipke and Porter Town Chairman David Viney at the July 22 celebration at the Cooksville Commons. Rep. Verwink's district includes Cooksville. Also signing the proclamation was State Senator Janis Ringhand.

 

  CITATION OF COMMENDATION

  

WHEREAS, Brothers John and Daniel Cook settled along Badfish Creek in 1840 in the community that became Cooksville, which was platted in 1842, six years before Wisconsin became a state; and

WHEREAS, Brothers Dr. John and Dr. Isaac Porter settled a community east of Cooksville that became Waucoma, which was platted in 1846; and

WHEREAS, The two villages became home to pioneers from New England, New York, the British Isles, and later Norway; and

WHEREAS, Development in Cooksville came to a screeching halt in the 1860s when railroads bypassed the village in favor of connections in Evansville and Stoughton, giving the community the moniker “the town that time forgot;” and

WHEREAS, Preservation work by Larry Reed, Michael Saternus, and Ralph Warner have played a critical role in preserving Cooksville’s eclectic charm; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Cooksville was designated the second historical district in the state of Wisconsin; and

 WHEREAS, Many of Cooksville’s buildings, such as the farmhouse, cheese factory and general store – the oldest general store in the state – are designated on the National Register for Historic Places; and

WHEREAS, on July 22^nd, 2017, Cooksville will commemorate its 175^th Anniversary with a day-long celebration on the Village Commons; now

THEREFORE, State Representative Don Vruwink and State Senator Janis Ringhand congratulate “this unique, wonderful, quaint village,” Cooksville, on 175 years of community spirit and offer thanks for humbly representing the values of the people of Wisconsin.

_______________________                                      _______________________

Representative Don Vruwink                                      Senator Janis Ringhand

43^rd Assembly District                                                 15^th Senate District

July 22^nd, 2017

 

The event drew more than 500 people who enjoyed good food, entertainment from four musical groups, a vintage car show, activities for young people and more. 

About 24 artisans offered their pieces for sale during the July 22 event.

Former Cooksville Store proprietors gathered at the store.  Also on hand

 was Sue Ebbert, current owner.

The Merry Horde from Fort Atkinson

 

One of many interesting cars in Chris Beebe's collection.

The Oak Street Ramblers

Journalists Tell Cooksville’s Story: Here’s an Article from 1929

Journalists have been writing stories about the historic Village of Cooksville and its people for many decades—actually, during the past 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries. In newspapers and magazines, in feature articles and gossip columns (and occasionally in books), writers have been drawn to the charming little “Town that Time Forgot” and to the “Wee Bit of New England in Wisconsin.” 

Or in the case of a 1929 story in The Milwaukee Journal, “The Town Daniel Webster Once Owned,” with the subtitle “Philosophizing Blacksmith Is the Only Citizen of Cooksville, Wis., Without Artistic Inclinations and Even His Practicality Weakens at Times.”

This year, 2017, Cooksville celebrates 175 years since its birth in 1842, years filled with typical events of  settlement and growth---and then, in Cooksville's case, decline and then re-discovery, recognition and re-birth. The journalists’ views over the years provide snapshots at various times in the village’s history, including the fact that the famous Senator Daniel Webster first owned much of Cooksville in 1837, buying the promising new land from the U.S. government when it went on sale for the first time in history.

The following are excerpts from that lengthy Milwaukee Journal feature article of September 22, 1929, in which the writer, who had no byline, was interviewing Jack Robertson (1858-1930), the village blacksmith and popular fiddle-player. Four large photographs accompanied the full-page article. Excerpts follow:

* * * * *

Everybody on Webster St. is either literary or artistic except Jack Robertson. And he is a fiddling blacksmith…. Cooksville is not the unimaginative collection of stores, tumbled down houses and brand new bungalows…. Instead it is picture in red brick, the quaintest village in Wisconsin…. Its houses, including Jack Robertson’s blacksmith shop, all front a village green.… so that, after the mellowing of three-quarters of a century, they seem to rise as naturally from the earth as the giant elms and maples and oaks near their front doors. The bricks were burned in a kiln nearby…..

Everybody has a flower garden, except Jack Robertson. Beside the converted stable that forms his shop and living quarters, is a field of tobacco.

Jack Robertson's Blacksmith Shop

The gardens of the literary folks are things of beauty. Narrow walks divide beds of flowers that seem to be looking at you instead of you looking at them. Hollyhocks and giant phlox and cosmos stare you straight in the eye like a western sheriff.

The writers are in their houses tapping away on typewriters. The poet [Arthur Kramer. ed.]  is in front of an upper window where the white curtain blows in and out. The artistic lady [Dorothy Kramer, ed.] is weaving a rug.

Dorothy Kramer (1900-1962), weaver and potter

Jack Robertson sits in a swing in front of his blacksmith shop, one arm around a rope.

Ask him if he has lived in Cooksville all his life. “Not yet, he replies.”

“My father,” he continues, “was a Scotsman who farmed it out east of here and later bought out the village store.”….. You glance upward to a weather vane balanced by a fan. “Now you are looking at some of my work,” says the blacksmith. “I cut those figures out of sheet steel….They’re just figures. That one on top of the shop, though, is a man sitting on a fish’s back.”

It is just a man riding a fish. It was made in his spare time and no doubt because the blacksmith wanted to show his literary and artistic neighbors that he too could create something useless originating in an esthetic urge. When your neighbors are writing poetry, you don’t want to devote all of your time to wagon tongues and plow blades.

“I used to own the house next door,” the blacksmith continues, pointing to the red brick home of the poet. He lowers his voice. “I don’t know what he is writing,” he whispers, “but whenever I hear him tapping away, I know he is figuring out something.”

“Everybody’s stuck on Cooksville,” he continues. “They like to ride out in their automobiles and so they come here to look over Ralph Warner’s place and Cooksville. They all go crazy over the park; they call it a ‘village green,’ or a ‘common.’” The blacksmith snickers. “It’s full of weeds.”

Susan Porter  (1859-1939)

Next to the poet lives Miss Susan Porter, the historian, the old settlers’ club, the voice of oldtime Cooksville…..familiar with every bit of history and tradition connected with the little town ….[and] the great Daniel Webster….

Senator Daniel Webster (1782-1852)

Miss Porter tells you that Mr. Webster sold the site of Cooksville to his family physician, Dr. John Porter, [who] in turn, resold to his brother, Dr. Isaac Porter, who deserves to have his name placed high in the list of Wisconsin pioneers, in spite of the fact that he only lived in the state three days. For when a case of smallpox made its appearance on the Great Lakes steamer bound for Milwaukee, Dr. Porter cared for the patient…. he hardly reached what today is Cooksville before he fell sick with the disease. In three days he was dead. This was in 1854. His sons were Cooksville pioneers….

In an early plat the town was not called “Cooksville,” but “Waucoma,” taking its name from the little river on which it is situated. In those early days the town fully expected that “the railroad was to go through,” an anticipation that never became a reality. And Waucoma, later become Cooksville, for years thereafter led a dull existence like some pretty country girl whose city lover hurried off after the first kiss….until the automobile came to summon Cooksville….to a giddy middle age.

Ralph Warner, at the door of his "House Next Door"

Without it you would never have Ralph Warner’s tea room.... Some 18 years ago, Mr. Warner, an artist and a collector, while a guest at Miss Porter’s home, became fascinated with the house next to her home….. and ever since it has been known as “The House Next Door”….. he gave up teaching art to devote all of his time to entertaining the automobilists who come to The House Next Door. 

Occasionally, Mr. Warner, moved by the spirit of the past that possesses Cooksville, dons a long coat and beaver hat to greet his guests…. land’s sakes, look at the automobiles today——two big shining cars in front of Mr. Warner’s right now——ladies in flowered chiffon walking in the garden, others chatting in the parlor, tea brewing——.

Jack Robertson, blacksmith and fiddler (1858-1930)

And the blacksmith swinging away. “Say,” he calls, “I forgot to tell you. Alec Richardson down the street here——he don’t write——he sells bonds in Madison.”

*** End of the 1929 Article ***

[Sadly, the following year, Jack Robertson committed suicide by shotgun. From the Cooksville Archives. Larry Reed, ed.]

Cooksville Celebrates Arbor Day

More than 36 Cooksville area residents gathered together on April 30 at the Cooksville Community Center to celebratte the addition of three new trees on the Commons, to view eductional posters on arbor culture, and to discuss the plans the Cooksville Commons Conservation Committee has for this treasured space in 2017 and the future.

In his opening remarks for Cooksville's second Arbor Day celebration, Karl Wolter of Cooksville said it best:  "Today is the kind of day a tree loves -- cold, wet and cloudy."

Fosdal's Bakery created an oak leaf cake.

Village residents Meri Lau and Mark Verstegan created commemorative plaques for attendees to finish individually featuring a scene of the Cooksville Community Center (formerly schoolhouse) and the burr oaks.  White pine saplings were available to take home and plant, in keeping with the vision of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton.

Emma Mallon and Meri Lau enjoying the festivities.

The Cooksville Commons Conservation Committee was formed in 2016 as we began plans for celebrating 175 years as a community.  The group has received a matched funds grant through the Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Program to help with a tree inventory and management plan for the wood lot on the Commons, as well as tree planting.  For questions about the committee, additional activities planned for the year, joining the group, volunteer opportunities and donations, contact Karl Wolter (873-6998, Mary Kohlman (882-5559) or Meri Lau, email  Meri_Lau@yahoo.com

July 22, 2017 Cooksville Celebration

News from Tree Restoration Committee of Cooksville

The Tree Restoration Committee received a DNR Grant for Cooksville Urban Forestry and Commons. The grant will be matched with volunteer hours, in-kind services and fund-raising which will help fund or support these components:

• Tree inventory
• Professional Tree Management Plan
• Arbor Day Celebration and Tree Planting
• Community and Educational Outreach Programming

Future Dates:

Arbor Day Celebration - April 30, Sunday   2-4 pm   Refreshments to follow at the Cooksville Community Center after the proclamation and tree planting on the Commons.

The committee is having a tree inventory work date in late May if anyone is interested in learning how to identify trees, leaves and bark.

June 10 - Art Activity- Tree Art  for all ages on the Commons before and after the Jerry Apps lecture -   Community and Educational Outreach

2017 Cooksville Community Events

Clean Up Day

 Saturday, April 29: Community Center Clean-Up Day (10:00am-1:00pm,Schoolhouse) By the end of April it’s a pretty safe bet that no shoveling will be required to get into the schoolhouse, but there is always a need for a good Spring cleaning to get the center ready for another season of activity. Bring your favorite feather duster.

Sunday, April 30: Tree Planting on the Commons (2:00pm-4:00pm, Commons) The Cooksville Tree Restoration Committee will present their annual State of the Oaks address, and tell us about environmental stewardship in our beautiful village.  Reception at the schoolhouse to follow.

Chris & Emily, 2016

Saturday, May 13: Community Sing (6:30pm-8:30pm, Schoolhouse) Join us for a family-friendly community sing-along and hootenanny at the schoolhouse led by local folk musicians Emily and Chris Beebe. Songbooks will be provided, but please feel free to come with your favorite songs to share.  Musical instruments, sheet music, lyrics, and snacks are welcome.

Stoughton Singers

Wednesday, June 7: Stoughton Chamber Singers Concert(7:00pm-9:30pm, Congregational Church) John Beutel and the Singers return to the beautiful brown church for a concert of American music,in honor of Cooksville’s dodransbicentennial year.  Tickets are available from McGlynn’s Pharmacy in Stoughton, from the Singers, or at the door. $5.00 admission benefits the singers and the CCC. A reception will follow at the schoolhouse.

 

Jerry Apps

Larry Reed

Saturday, June 10: Celebrating Cooksville’s History with Jerry Apps and Larry Reed (11:00am-4:00pm, Schoolhouse) This special event features a presentation about one-room schoolhouses and barns by well-known Wisconsin historian and author Jerry Apps, whose work is featured on Wisconsin Public Television. Larry Reed, historian and Chair of the Historic Cooksville Trust, will then share highlights of 175 years Cooksville history, drawing from a rich collection of documents, photos, and anecdotes. Larry will also conduct a walking tour of Cooksville after the presentation. A sack lunch is included in the ticket price. Tickets for this very special event will be on sale this Spring. $12.00. Limited seating.

Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day Picnic (12:30pm-2:30pm, Commons) Like sea turtles returning to the beach where they once hatched,generations of Cooksvillians have gathered every July 4^thunder the Oaks with picnic baskets for a community meal, and perhaps some softball.  Rain location is the schoolhouse.

Picnic on the Commons

Saturday, July 22: Art in the Park(10:00am-4:00pm, Commons) A day of fun is in store, with many attractions around the commons and schoolhouse, including art and crafts vendors, a classic car show, Play Day activities like horseshoes and sack races, food carts, and more! There will be celebratory fun for the whole family.

Saturday, July 22: Tours of the Cooksville Masonic Lodge (Cooksville Store) The Cooksville Masonic Lodge, located upstairs of the village Store, will be holding tours of its meeting hall. Lodge members will be discussing the importance of the Free Masons in Wisconsin society over the last century and a half.

Saturday, August 12: Christmas in Summer Program (1:30pm-3:00pm, Schoolhouse) Now in its fifth year, this favorite event is never without surprises for everyone, including those putting on the show! Jeanne Julseth will be rustling up some good old-fashioned schoolhouse fun with a cast of unlikely characters. Stay tuned for details. Free admission.

Sunday, September (date TBA): Cooksville Lutheran Church Fall Festival (11:00am-3:00pm, Lutheran Church) The Annual Fall Festival heralds the colorful harvest season in the village. The festival starts after Sunday services and features a quilt raffle, silent auction, great food, a farmer’s market, lively musical entertainment, and more. Everyone is welcome! Handicap accessible.

Monday, September 18: CCC Annual Meeting (6:30pm-8:30pm, Schoolhouse) Once a year, the membership of the CCC are invited to gather at the schoolhouse and talk about the year gone by, and the year to come at the Community Center. In this very special 175^th year of the village, all are encouraged to come out and enjoy hearing the news, meeting with neighbors, and eating ice cream.

Saturday, October 21: Cooksville Halloween Party (6:30pm-9:00pm, Schoolhouse) The Cooksville event

calendar ends with a Boo! at this annual costume party. You never know what to expect after dark, but for sure there will be fall fun for the whole family. Bring a snack, beverage, dessert, and a ghost story to share.

 

The Cooksville Community 2017 Events Calendar

 The Cooksville Community Center (CCC) is excited to be part of the commemoration of the175th year anniversary of the village of Cooksville. The community has planned some special events for 2017, including a historic presentation day with Jerry Apps and Larry Reed in June, and an Art Show on the Commons in July.  The CCC is the former one-room schoolhouse on the corner of State Rd. 59 and Church St.  Although it is not heated, the schoolhouse has air-conditioning, a kitchen with hot and cold water, and bathrooms (cold water only).  The Community Center is available for rentals and is a popular spot for family reunions, weddings, and picnics.The CCC is not handicap-accessible.

We are always looking for new ideas and help with programming and maintenance of the CCC. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact any board member.  The 2016-2017 Board of Directors:  Kathleen Hipke (president) 577-9921, khipke@gmail.com;Mark Verstegen (vice president) 446-0541, mark_verstegen@yahoo.com; Martha Degner (secretary) 335-8375, marthadegner@gmail.com; Mark Ballweg (treasurer) 334-9653, mballweg1@gmail.com; Emily Beebe (programming) 712-2976, etbeebe13@gmail.com; Bill Zimmerman (rentals) 628-8566, bzimmerman1947@gmail.com; and Dave Imhoff (building preservation) 206-7000 chiknman@litewire.net.

If you have an updated email address, phone number, or mailing address, please contact Martha Degner at 335-8375 or marthadegner@gmail.com.

You can also check the Cooksville Country Store for fliers or updates, or ‘Like’ the Cooksville Community Center on Facebook for notifications of upcoming events.  Many activities are free and all are open to the public.  Thank you for your support!

Event Locations:

·        Schoolhouse and Commons: Located on the Northeast corner of Hwy 59 and Church St.

·        Cooksville Lutheran Church:  11927 W. Church St.  (handicap-accessible)

·        Congregational Church: Southwest corner of State Rd. 59 and State Hwy. 138.

·        Cooksville Country Store: 11313 N. State Hwy. 138.

Mallon Tree Service planting 'arboriculture' seeds in area, by Steve Ehle

Kyle and Emma Mallon, husband and wife duo of Mallon Tree Service
 www.mallontreeservice.com

 Family-owned business has roots in 
Stoughton/Evansville/Cooksville communities

South central Wisconsin, with its array of tree and other plant species -- and obvious seasonal changes -- can be an arborist’s playground or a major challenge. For Kyle and Emma Mallon it’s both. But that’s what makes it fun. The Mallons, owners of Mallon Tree Service, LLC, of Cooksville, WI, recently relocated to northwestern Rock County, after plying their trades in the Milwaukee area.

Mallon Tree Service is a Wisconsin born and bred, small, family-owned business. Kyle Mallon has been an arborist in the public and private tree industry in Southern Wisconsin for over 10 years. 

Emma has roots in Evansville, Stoughton and Cooksville. “Kyle’s experience with, and passion for, trees is the backbone and drive of our honest and hardworking company,” Emma Wilde Mallon says. “With us, ‘What you see is what you get.’” Kyle “calls the shots” and “will be on location all the time, every time, you call MTS. He gives the free estimates, plans the work and executes it until the last leaf is raked,” Emma says.

Emma’s father, Jonathan (a well-known wildlife artist) grew up in nearby Evansville and her grandfather, internationally known artist John Wilde, lived near Cooksville. Emma and Kyle now reside in Emma’s grandfathers and step-grandmother’s (Shirley Wilde) house just east of Cooksville, about seven miles south of Stoughton and 25 miles southeast of Madison. Kyle, a Milwaukee native, is a certified arborist. Emma is a UW-Wisconsin Madison graduate with a degree in Journalism.

The young couple brings nearly a decade of experience in arboreal management to the area. After just a few months establishing themselves and their business in the Cooksville/Evansville/Stoughton/Edgerton area, Mallon Tree Service has already landed a number of jobs. Mallon Tree Service has 24/7 emergency services and offers the following services:

* Tree and shrub pruning and removals

* Tree preservation and plant health care

* Emerald Ash Borer treatment and prevention

* Tree planting, future plant management

* Tree cabling and bracing

* Firewood splitting and stacking

So, what is an “arborist”?

Kyle: “An arborist is an individual trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees. Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care.”