Midwest Cornish Festival, Mineral Point, Wisconsin

16 th International Gathering of Cornish Cousins Comes off without a Hitch -

Almost

After several weeks of smothering heat and humidity, the weather gods (or was it the Piskies?) blessed the Cornish Cousins who came to Mineral point to celebrate their common Celtic heritage on August 10-14. The weather was glorious, almost cool at times, and just right for whatever one wanted to do - tramp about or sit and relax. With plentiful rainfall all summer the countryside was never greener.

The bus trips were very successful as visitors marveled at the rolling hills and fertile fields of Southwest Wisconsin. Most of the workshops were well attended by truly interested people. The food was excellent and the entertainment was outstanding. The Pub Night and the Crawdy Crawn at Pendarvis, as well as the tours of the site, were well attended. The addition of readings by Cornish authors at the education center at Pendarvis on Pub Night provided a something for everyone event for the evening. There were few dry eyes by the conclusion of "Cry of Tin" presented by members of the Grass Valley Choir and their director, Eleanor Kenitzer. Toes were tapping to the lively tunes of IONA.

Krystal Blabaum, Lady of Flowers, and Howard Curnow, Bard of the Cornish Gorseth

The only glitch of the event was the sudden deluge that fell on Saturday afternoon, canceling the Gorsedd ceremony, planned to be held at Orchard Lawn. However, all was not lost, as a very abbreviated ceremony featuring the lovely Lady of Flowers, Krystal Blabaum, was performed within the Bardic circle at the banquet on Saturday evening. Gathering attendees came from 20 states other than Wisconsin, Australia and Cornwall.

CORNWALL FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY RECORDS

We are fortunate to have the records from the Cornwall Family History Society available to us on line in Southwest Wisconsin for researching our Cornish ancestors. Birth, death, and marriage records that happened in Cornwall are all accessible on CFHS records. You may contact either one of the two convenient depositories at the Southwest Wisconsin Room in the Ulsvick Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (608-342-1719) or at the Mineral Point Room in the Public Library in Mineral Point, Wisconsin (608-987-2447). They are available FREE for your use and you may order copies of documents from Cornwall for a small fee. Please remember that these records are a work in progress, not a finished product. We suggest you call ahead to make certain the facility is open and available on the day you wish to visit. The Mineral Point Room is open only on Thursday afternoon and evening and on Saturday.

In addition to the CFHS records, you may be surprised at the array of genealogical information you may find at both of these fine libraries.