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.

Cooksville Christmas in Summer Show: Commemoration of the Old Cooksville Opera House

Known as Van Vleck’s Hall, the Cooksville Opera House was located above Van Patten’s and Newkirk’s meat market on the corner of Main (now hwy 138) and Dane Streets. At the time, the second-floor opera house was used by local and traveling performers as one of Cooksville’s social gathering venues, which also included the schoolhouse (now the Cooksville Community Center), the Congregational Church, and the Masonic Lodge above the General Store. Although no pictures of this structure have been found, Cooksville resident Chris Beebe has created an artist’s rendering of what this structure may have looked like in the 1890s.

After a one-year hiatus, the Cooksville Community Center is again presenting its annual One Room School House Christmas in Summer pageant on Saturday, August 11st, 2018 starting at 1:30 pm in the Cooksville Community Center, located at the junction of Church Street and Highway 59 in the village of Cooksville.  The theme for this year’s event is the Cooksville Opera House Extravaganza, commemorating the Opera House, built in 1845 and which burned down December 5, 1893.

The Christmas in Summer event will include performances by two Madison-based vocal ensembles, the Spare Parts Quartet, a women’s barbershop quartet, and Deliberate Vibration, a 5-member a capella group. In addition, there will be a performance by Warren and Cynthia Fremling, Opera Singers from the Chicago Area, as well as some local talent performances from Cooksville, including the Cooksville Opera House Chorus. 

 

 The Spare Parts Quartet was founded in 2016 as an affiliate of the award-winning Yahara River Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. The Sweet Adelines organization consists of women vocalists dedicated to performing the tradition of the tight 4-part barbershop harmonies that originated in America in the late 19^th century, and which have roots in both African and American vocal traditions. The Spare Parts Quartet includes JoAnn Bray (lead), Kay Hinck (baritone), Bonnie Senkowski (bass), and Gwen Torkelson (tenor), and performs a variety of music from the 1940s to present day.

 

Deliberate Vibration is a versatile and talented Madison-based men’s a capella band that performs at farmer’s markets, community events, and at local establishments. Their repertoire includes contemporary songs and standards, cleverly arranged for the unaccompanied vocal performance which is one of the most popular forms of choral music today.

Of course, no Opera House celebration would be complete without actual opera! Baritone Warren Fremling is a veteran Chicago-based opera performer and voice instructor and founding member of the Chicago Opera Theater. His wife, Cynthia Fremling is also a professional music instructor and will be joining him in performing opera in its most classical form.

 Sets designed for the show were created by local Evansville and Cooksville artists, Richard Krake and Meri Lau. As this is a Christmas in Summer pageant, there will also be a special guest appearance by Mr. and Mrs. SummerClaus and lots of surprises. The audience should also be advised that they may be asked to sing Christmas carols. This event is free of charge. The Cooksville Community Center is not handicap-accessible. For more information, please contact Jeanne Julseth at (608) 882-0505.