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News Point Past Issues: MineralPoint:
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Welcome to the second issue of our quarterly newsletter. Within it, you will find a glance at some of the special people, places and points of interest in our community. Some of you may be old friends of Mineral Point and some of you might have just discovered us. We invite all to visit us. Call ahead or just drop by anytime. You will find fascinating stories all your own. You might be surprised to discover how many of us who live here were once just passing through town. We hope that you too will sense the very special spirit of this little town set in the hills of southwest Wisconsin. |
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By Joy Gieseke |
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It was 1970 when Cathy’s parents, Bill and Evie Kitto, moved to Mineral Point. But C.S. Kitto, Cathy’s grandfather, was born here. He worked for the Democrat- Tribune, Mineral Point’s 100+ year-old newspaper, before leaving town as a young adult to start his own printing business. Although the Kittos were gone, they never forgot Mineral Point. In fact, for years, it became a sort of home-away-from-home for the family. Cathy recalls many weekends spent with grandpa, who returned for frequent visits. Some of her most vivid childhood memories are family trips to Mineral Point. She remembers with fondness, feeling that the town was beckoning them home on each trip. As they would approach Mineral Point traveling down Old Darlington Road, the watertower, the church steeple, and the warmth of the stone buildings would signal a special welcome to the charming town nestled in the valley. It was Cathy’s aunt who moved back first. Shortly after that, her parents decided that they too, could make the move to live in the place that really was their hearts’ home. By this time though, Cathy was well established in her own career. She had been teaching in Illinois for six years. Mineral Point was now her parent’s home, but there were still many more moves ahead for Cathy. After living in several states – and abroad, she landed in Florida, which is where she intended to stay and retire. Cathy says that it never occurred to her that she would live anywhere else. And she didn’t … for 20 years. But that changed, and now Cathy has found her way home too. She has joined with many others who claim that “nowhere else has ever felt more like home than Mineral Point does!” It all fell into place so easily as she was able to purchase a corner of her sister’s lot. She talked to Randy Fleming and hired him to design her new/old house. Randy, along with Roland Sardeson and a few other helpers, has lovingly crafted her new home – a charming 2 story stone cottage, right next door to her sister, Dodie, in the house that was home to her parents. Cathy reports that Dodie was a bit concerned about her moving to a small town, after living most of her life in cities with all the activity that goes along with urban life. That has proven not to be a problem at all. It is a common feeling among newcomers to Mineral Point, that this place is “somehow, just a little different” than most towns its size. Cathy sums it up by saying that Mineral Point is it own entertainment… that just being here is enough. Of course, some of her Florida friends are still questioning her as to WHY she would want to move back to the cold Wisconsin winters. Cathy, however, is looking forward to winter in a town with its own brand of warmth. Asked to sum up her feelings about finally living in Mineral Point, Cathy ponders momentarily before settling upon “joyous”. One other word comes to mind as well…”peaceful”… “when it all feels this right, you have an overwhelming sense of peace.” It is truly a fitting tribute to a community with such a strong sense of place.
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News Point
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THEATER IN THE BLUFF |
Ruth Mitchell says she has always hoped that the small natural amphitheatre on a bluff above Shake Rag Alley would someday have a stage. Coleman has always wanted a small theatre that could be home to a professional company, but until two months ago had no idea that this hidden piece of real estate existed. But then Shake Rag Alley Board member Judith Sutcliffe suggested to Coleman that he look at it. Since then, all the cards have been falling into place, and next June, Mineral Point will have a new outdoor performance space called Alley Stage. In keeping with the spirit of Shake Rag Alley, original first-run plays will be presented. A playwriting competition has been announced (details are below and at www.alleystage.com ). Sunday evenings will be reserved for concerts, and discussions are underway to include children’s programming as well. Alley Stage is a natural complement to the already successful lineup of year-round workshops offered by the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. We anticipate that the new theatre will provide many evenings of entertainment for locals and for visitors alike, for years to come. Alley Stage Alley Stage:
Electronic submissions should be emailed to: coleman@mhtc.net Competition rules The winner
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News Point Winter 2006:  Finding HomeTheaterWhats Happing
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Calendar of Events for December. December 1 December 2 A Holiday Open House at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 10a.m. – 2 p.m. Holiday Fair. Trinity Episcopal Church. 409 W High St. 10 am – 3 pm Christmas Cookie Sale. Faith Lutheran Church. 400 Ridge St. 8 am – 2 pm December 3 December 7 & 9 December 8 – 10 December 9 Santa @ Shake Rag Alley December 10
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News Point Winter 2006: Finding HomeTheaterWhats Happing
Past Issues: MineralPoint:
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For a complete listing of classes and workshops at The Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, see www.shakeragalley.com FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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Just across from Pendarvis State Historic Site, a new stone house that looks like a stone house from long ago is nearing completion. It will soon be home for Cathy Kitto, a new resident with ties to Mineral Point from long ago. 
The space is the shell of an early quarry where some of the stone for some of Mineral Point’s first Cornish cottages was cut. Amber Westerman of Westerman Design, Dodgeville, has volunteered to design the stage, which will rest on a shelf of rock and jut out into the audience. Michael Reed of Reed Rigging, Chicago, is donating stage rigging and lighting. Larry Terrill of Terrill Landscaping, Mineral Point, is donating labor for grading and for installing a drainage system. Michael Donovan is heading a crew of volunteer carpenters who will build not only the stage but the seating – fifty two-person benches originally designed by Aldo Leopold. Contributions are still being sought for lumber, landscaping, electrical work, and funding of the first season of productions.
Submission of Scripts:
We would be delighted to count you among our guests this holiday season. Check out the calendar and join us for any or all of the special events that we are hosting this year. Mineral Point is proof that holidays don’t have to be either ordinary or hectic. You will find a perfect gift for everyone on your list, and you will have fun in the process. 
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