Membership Information
Gortheren/July 2010 Newsletter
In this issue:
PASTY PICNIC!
HIGHLAND GAMES
GENEALOGIST OPPORTUNITY
BONUS INSPIRATION
WEBSITES TO VISIT
PASTY PICNIC at Sue Hayden’s
214 Caledonian, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Saturday, August 7, 2010, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
RSVP to Sue at (630) 466-4533
and indicate whether you plan to bring pasties or
other goodies.
See last page for how to get there.
Sue was in Cornwall earlier this summer; we’ll hear about
her trip!
We’ll also discuss future dates and events.
HIGHLAND GAMES
Those who attended said it was an entertaining
combination of clans and some various Celts. We
had some people sign up to learn more about ICS,
so besides fun it was worthwhile.
GENEALOGIST OPPORTUNITY
Any genealogist out there? The Illinois State
Genealogical Society is having a one-day conference
in researching your family history. The conference
will take place at the historic Hotel Pere Marquette
Hotel in Peoria on Saturday, October 23 from 8:00 am
to 4:00 pm. There will be speakers on genealogy,
plus topics and vendors all primed to help you search
for your own family history.
For more information about attending, contact Carol
McGee, 906 Main, Princeton, IL 61356 or the Pere
Marquette Hotel at 309 637-6500.
if you plan to go, please contact Brian Treglown (below)
and perhaps he can arrange for you to pack along a little
information about ICS.
BONUS INSPIRATION
This picture is from Greater Milwaukee Cornish Society,
whose President Joe Trewyn some of you met at our
Special Gathering with Australian Bard Rosanne Hawke.
Elaine Tredinnick with her hand knit lap robe, in
Milwaukee, May 1, 2010
WEBSITES TO VISIT
Illinois Cornish Society: www.illinoiscornishsociety.org
Cornish American Heritage Society: www.cousinjack.org
CONTACT INFORMATION for the Directors of ICS
Sue Pellowe, spellowe7@gmail.com,
5415 N Sheridan Rd #408, Chicago IL 60640,
773-248-5774
Brian Treglown, btreglown@aol.com,
6236 N Wayne St, Chicago IL 60660,
773-764-3313
Jim Wearne, j.wearne@comcast.net,
2521 Spring St #2906, Woodridge IL 60517,
630-910-1634
Feel free to contact any of us for information.
How to get to get to the best-ever Pasty Picnic—
Travel Tips
By car: From wherever you are, figure out how to
get on the I-88 west toward Aurora. Exit at the
third Aurora exit and follow instruction below.
A small Cornish flag will be on Sue’s porch!
Directions:
By car: Take I-88 to Sugar Grove exit (Illinois 56),
exit onto Galena Blvd then right onto Galena Blvd
and follow it to Illinois 47. Turn right onto Illinois 47
then turn left at Wheeler Road/Bliss Road (stoplight).
From Wheeler Road turn left onto Hampstead Drive
then right onto Caledonian Drive. Follow
Caledonian around to 214 (on east/left side).
If you have problems, Sue’s phone number is
(630) 466-4533.
Other Arrangements:
If you need to use public transportation, take the
train to Aurora. Saturdays the 10:30 train from
Chicago gets to Aurora at 11:46; Sugar Grove is
about 20 minutes’ drive from Aurora train station.
Call Sue to arrange for pick-up. The train runs
from Aurora to Chicago at 4:20, getting to Union
Station at 5:42.
For trains from other suburbs, call Metra.
See you August 7th at 12:30!
JIM WEARNE IN CORNWALL
Spreading the proud heritage to family – an example for all. This past
March, I had the great pleasure of showing my two daughters
Cornwall for the first time. Finally they got to see what I had been
going on about all these years. My younger daughter, Cathy, was
doing a semester abroad at the University of Hull , in Yorkshire .
I and my elder daughter Lissa went over to spend a week of her
spring break with her in Cornwall.
Lissa and I met up with Cathy at Paddington station and took the
train to Redruth, where we would stay with friends for a few nights.
Without going into a long travelogue (if you want one, buy me a beer
sometime – I’ve got pictures, too!) I’ll just say that it was, despite
the weather, a very meaningful trip. It rained almost every day, but
that didn’t stop us from covering a lot of ground in Penwith and
Kerrier. The ancestors come from around Helston, so we stopped
there and even visited the jewelers’ shop that bears the name
Wearne. Being no genealogist, I can only guess that they’re
distant relations.
We did the things you’d expect: St. Michael’s Mount (viewed from
shore due to weather,) Land’s End (including the Dr. Who exhibit,)
Gwennap pit, Lanyon Quoit, Men-An-Tol and spent a pleasant
day (with very little rain!) in St. Ives.
We spent some time in Pubs, including, of course, the Blue Anchor
in Helston – where I met up purely by accident with legendary
musician Dave Sugarbeet, and celebrated our host’s birthday
at the Trefusis Arms in Redruth.
Despite the rain and the short time we had to spend, I feel, or at
least hope, that the girls had a meaningful time. I know that I was
very glad to be able to show them something of the place that means
more to me than almost any place else on Earth. I would preach
about the importance of helping the next generation(s) to connect
with their roots, but I know that you all would agree with me. I’m
just very happy that I had the chance, and took it, to show my
daughters Kernow.
--Jim Wearne
THE GOLDEN PHONE
An American photographer on vacation was inside a church in
Plymouth taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone
mounted on the wall with a sign that read
£10,000 per call
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by
what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a
direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 you could talk to God.
The American thanked the priest and went along his way.
Next stop was in Exeter . There at the cathedral, he saw the same
golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this
was the same kind of telephone he saw in Plymouth and he asked
a nearby guide what its purpose was. She told him that it was a
direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 he could talk to God.
'O.K., thank you,' said the American. He then travelled to
Exmouth, Dawlish & Teignmouth. In every church he saw the
same golden telephone with the same
£10,000 per call sign under it.
Upon leaving Devon he decided to travel to Cornwall to see if
Cornwall had the same phone. He arrived in Redruth, and again,
in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone,
but this time the sign under it read
50 pence per call
The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
'Father, I've travelled all over Devon and I've seen this same golden
telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven,
but in Devon the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap
here?' The priest smiled and answered, 'You're in Cornwall now,
m' ansum ... ‘tis a local call.'
FAREWELL TO KERI
It was announced at Rosanne’s gathering that Keri Ellis, our loyal
member and website manager, is leaving to study in South Africa .
She will certainly be missed. We hope she might send us word of
Cornish in South Africa , because of course we Cornish worked
mines there. Sometimes officials looked on the Cornish with
suspicion because letters from home had a distinct odor. What
was that about? – relatives were sending small packets of saffron!
Here’s to Keri: Oggy Oggy Oggy!!!
BARD ROSANNE HAWKE: A Day to Remember
Cooperating Groups sponsored Rosanne’s Day—
L to R: Rosanne Hawke; Cornish American Heritage Society
President Tommi O’Hagen; ICS representative Sue Pellowe;
Greater Milwaukee Cornish Society President Joe Trewyn;
Celtic Women International Chicago Branch Editor (aka Mover
and Shaker!) Maureen Smith [not pictured]
The festivities began with pasties –
here served up by Brian Treglown – and saffron ice cream! After
lunch and loads of visiting, Rosanne brought greetings from
Kapunda, her hometown in South Australia , the oldest Cornish
mining town in Australia .
She enchantingly told tales of miners and ghosts, showed great
pictures of Kapunda Then and Now, described in some detail
two of her novels with Cornish themes, Wolfchild and Across the
Creek – copies of which she gave to the Society and may be
borrowed by contacting Sue Pellowe. It was in fact a banner
day for her, because she had just learned that another book
has been accepted by a publisher!
A marvelous time was had by all!
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Save the Date: August 7 for our Pasty Picnic.
The Directors of ICS (click to email)
Sue Pellowe
Brian Treglown
Jim Wearne
Newsletter Ebryl/April 2010
SPECIAL GET-TOGETHER: Australian Bard Roseanne Hawke Will Be Our
Guest!! MAY 15 at 12 noon, at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N.
Knox Ave., Chicago, Rm. 304 [accessible by an elevator]. Call it Going
Global! We want to give a proper Midwest Cornish Welcome to Rosanne
Hawke. She is a renowned author of imaginative, entertaining, well-
researched books that combine Cornish legends with her native Australian
setting. In 2005, she won the Holyer an Gof award from the Gorsedd for
Across the River. It features a Dragaroo – a cross between a dragon and a
kangaroo! Sue Pellowe met Rosanne in Australia last year after hearing of her
for ages. Sue talked of another book in the program at Celtic Women
International in February; see her review of Zenna Dare toward the end of this
newsletter. Celtic Women Int’l will join us, as well as the Milwaukee Cornish
Society. You’ll certainly want to come! Rosanne will tell about Kapunda [the
town where she lives, the oldest mining town in Australia, settled by Cornish],
talk of the Cornish in Australia and of her writing about them, illustrated by a
picture show. Interestingly, her trip to Chicago was spurred by a reunion of
people she knew when she lived in the mideast for 10 years – a woman who
wears many hats! Rosanne has a PhD from the University of Adelaide in
Creative Writing and Cornish Identity in Australian Children's Literature and
teaches creative writing. Bring along friends who might share some interests
already mentioned, who write, who read! Welcome Pasty Lunch at noon
Rosanne speaking on Cornish Australia at 12:45 Send-off shortly after 2:00
RSVP for lunch ASAP by May 7 so we can plan accordingly. Please specify
your preference (a la pasty from the UP) and number: ___Large 14 oz pasty,
beef and pork, rutabaga, carrots, onions and potatoes. ___Smaller 8 oz.
pasty, same ingredients. ___Small Breakfast pasty, 8 oz of ham, hash browns,
eggs, onion, swiss and cheddar cheese. ___Veggie pasty, 14 oz of carrots,
potatoes, onions and rutabaga. You may either email Sue Pellowe or phone
Brian.
A donation of $10 will cover lunch, incidentals, and rental of facilities.
The Irish Center is pleased to welcome a fellow Celtic group. They are at a
fairly easy spot for those traveling from suburbs, from Milwaukee, from within
Chicago;
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 North Knox Avenue in Chicago
Phone 773-282-7035
There is a large free parking lot at this old school now transformed into IAHC.
Directions:
Bus. Route 81, Lawrence Avenue , to Lawrence and Kenton; walk 1 block
west to Knox, then 5 minutes south to the school
Car. [compare this with your map; instructions are from Google, Milwaukee
to the address of IAHC]
From Milwaukee area, take I-94East/41 South; go approx 64 miles,
depending on where you got on
Slight right at I-294 S [signs for I-294 S/Indiana-O’Hare]; go 11.7 mi
Take exit onto I-90 E toward Kennedy Expressway/Chicago; go 6.3 mi
Take exit 84 for Lawrence Ave toward 4800 N; go .2 mi
Keep left at fork, Turn left at W Lawrence a few blocks
Turn right at N Kilpatrick Ave [a one-way street]
Turn left at W Wilson Ave [a one-way street]
Take first left onto Knox Ave [a one-way street]
Enter the parking lot, enter the door at the end of the building, turn Right down
the hallway to an elevator on your right. Come to 3rd floor, turn right again to
Room 304. Welcome!
You may also get a good idea of the trip from googling maps with destination
of 4626 N Knox Ave Chicago, IL 60630
From north and northwestern suburbs, relatively the same
From western and southern suburbs, to avoid roadwork, might be easiest to
take 88 to 294 near O’Hare, then to I-90 and follow the instructions above.
A bit out of the way, but possibly quicker!
THE HIGHLAND GAMES
The 24th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games to be held June 18th
from 4:00-10:00pm and June 19th from 8:00am – 9:00pm at the Oak
Brook Polo Grounds in Oak Brook. They welcome other Celtic Groups
and this year they’ll be happy to have us. The lively Games feature Scottish
attractions including:
Piping and Drumming; Highland Dance; Rugby Challenge; youth soccer
tournament; traditional and Celtic rock musical performances; genealogy and
cultural exhibits; Parade of Clan Tartans; children’s activities; Dogs of
Scotland and other animal presentations; British Car Show; Haggis Hurling
Contest for women, Knobbly Knees contest for men, Haggis Eating Contest!
There is traditional Scottish cuisine, Scotch shortbread, Scotch whisky
tastings, and seminars and shopping in the Celtic Marketplace.
We think it would be good to participate in this for 2010. We picked up some
important members from earlier presence at the Games. We need people to
staff our booth, and we need to know by May 1. It will be 12 x12 feet and
we foresee setting it up with just a couple of tables so there’s plenty of room
for people to step in and chat, sign up, enthuse about the Homeland.
CAN YOU BE THERE TO HELP FOR 2 or 3 HOURS? Please call Brian
Treglown ASAP to let him know when you can be available, at 773-764-
3313 or email Brian.
OUR SYMPATHIES
We extend our sympathy to—
Keri Ellis, whose father passed away on St. Piran’s Day. Tom Ellis was a
loyal Cornishman and a charter member of Keweenaw Kernewek in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula . He had an impressive career as an engineer and
teacher. He was married in 1968 to Jean Ellis (a Cornish Bard). There will be
a memorial service for him in Calumet on May 30, Memorial Day weekend.
Susan Stratton Hayden, whose husband Cliff passed away on January 31 after
an extended series of surgeries and complications. He was a Cornishman by
marriage! Sue reports that he loved pasties, which may be one reason that she
loves to host our Pasty Picnic.
FAME FOR ILLINOIS CORNISH SOCIETY
Do you realize we are known internationally?! The latest issue of CORNISH
WORLD, for instance, with subscribers all over the world, carried four items
about/by us – Brian Treglown wrote a letter to the editor about his miner
grandfather hearing the ocean break above his head when digging in the
Levant mine. Jim Wearne wrote about Cornish world champion boxer Bob
Fitzsimmons being buried in Chicago ’s Graceland cemetery … more to
follow on that topic next month. Our D’reckly Christmas even rated a photo
of Carl Johnson providing harp music. Sue Pellowe was highlighted and
pictured in a new feature on Cornish surnames in which Pellowe was the
featured name. What a privilege to be part of this celebrated Illinois Cornish
Society!
While we welcome and need your dues payments (see below), of equal
importance to the ICS is your active participation. As a society, we hold and
participate in events. These events are, we feel, such as will interest anyone
who has a love for and interest in Cornwall . Whether is it a booth at a festival,
a meeting with a touring artist or author, a dinner or meeting with another
Society, a performance or presentation by one of our members or a guest, we
look for our members to come and be a part.
These events will be announced in the newsletter, and by special emails. If
transportation is a problem, please let us know. When possible we can
provide a ride, or advise as to what public transportation is available.
Suburbanites, please come to the city. Urbanites, please come to the suburbs.
We enjoy seeing our old friends and "regulars" at meetings and events, but are
eager to see new faces (and ones we haven't seen in a while.) We also
welcome guests and interested strangers. Bring your neighbors, kids and
grand-kids. We're all about spreading the news of Cornish culture and
heritage. The more the merrier! (Just let us know in advance how many you're
bringing.) We also welcome suggestions for events and activities that will be of
interest. Please let us have your ideas (and don't be surprised if you're put in
charge of the event!).
Can't remember if you've paid dues yet this year? Thanks to those who have:
Brown, Ellis, Hayden, Hodges, McGlone, Miller, Pellowe, Treglown,
Wearne. For others, a dues/membership form is attached, or you may simply
send a check to Brian Treglown, address at the bottom of this newsletter.
Annual dues are $15 per household.
WHO WAS ZENNA DARE?
Zenna Dare, By Rosanne Hawke
Reviewed by Susan Pellowe
A page-turner of a book by Rosanne Hawke, here a chronicler of the Cornish
Diaspora in Australia, and a Cornish Bard who will visit Chicago in May.
When teenage Jenefer moves from Adelaide to an old family home in Cornish-
settled Kapunda, she becomes friends with an aboriginal boy named Caleb
and she finds in her basement room an antique model house from an ancestor
that has secret compartments. Intrigue! What do the celebrity music-hall
postcards among the old papers have to do with her great-great-great-
grandmother, who came from Cornwall ? Had she led a double life? Triple?!
Caleb, who is aware of his own cultural identity, helps her search for
relationships. Author Hawke uses occasional chapter headers from British
Music Hall songs, Methodism, literature and scripture that add a rare
dimension. Zenna Dare is a well-researched novel about immigration, identity,
treatment of indigenous people, difficulties of changing your life and your
allegiances – all of it Cornish but all of it universal. Alas, the 2002 book,
reprinted in 2005, is tricky to find, but more than worth it!
ADDITIONAL DATES TO SAVE!! GET THESE ON YOUR
CALENDAR NOW!
Sue Hayden has invited us for the annual pasty picnic, August 7, 2010.
The next Gathering of the national Cornish American Heritage Society will
take place August 10-14, 2011 - in Mineral Point , WI .
CONTACT INFORMATION for the Directors of ICS
The Directors of ICS (click to email)
Sue Pellowe
Brian Treglown
Jim Wearne
Feel free to contact any of us for information.
Keri Ellis, our Webmaster
She is willing to hear compliments, suggestions, or problems about our website.
If you get the newsletter and announcements by snail-mail but would be happy
to get it faster by email, please let us have your email address.
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Newsletter Kevardhu/December 2009
D’RECKLY CHRISTMAS PARTY ~ JANUARY 9, 2010 ~ 2:00-5:00
NADELEK LOWEN!
Remember we have an extraordinarily enticing program this year! –
A short Cornish Christmas film, The Mousehole Cat plus scenes of Cornwall
Gift exchange
Live harp music with harpist par excellence Carl Johnson and his special
Cornish music/cultural presentation
Cornish Christmas carol
Nibbles and saffron ice cream!
INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY BE
CORNISH BY MARRIAGE
CORNISH BY OSMOSIS
CORNISH BY CONTAMINATION[!]
JUST PLAIN CORNISH BY ADDICTION!
Spread the word!
Please RSVP by January 4 to Sue Pellowe.
The building likes to have a list of who’s expected in advance. If however you
have a last-minute change of plans, call Sue at 773-248-5774.
Food – As indicated, there will be ice cream and you are invited to bring
favorite simple nibbles to share. This is neither lunch nor supper, but there is
time to enjoy lunch or supper in Chicago before or after for a Perfect Day Out.
Gifts – if you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a modest gift that’s
fun, or something Cornish, or an olyfans gwyn [white elephant], or maybe all
three!
Donation – we will appreciate contributions to the rental of the room and the
entertainment. Give whatever you comfortably can; suggested donation is $10.
Getting here. The address is 5415 N Sheridan Road in Chicago. It is a tall
black building on the east side of Sheridan at Balmoral, on the park on the
lake.
For those coming by bus, both the 151 and the 147 stop at the door! The
stop is Balmoral, 2 blocks north of Foster on Sheridan. The nearest el is
Berwyn on the Red Line; turn right (east) when you exit the station, walk 2-
1/2 blocks to Sheridan; turn left and walk one block north.
By car, find your way to or within Chicago. Sheridan is an extension of Lake
Shore Drive on Chicago’s north side. From the loop, take the Drive north, exit
at Foster. Come 2 long blocks to the 2nd light, Sheridan. Turn right (north).
The 2nd stoplight is Balmoral, with Sue’s 55-story black condo building, Park
Tower, on the right. Drive past the building to the driveway on the north side
of the building; turn in, proceed to the parking doors on the right. When you
approach the righthand door, it will rise for you. Go in, pull up and an
attendant will park your car for you and show you where the elevator to
ground floor is. If you have someone handicapped with you, you may want to
let them out at the circular drive when you first approach the building and then
go park the car.
FREE PARKING! Take the parking ticket from the parking crew, bring it to
the party and get it validated with a bright orange sticker to turn in when you
un-park.
Entering the Building: from the main doors, register with the Doorman and he
will direct you to the Party Room on second floor. From the building Parking
area, take the elevator to ground floor; follow the signs to the Lobby and
Doorman. [Exit elevator, turn right, turn right again at the first hallway, pass
through the two doors, turn right and then left. There’s the doorman!]
Given that it will be January, the start of a new year, it's a good time to join!
Dues remain $15 per family [one or more persons at the same address]. You
may either bring it to the party or mail it to treasurer Brian Treglown, 6236 N
Wayne St, Chicago IL 60660. Make checks payable to Illinois Cornish
Society.
Tom Bawcock and Starry Gazy Pie
'Twas the week before Christmas and there were no pirates in Penzance. Four
miles southwest of Penzance, there were no reported mice in Mousehole.
Worst of all, there were no fish in Mousehole.
This was the 18th century and life in the West of Britain was hard. Storms for
which this Cornish coast is famous had lasted days longer than usual. Even
before the storms, the catch had been light. The tiny fishing village was starving
for lack of its staple — fish. When day after day, gale-force winds and furious
breakers kept boats from setting out, starvation set in.
Tom Bawcock could not bear the desperation around him. He gathered a
determined crew and shoved off. Miraculously, they returned with the boat
loaded with seven kinds of fish. The town was saved and a legend born.
Nearly 200 years later, Mousehole celebrates Tom Bawcock Eve on Dec.
23. The Ship Inn, a popular pub at the town center, bakes a specialty fish pie
called Starry Gazy Pie. The recipe calls for 8 stone (112 pounds) of pilchards,
lances, ling cod, dogfish, haddock, coley and gurnard. A firm top crust is
essential, because some of the fishes' heads stick up through it to gaze at the
stars. Hence the name.
Visitors who prefer not to see their dinner staring back at them can easily find
in Mousehole at Christmas sights that are lovelier and at least as memorable.
Scattered up and down the village's narrow steep lanes are Christmas scenes
outlined by thousands of tiny lights. Santas, sleighs, reindeer, stars, angels and
manger scenes sparkle in the crisp night. Viewed from the embracing arms of
the quay, it looks magical.
The typical gray stone or whitewashed cottages, normally somewhat austere
appearing, look cheerful for the holidays with wreaths or bows on the doors
and candles in the deep window ledges.
Oldtimers recall when every boat in the harbor had a Christmas tree tied to the
mast top. That tradition dwindled along with the fishing fleet. Indoors,
however, the Methodist chapels, the shops and the homes are festive with
ornaments and with entwined holly and ivy harvested from their profusion
along country lanes.
Halfway up Raginnis Hill sits the renowned Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital and
Sanctuary. In Its tall meshed spaces, it cares for about 1,500 injured birds
yearly. The challenge of rescuing and cleaning more than 8,000 oiled birds
after the nearby Torrey Canyon oil spill in 1967 led to a remarkable new
method for cleaning birds.
It Is fitting that a bird hospital be in Mousehole, for the gull population of the
town surely outnumbers the human. Gulls perch on warm chimneypots and
wet roofs, on anchored boats and vined trellises. They and their raucous calls
are everywhere. Their dawn cacophony wakes you. their muted daytime call
serenades you, their nighttime cry penetrates your sleep so that you wake
having dreamed of gulls.
Predictably, some residents do not love the pesty birds. They claim that if gulls
were only tastier, Tom Bawcock need never have set out in the storm. Instead
of Starry Gazy Pie, they say, Mousehole would celebrate Dec. 23 by cooking
up great potfuls of steaming hot, well-seasoned fresh and flavorful Gull Stew.
Given that alternative, devoted fans of soaring gulls declare Tom Bawcock a
hero indeed and agree that fish heads poking through a pie crust look
positively appetizing on Christmas Eve's Eve.
Cornish Christmas Decorations
The Christmas Bush formed the main decoration in many parts of Cornwall.
This was made of two wooden hoops fastened together at right angles, and
bound lavishly with evergreens. Into this green foundation were woven scarlet
ribbons and bows, apples, oranges, fir-cones, flowers, nuts and in fact almost
any decorative item that could be found. A lighted candle was set inside it
(beware of the fire risk, and make sure the flame is not near inflammable
items), and finally the Bush was hung on high for couples to kiss under, just as
they do beneath the mistletoe.
All kinds of greenery were brought into the house to decorate beams and
ledges, and aromatic herbs such as rosemary and bay which gave not only a
festive appearance but also a sweet smell to the rooms.
Homes were thoroughly cleaned, even whitewashed, to receive the Christmas
decorations. The best, whitest beeswax was used to make a specially
decorated candle, and eggs were blown and decorated, then hung in windows
– probably the predecessors of the modern glass balls that are hung on
Christmas trees.
NADELEK LOWEN
BLEDHEN NOWETH DA
Du/November 2009 ~ Happy Thanksgiving!!
If Thanksgiving is upon us, can Christmas be far behind?
This week Brian, Keri, and Sue decorated our tree at Chicago City Hall/Cook
County Building, where each year County Treasurer Maria Pappas provides
Christmas trees for around 75 ethnic groups to decorate. They literally fill the
counter space for a month! Here is this year’s Cornish tree, done up in
Cornish shields, silver balls to represent tin, and St Piran flags. Nadelek
Lowen/Merry Christmas!
Remember our D’reckly Christmas Party on January 9!
Live Harp ~ Carols ~ Film ~ Gifts ~ Saffron Ice Cream
Details to follow next month
The Directors of ICS (click to email)
Sue Pellowe
Brian Treglown
Jim Wearne
Feel free to contact any of us for information.
Keri Ellis, our Webmaster
She is willing to hear compliments, suggestions, or problems about our website.
If you get the newsletter and announcements by snail-mail but would be happy
to get it faster by email, please let us have your email address.
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Hedra/October 2009 Newsletter
Oggie, oggie, oggie!!! –
Pirates of Penzance were a hit at Celtic Fest!
Many many people stopped to laugh, to take photos of our giant Penzance
poster with the warning
Pirates may be in residence—
Guard your money,
Guard your daughters,
Listen for music if you run into
PIRATES OF PENZANCE !!
Above it hung a pirate pinata and inside were a Jolly Roger pirate flag and a
lifesize costume of a “proper” pirate! Lots of folk stayed to talk, several with
Cornish heritage, some with a simple love of a place they had visited. Many of
those have signed up to receive our news-sheet by email. Welcome, new
readers!!! We hope you will want to join us.
Thanks to all members who spent a day or two staffing the booth – Janet
Miller, Phyllis and Bill Igoe, Deb and Ray Walsh, Keri Ellis, Dawn and Buddy
McGlone, Jim Wearne, Brian Treglown, and Sue Pellowe. A great turnout!
Our partnering with Celtic Women International was an enjoyable success,
too. Their collage of photos out front was another interesting come-on that
attracted people.
The news mentions the city may pull back on 2010 festivals due to budget
cuts. Let’s hope Celtic Fest does not disappear.
CORNISH AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY
Thanks to our parent organization CAHS, we qualified for insurance that met
Chicago ’s requirements. Of course as usual we displayed some info about
CAHS and particularly some newsletters. That called our attention to the fact
that many of our members do not belong to the inter-national network
organization. International because “American” includes Canada , US, and
Mexico .
Do take a minute or two to consider this. One major advantage is the
newsletter, Tam Kernewek (A Bit of Cornish). TK, as it’s fondly referred to,
has much broader “bits” than Illinois Cornish Newsletter – for instance bits
from other Cornish societies from Vancouver to New Jersey to Mineral Point
and many others. Published quarterly, its 20-ish pages also carry news from
Cornwall, highlights of upcoming events in Cornwall as well as N. America,
previews and reviews of national Gatherings, Cornish Language lessons,
recipes, research on Cornish places, and links to genealogical information and
people looking for family members.
Subscription comes with membership, at a mere $12 per year for individual,
$18 for family (at same address). What a bargain!! Become a proud part of
the greater Cornish connection by downloading the membership form on
CAHS’s website, www.cousinjack.org.
D’RECKLY CHRISTMAS PARTY—
SAVE THE DATE!!! JANUARY 9, 2010
2:00-5:00, 5415 N Sheridan in Chicago, free parking or easy access by
public transportation
WARNING for those who may not know, Cornish have a favorite
saying/habit, of “doing it d’reckly”, which translates to doing a thing as soon as
we can get around to it. We never could find an agreeable date for a
December party, so we invented an idea [since copied by others] of having a
D’reckly Christmas, in January!
This year’s D’reckly Christmas will be celebrated on January 9, 2010, from 2:
00-5:00 at Sue Pellowe’s condo’s party room,
We have an extraordinarily enticing program this year! –
A short Cornish film
Gift exchange
Live harp music with harpist par excellence Carl Johnson,
who has ties to Cornwall and will offer us a special Cornish
music/cultural presentation
Saffron ice cream!
INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY BE
CORNISH BY MARRIAGE
CORNISH BY OSMOSIS
CORNISH BY CONTAMINATION[!]
JUST PLAIN CORNISH BY ADDICTION!
Spread the word so they too can Save the Date.
Looking Forward to Coming Events
One of these may be a joint meeting with Celtic Women International
March 5 ~~ Saint Piran’s Day
St. Piran is the Cornish saint of miners. His flag is the black-and-white flag that
is now a symbol of Cornwall and his celebration day is March 5. In Cornwall
there are parades through the streets and a very special one to St. Piran’s
Oratory, for centuries buried in the sand but recently being un-earthed!
All Cornish fly the flag on St. Piran’s Day!
Cornish Film Festival
In the Spring, exact date To Be Announced
Long an artist’s colony, in recent years an impressive film colony and film
school have flourished in Cornwall . This is a chance to see some films by
others (like The Shell Seekers, set in Cornwall ) and by Cornish
filmmakers (The Wrecking Season by Jane and Nick Darke).
Popcorn will be served!
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!!
In this issue:
PASTY PICNIC!
HIGHLAND GAMES
GENEALOGIST OPPORTUNITY
BONUS INSPIRATION
WEBSITES TO VISIT
PASTY PICNIC at Sue Hayden’s
214 Caledonian, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Saturday, August 7, 2010, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
RSVP to Sue at (630) 466-4533
and indicate whether you plan to bring pasties or
other goodies.
See last page for how to get there.
Sue was in Cornwall earlier this summer; we’ll hear about
her trip!
We’ll also discuss future dates and events.
HIGHLAND GAMES
Those who attended said it was an entertaining
combination of clans and some various Celts. We
had some people sign up to learn more about ICS,
so besides fun it was worthwhile.
GENEALOGIST OPPORTUNITY
Any genealogist out there? The Illinois State
Genealogical Society is having a one-day conference
in researching your family history. The conference
will take place at the historic Hotel Pere Marquette
Hotel in Peoria on Saturday, October 23 from 8:00 am
to 4:00 pm. There will be speakers on genealogy,
plus topics and vendors all primed to help you search
for your own family history.
For more information about attending, contact Carol
McGee, 906 Main, Princeton, IL 61356 or the Pere
Marquette Hotel at 309 637-6500.
if you plan to go, please contact Brian Treglown (below)
and perhaps he can arrange for you to pack along a little
information about ICS.
BONUS INSPIRATION
This picture is from Greater Milwaukee Cornish Society,
whose President Joe Trewyn some of you met at our
Special Gathering with Australian Bard Rosanne Hawke.
Elaine Tredinnick with her hand knit lap robe, in
Milwaukee, May 1, 2010
WEBSITES TO VISIT
Illinois Cornish Society: www.illinoiscornishsociety.org
Cornish American Heritage Society: www.cousinjack.org
CONTACT INFORMATION for the Directors of ICS
Sue Pellowe, spellowe7@gmail.com,
5415 N Sheridan Rd #408, Chicago IL 60640,
773-248-5774
Brian Treglown, btreglown@aol.com,
6236 N Wayne St, Chicago IL 60660,
773-764-3313
Jim Wearne, j.wearne@comcast.net,
2521 Spring St #2906, Woodridge IL 60517,
630-910-1634
Feel free to contact any of us for information.
How to get to get to the best-ever Pasty Picnic—
Travel Tips
By car: From wherever you are, figure out how to
get on the I-88 west toward Aurora. Exit at the
third Aurora exit and follow instruction below.
A small Cornish flag will be on Sue’s porch!
Directions:
By car: Take I-88 to Sugar Grove exit (Illinois 56),
exit onto Galena Blvd then right onto Galena Blvd
and follow it to Illinois 47. Turn right onto Illinois 47
then turn left at Wheeler Road/Bliss Road (stoplight).
From Wheeler Road turn left onto Hampstead Drive
then right onto Caledonian Drive. Follow
Caledonian around to 214 (on east/left side).
If you have problems, Sue’s phone number is
(630) 466-4533.
Other Arrangements:
If you need to use public transportation, take the
train to Aurora. Saturdays the 10:30 train from
Chicago gets to Aurora at 11:46; Sugar Grove is
about 20 minutes’ drive from Aurora train station.
Call Sue to arrange for pick-up. The train runs
from Aurora to Chicago at 4:20, getting to Union
Station at 5:42.
For trains from other suburbs, call Metra.
See you August 7th at 12:30!
JIM WEARNE IN CORNWALL
Spreading the proud heritage to family – an example for all. This past
March, I had the great pleasure of showing my two daughters
Cornwall for the first time. Finally they got to see what I had been
going on about all these years. My younger daughter, Cathy, was
doing a semester abroad at the University of Hull , in Yorkshire .
I and my elder daughter Lissa went over to spend a week of her
spring break with her in Cornwall.
Lissa and I met up with Cathy at Paddington station and took the
train to Redruth, where we would stay with friends for a few nights.
Without going into a long travelogue (if you want one, buy me a beer
sometime – I’ve got pictures, too!) I’ll just say that it was, despite
the weather, a very meaningful trip. It rained almost every day, but
that didn’t stop us from covering a lot of ground in Penwith and
Kerrier. The ancestors come from around Helston, so we stopped
there and even visited the jewelers’ shop that bears the name
Wearne. Being no genealogist, I can only guess that they’re
distant relations.
We did the things you’d expect: St. Michael’s Mount (viewed from
shore due to weather,) Land’s End (including the Dr. Who exhibit,)
Gwennap pit, Lanyon Quoit, Men-An-Tol and spent a pleasant
day (with very little rain!) in St. Ives.
We spent some time in Pubs, including, of course, the Blue Anchor
in Helston – where I met up purely by accident with legendary
musician Dave Sugarbeet, and celebrated our host’s birthday
at the Trefusis Arms in Redruth.
Despite the rain and the short time we had to spend, I feel, or at
least hope, that the girls had a meaningful time. I know that I was
very glad to be able to show them something of the place that means
more to me than almost any place else on Earth. I would preach
about the importance of helping the next generation(s) to connect
with their roots, but I know that you all would agree with me. I’m
just very happy that I had the chance, and took it, to show my
daughters Kernow.
--Jim Wearne
THE GOLDEN PHONE
An American photographer on vacation was inside a church in
Plymouth taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone
mounted on the wall with a sign that read
£10,000 per call
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by
what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a
direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 you could talk to God.
The American thanked the priest and went along his way.
Next stop was in Exeter . There at the cathedral, he saw the same
golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this
was the same kind of telephone he saw in Plymouth and he asked
a nearby guide what its purpose was. She told him that it was a
direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 he could talk to God.
'O.K., thank you,' said the American. He then travelled to
Exmouth, Dawlish & Teignmouth. In every church he saw the
same golden telephone with the same
£10,000 per call sign under it.
Upon leaving Devon he decided to travel to Cornwall to see if
Cornwall had the same phone. He arrived in Redruth, and again,
in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone,
but this time the sign under it read
50 pence per call
The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
'Father, I've travelled all over Devon and I've seen this same golden
telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven,
but in Devon the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap
here?' The priest smiled and answered, 'You're in Cornwall now,
m' ansum ... ‘tis a local call.'
FAREWELL TO KERI
It was announced at Rosanne’s gathering that Keri Ellis, our loyal
member and website manager, is leaving to study in South Africa .
She will certainly be missed. We hope she might send us word of
Cornish in South Africa , because of course we Cornish worked
mines there. Sometimes officials looked on the Cornish with
suspicion because letters from home had a distinct odor. What
was that about? – relatives were sending small packets of saffron!
Here’s to Keri: Oggy Oggy Oggy!!!
BARD ROSANNE HAWKE: A Day to Remember
Cooperating Groups sponsored Rosanne’s Day—
L to R: Rosanne Hawke; Cornish American Heritage Society
President Tommi O’Hagen; ICS representative Sue Pellowe;
Greater Milwaukee Cornish Society President Joe Trewyn;
Celtic Women International Chicago Branch Editor (aka Mover
and Shaker!) Maureen Smith [not pictured]
The festivities began with pasties –
here served up by Brian Treglown – and saffron ice cream! After
lunch and loads of visiting, Rosanne brought greetings from
Kapunda, her hometown in South Australia , the oldest Cornish
mining town in Australia .
She enchantingly told tales of miners and ghosts, showed great
pictures of Kapunda Then and Now, described in some detail
two of her novels with Cornish themes, Wolfchild and Across the
Creek – copies of which she gave to the Society and may be
borrowed by contacting Sue Pellowe. It was in fact a banner
day for her, because she had just learned that another book
has been accepted by a publisher!
A marvelous time was had by all!
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Save the Date: August 7 for our Pasty Picnic.
The Directors of ICS (click to email)
Sue Pellowe
Brian Treglown
Jim Wearne
Newsletter Ebryl/April 2010
SPECIAL GET-TOGETHER: Australian Bard Roseanne Hawke Will Be Our
Guest!! MAY 15 at 12 noon, at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N.
Knox Ave., Chicago, Rm. 304 [accessible by an elevator]. Call it Going
Global! We want to give a proper Midwest Cornish Welcome to Rosanne
Hawke. She is a renowned author of imaginative, entertaining, well-
researched books that combine Cornish legends with her native Australian
setting. In 2005, she won the Holyer an Gof award from the Gorsedd for
Across the River. It features a Dragaroo – a cross between a dragon and a
kangaroo! Sue Pellowe met Rosanne in Australia last year after hearing of her
for ages. Sue talked of another book in the program at Celtic Women
International in February; see her review of Zenna Dare toward the end of this
newsletter. Celtic Women Int’l will join us, as well as the Milwaukee Cornish
Society. You’ll certainly want to come! Rosanne will tell about Kapunda [the
town where she lives, the oldest mining town in Australia, settled by Cornish],
talk of the Cornish in Australia and of her writing about them, illustrated by a
picture show. Interestingly, her trip to Chicago was spurred by a reunion of
people she knew when she lived in the mideast for 10 years – a woman who
wears many hats! Rosanne has a PhD from the University of Adelaide in
Creative Writing and Cornish Identity in Australian Children's Literature and
teaches creative writing. Bring along friends who might share some interests
already mentioned, who write, who read! Welcome Pasty Lunch at noon
Rosanne speaking on Cornish Australia at 12:45 Send-off shortly after 2:00
RSVP for lunch ASAP by May 7 so we can plan accordingly. Please specify
your preference (a la pasty from the UP) and number: ___Large 14 oz pasty,
beef and pork, rutabaga, carrots, onions and potatoes. ___Smaller 8 oz.
pasty, same ingredients. ___Small Breakfast pasty, 8 oz of ham, hash browns,
eggs, onion, swiss and cheddar cheese. ___Veggie pasty, 14 oz of carrots,
potatoes, onions and rutabaga. You may either email Sue Pellowe or phone
Brian.
A donation of $10 will cover lunch, incidentals, and rental of facilities.
The Irish Center is pleased to welcome a fellow Celtic group. They are at a
fairly easy spot for those traveling from suburbs, from Milwaukee, from within
Chicago;
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 North Knox Avenue in Chicago
Phone 773-282-7035
There is a large free parking lot at this old school now transformed into IAHC.
Directions:
Bus. Route 81, Lawrence Avenue , to Lawrence and Kenton; walk 1 block
west to Knox, then 5 minutes south to the school
Car. [compare this with your map; instructions are from Google, Milwaukee
to the address of IAHC]
From Milwaukee area, take I-94East/41 South; go approx 64 miles,
depending on where you got on
Slight right at I-294 S [signs for I-294 S/Indiana-O’Hare]; go 11.7 mi
Take exit onto I-90 E toward Kennedy Expressway/Chicago; go 6.3 mi
Take exit 84 for Lawrence Ave toward 4800 N; go .2 mi
Keep left at fork, Turn left at W Lawrence a few blocks
Turn right at N Kilpatrick Ave [a one-way street]
Turn left at W Wilson Ave [a one-way street]
Take first left onto Knox Ave [a one-way street]
Enter the parking lot, enter the door at the end of the building, turn Right down
the hallway to an elevator on your right. Come to 3rd floor, turn right again to
Room 304. Welcome!
You may also get a good idea of the trip from googling maps with destination
of 4626 N Knox Ave Chicago, IL 60630
From north and northwestern suburbs, relatively the same
From western and southern suburbs, to avoid roadwork, might be easiest to
take 88 to 294 near O’Hare, then to I-90 and follow the instructions above.
A bit out of the way, but possibly quicker!
THE HIGHLAND GAMES
The 24th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games to be held June 18th
from 4:00-10:00pm and June 19th from 8:00am – 9:00pm at the Oak
Brook Polo Grounds in Oak Brook. They welcome other Celtic Groups
and this year they’ll be happy to have us. The lively Games feature Scottish
attractions including:
Piping and Drumming; Highland Dance; Rugby Challenge; youth soccer
tournament; traditional and Celtic rock musical performances; genealogy and
cultural exhibits; Parade of Clan Tartans; children’s activities; Dogs of
Scotland and other animal presentations; British Car Show; Haggis Hurling
Contest for women, Knobbly Knees contest for men, Haggis Eating Contest!
There is traditional Scottish cuisine, Scotch shortbread, Scotch whisky
tastings, and seminars and shopping in the Celtic Marketplace.
We think it would be good to participate in this for 2010. We picked up some
important members from earlier presence at the Games. We need people to
staff our booth, and we need to know by May 1. It will be 12 x12 feet and
we foresee setting it up with just a couple of tables so there’s plenty of room
for people to step in and chat, sign up, enthuse about the Homeland.
CAN YOU BE THERE TO HELP FOR 2 or 3 HOURS? Please call Brian
Treglown ASAP to let him know when you can be available, at 773-764-
3313 or email Brian.
OUR SYMPATHIES
We extend our sympathy to—
Keri Ellis, whose father passed away on St. Piran’s Day. Tom Ellis was a
loyal Cornishman and a charter member of Keweenaw Kernewek in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula . He had an impressive career as an engineer and
teacher. He was married in 1968 to Jean Ellis (a Cornish Bard). There will be
a memorial service for him in Calumet on May 30, Memorial Day weekend.
Susan Stratton Hayden, whose husband Cliff passed away on January 31 after
an extended series of surgeries and complications. He was a Cornishman by
marriage! Sue reports that he loved pasties, which may be one reason that she
loves to host our Pasty Picnic.
FAME FOR ILLINOIS CORNISH SOCIETY
Do you realize we are known internationally?! The latest issue of CORNISH
WORLD, for instance, with subscribers all over the world, carried four items
about/by us – Brian Treglown wrote a letter to the editor about his miner
grandfather hearing the ocean break above his head when digging in the
Levant mine. Jim Wearne wrote about Cornish world champion boxer Bob
Fitzsimmons being buried in Chicago ’s Graceland cemetery … more to
follow on that topic next month. Our D’reckly Christmas even rated a photo
of Carl Johnson providing harp music. Sue Pellowe was highlighted and
pictured in a new feature on Cornish surnames in which Pellowe was the
featured name. What a privilege to be part of this celebrated Illinois Cornish
Society!
While we welcome and need your dues payments (see below), of equal
importance to the ICS is your active participation. As a society, we hold and
participate in events. These events are, we feel, such as will interest anyone
who has a love for and interest in Cornwall . Whether is it a booth at a festival,
a meeting with a touring artist or author, a dinner or meeting with another
Society, a performance or presentation by one of our members or a guest, we
look for our members to come and be a part.
These events will be announced in the newsletter, and by special emails. If
transportation is a problem, please let us know. When possible we can
provide a ride, or advise as to what public transportation is available.
Suburbanites, please come to the city. Urbanites, please come to the suburbs.
We enjoy seeing our old friends and "regulars" at meetings and events, but are
eager to see new faces (and ones we haven't seen in a while.) We also
welcome guests and interested strangers. Bring your neighbors, kids and
grand-kids. We're all about spreading the news of Cornish culture and
heritage. The more the merrier! (Just let us know in advance how many you're
bringing.) We also welcome suggestions for events and activities that will be of
interest. Please let us have your ideas (and don't be surprised if you're put in
charge of the event!).
Can't remember if you've paid dues yet this year? Thanks to those who have:
Brown, Ellis, Hayden, Hodges, McGlone, Miller, Pellowe, Treglown,
Wearne. For others, a dues/membership form is attached, or you may simply
send a check to Brian Treglown, address at the bottom of this newsletter.
Annual dues are $15 per household.
WHO WAS ZENNA DARE?
Zenna Dare, By Rosanne Hawke
Reviewed by Susan Pellowe
A page-turner of a book by Rosanne Hawke, here a chronicler of the Cornish
Diaspora in Australia, and a Cornish Bard who will visit Chicago in May.
When teenage Jenefer moves from Adelaide to an old family home in Cornish-
settled Kapunda, she becomes friends with an aboriginal boy named Caleb
and she finds in her basement room an antique model house from an ancestor
that has secret compartments. Intrigue! What do the celebrity music-hall
postcards among the old papers have to do with her great-great-great-
grandmother, who came from Cornwall ? Had she led a double life? Triple?!
Caleb, who is aware of his own cultural identity, helps her search for
relationships. Author Hawke uses occasional chapter headers from British
Music Hall songs, Methodism, literature and scripture that add a rare
dimension. Zenna Dare is a well-researched novel about immigration, identity,
treatment of indigenous people, difficulties of changing your life and your
allegiances – all of it Cornish but all of it universal. Alas, the 2002 book,
reprinted in 2005, is tricky to find, but more than worth it!
ADDITIONAL DATES TO SAVE!! GET THESE ON YOUR
CALENDAR NOW!
Sue Hayden has invited us for the annual pasty picnic, August 7, 2010.
The next Gathering of the national Cornish American Heritage Society will
take place August 10-14, 2011 - in Mineral Point , WI .
CONTACT INFORMATION for the Directors of ICS
The Directors of ICS (click to email)
Sue Pellowe
Brian Treglown
Jim Wearne
Feel free to contact any of us for information.
Keri Ellis, our Webmaster
She is willing to hear compliments, suggestions, or problems about our website.
If you get the newsletter and announcements by snail-mail but would be happy
to get it faster by email, please let us have your email address.
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Newsletter Kevardhu/December 2009
D’RECKLY CHRISTMAS PARTY ~ JANUARY 9, 2010 ~ 2:00-5:00
NADELEK LOWEN!
Remember we have an extraordinarily enticing program this year! –
A short Cornish Christmas film, The Mousehole Cat plus scenes of Cornwall
Gift exchange
Live harp music with harpist par excellence Carl Johnson and his special
Cornish music/cultural presentation
Cornish Christmas carol
Nibbles and saffron ice cream!
INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY BE
CORNISH BY MARRIAGE
CORNISH BY OSMOSIS
CORNISH BY CONTAMINATION[!]
JUST PLAIN CORNISH BY ADDICTION!
Spread the word!
Please RSVP by January 4 to Sue Pellowe.
The building likes to have a list of who’s expected in advance. If however you
have a last-minute change of plans, call Sue at 773-248-5774.
Food – As indicated, there will be ice cream and you are invited to bring
favorite simple nibbles to share. This is neither lunch nor supper, but there is
time to enjoy lunch or supper in Chicago before or after for a Perfect Day Out.
Gifts – if you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a modest gift that’s
fun, or something Cornish, or an olyfans gwyn [white elephant], or maybe all
three!
Donation – we will appreciate contributions to the rental of the room and the
entertainment. Give whatever you comfortably can; suggested donation is $10.
Getting here. The address is 5415 N Sheridan Road in Chicago. It is a tall
black building on the east side of Sheridan at Balmoral, on the park on the
lake.
For those coming by bus, both the 151 and the 147 stop at the door! The
stop is Balmoral, 2 blocks north of Foster on Sheridan. The nearest el is
Berwyn on the Red Line; turn right (east) when you exit the station, walk 2-
1/2 blocks to Sheridan; turn left and walk one block north.
By car, find your way to or within Chicago. Sheridan is an extension of Lake
Shore Drive on Chicago’s north side. From the loop, take the Drive north, exit
at Foster. Come 2 long blocks to the 2nd light, Sheridan. Turn right (north).
The 2nd stoplight is Balmoral, with Sue’s 55-story black condo building, Park
Tower, on the right. Drive past the building to the driveway on the north side
of the building; turn in, proceed to the parking doors on the right. When you
approach the righthand door, it will rise for you. Go in, pull up and an
attendant will park your car for you and show you where the elevator to
ground floor is. If you have someone handicapped with you, you may want to
let them out at the circular drive when you first approach the building and then
go park the car.
FREE PARKING! Take the parking ticket from the parking crew, bring it to
the party and get it validated with a bright orange sticker to turn in when you
un-park.
Entering the Building: from the main doors, register with the Doorman and he
will direct you to the Party Room on second floor. From the building Parking
area, take the elevator to ground floor; follow the signs to the Lobby and
Doorman. [Exit elevator, turn right, turn right again at the first hallway, pass
through the two doors, turn right and then left. There’s the doorman!]
Given that it will be January, the start of a new year, it's a good time to join!
Dues remain $15 per family [one or more persons at the same address]. You
may either bring it to the party or mail it to treasurer Brian Treglown, 6236 N
Wayne St, Chicago IL 60660. Make checks payable to Illinois Cornish
Society.
Tom Bawcock and Starry Gazy Pie
'Twas the week before Christmas and there were no pirates in Penzance. Four
miles southwest of Penzance, there were no reported mice in Mousehole.
Worst of all, there were no fish in Mousehole.
This was the 18th century and life in the West of Britain was hard. Storms for
which this Cornish coast is famous had lasted days longer than usual. Even
before the storms, the catch had been light. The tiny fishing village was starving
for lack of its staple — fish. When day after day, gale-force winds and furious
breakers kept boats from setting out, starvation set in.
Tom Bawcock could not bear the desperation around him. He gathered a
determined crew and shoved off. Miraculously, they returned with the boat
loaded with seven kinds of fish. The town was saved and a legend born.
Nearly 200 years later, Mousehole celebrates Tom Bawcock Eve on Dec.
23. The Ship Inn, a popular pub at the town center, bakes a specialty fish pie
called Starry Gazy Pie. The recipe calls for 8 stone (112 pounds) of pilchards,
lances, ling cod, dogfish, haddock, coley and gurnard. A firm top crust is
essential, because some of the fishes' heads stick up through it to gaze at the
stars. Hence the name.
Visitors who prefer not to see their dinner staring back at them can easily find
in Mousehole at Christmas sights that are lovelier and at least as memorable.
Scattered up and down the village's narrow steep lanes are Christmas scenes
outlined by thousands of tiny lights. Santas, sleighs, reindeer, stars, angels and
manger scenes sparkle in the crisp night. Viewed from the embracing arms of
the quay, it looks magical.
The typical gray stone or whitewashed cottages, normally somewhat austere
appearing, look cheerful for the holidays with wreaths or bows on the doors
and candles in the deep window ledges.
Oldtimers recall when every boat in the harbor had a Christmas tree tied to the
mast top. That tradition dwindled along with the fishing fleet. Indoors,
however, the Methodist chapels, the shops and the homes are festive with
ornaments and with entwined holly and ivy harvested from their profusion
along country lanes.
Halfway up Raginnis Hill sits the renowned Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital and
Sanctuary. In Its tall meshed spaces, it cares for about 1,500 injured birds
yearly. The challenge of rescuing and cleaning more than 8,000 oiled birds
after the nearby Torrey Canyon oil spill in 1967 led to a remarkable new
method for cleaning birds.
It Is fitting that a bird hospital be in Mousehole, for the gull population of the
town surely outnumbers the human. Gulls perch on warm chimneypots and
wet roofs, on anchored boats and vined trellises. They and their raucous calls
are everywhere. Their dawn cacophony wakes you. their muted daytime call
serenades you, their nighttime cry penetrates your sleep so that you wake
having dreamed of gulls.
Predictably, some residents do not love the pesty birds. They claim that if gulls
were only tastier, Tom Bawcock need never have set out in the storm. Instead
of Starry Gazy Pie, they say, Mousehole would celebrate Dec. 23 by cooking
up great potfuls of steaming hot, well-seasoned fresh and flavorful Gull Stew.
Given that alternative, devoted fans of soaring gulls declare Tom Bawcock a
hero indeed and agree that fish heads poking through a pie crust look
positively appetizing on Christmas Eve's Eve.
Cornish Christmas Decorations
The Christmas Bush formed the main decoration in many parts of Cornwall.
This was made of two wooden hoops fastened together at right angles, and
bound lavishly with evergreens. Into this green foundation were woven scarlet
ribbons and bows, apples, oranges, fir-cones, flowers, nuts and in fact almost
any decorative item that could be found. A lighted candle was set inside it
(beware of the fire risk, and make sure the flame is not near inflammable
items), and finally the Bush was hung on high for couples to kiss under, just as
they do beneath the mistletoe.
All kinds of greenery were brought into the house to decorate beams and
ledges, and aromatic herbs such as rosemary and bay which gave not only a
festive appearance but also a sweet smell to the rooms.
Homes were thoroughly cleaned, even whitewashed, to receive the Christmas
decorations. The best, whitest beeswax was used to make a specially
decorated candle, and eggs were blown and decorated, then hung in windows
– probably the predecessors of the modern glass balls that are hung on
Christmas trees.
NADELEK LOWEN
BLEDHEN NOWETH DA
Du/November 2009 ~ Happy Thanksgiving!!
If Thanksgiving is upon us, can Christmas be far behind?
This week Brian, Keri, and Sue decorated our tree at Chicago City Hall/Cook
County Building, where each year County Treasurer Maria Pappas provides
Christmas trees for around 75 ethnic groups to decorate. They literally fill the
counter space for a month! Here is this year’s Cornish tree, done up in
Cornish shields, silver balls to represent tin, and St Piran flags. Nadelek
Lowen/Merry Christmas!
Remember our D’reckly Christmas Party on January 9!
Live Harp ~ Carols ~ Film ~ Gifts ~ Saffron Ice Cream
Details to follow next month
The Directors of ICS (click to email)
Sue Pellowe
Brian Treglown
Jim Wearne
Feel free to contact any of us for information.
Keri Ellis, our Webmaster
She is willing to hear compliments, suggestions, or problems about our website.
If you get the newsletter and announcements by snail-mail but would be happy
to get it faster by email, please let us have your email address.
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Hedra/October 2009 Newsletter
Oggie, oggie, oggie!!! –
Pirates of Penzance were a hit at Celtic Fest!
Many many people stopped to laugh, to take photos of our giant Penzance
poster with the warning
Pirates may be in residence—
Guard your money,
Guard your daughters,
Listen for music if you run into
PIRATES OF PENZANCE !!
Above it hung a pirate pinata and inside were a Jolly Roger pirate flag and a
lifesize costume of a “proper” pirate! Lots of folk stayed to talk, several with
Cornish heritage, some with a simple love of a place they had visited. Many of
those have signed up to receive our news-sheet by email. Welcome, new
readers!!! We hope you will want to join us.
Thanks to all members who spent a day or two staffing the booth – Janet
Miller, Phyllis and Bill Igoe, Deb and Ray Walsh, Keri Ellis, Dawn and Buddy
McGlone, Jim Wearne, Brian Treglown, and Sue Pellowe. A great turnout!
Our partnering with Celtic Women International was an enjoyable success,
too. Their collage of photos out front was another interesting come-on that
attracted people.
The news mentions the city may pull back on 2010 festivals due to budget
cuts. Let’s hope Celtic Fest does not disappear.
CORNISH AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY
Thanks to our parent organization CAHS, we qualified for insurance that met
Chicago ’s requirements. Of course as usual we displayed some info about
CAHS and particularly some newsletters. That called our attention to the fact
that many of our members do not belong to the inter-national network
organization. International because “American” includes Canada , US, and
Mexico .
Do take a minute or two to consider this. One major advantage is the
newsletter, Tam Kernewek (A Bit of Cornish). TK, as it’s fondly referred to,
has much broader “bits” than Illinois Cornish Newsletter – for instance bits
from other Cornish societies from Vancouver to New Jersey to Mineral Point
and many others. Published quarterly, its 20-ish pages also carry news from
Cornwall, highlights of upcoming events in Cornwall as well as N. America,
previews and reviews of national Gatherings, Cornish Language lessons,
recipes, research on Cornish places, and links to genealogical information and
people looking for family members.
Subscription comes with membership, at a mere $12 per year for individual,
$18 for family (at same address). What a bargain!! Become a proud part of
the greater Cornish connection by downloading the membership form on
CAHS’s website, www.cousinjack.org.
D’RECKLY CHRISTMAS PARTY—
SAVE THE DATE!!! JANUARY 9, 2010
2:00-5:00, 5415 N Sheridan in Chicago, free parking or easy access by
public transportation
WARNING for those who may not know, Cornish have a favorite
saying/habit, of “doing it d’reckly”, which translates to doing a thing as soon as
we can get around to it. We never could find an agreeable date for a
December party, so we invented an idea [since copied by others] of having a
D’reckly Christmas, in January!
This year’s D’reckly Christmas will be celebrated on January 9, 2010, from 2:
00-5:00 at Sue Pellowe’s condo’s party room,
We have an extraordinarily enticing program this year! –
A short Cornish film
Gift exchange
Live harp music with harpist par excellence Carl Johnson,
who has ties to Cornwall and will offer us a special Cornish
music/cultural presentation
Saffron ice cream!
INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY BE
CORNISH BY MARRIAGE
CORNISH BY OSMOSIS
CORNISH BY CONTAMINATION[!]
JUST PLAIN CORNISH BY ADDICTION!
Spread the word so they too can Save the Date.
Looking Forward to Coming Events
One of these may be a joint meeting with Celtic Women International
March 5 ~~ Saint Piran’s Day
St. Piran is the Cornish saint of miners. His flag is the black-and-white flag that
is now a symbol of Cornwall and his celebration day is March 5. In Cornwall
there are parades through the streets and a very special one to St. Piran’s
Oratory, for centuries buried in the sand but recently being un-earthed!
All Cornish fly the flag on St. Piran’s Day!
Cornish Film Festival
In the Spring, exact date To Be Announced
Long an artist’s colony, in recent years an impressive film colony and film
school have flourished in Cornwall . This is a chance to see some films by
others (like The Shell Seekers, set in Cornwall ) and by Cornish
filmmakers (The Wrecking Season by Jane and Nick Darke).
Popcorn will be served!
KERNOW BYS VYKEN!!
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