The Historic Cooksville Church is now an event space available for your concert, meeting or wedding ceremony of any denomination. Both the event space and office are located at 12113 W. State Road 59, Cooksville, Wisconsin.
Built in 1879, this Italianate-inspired Gothic Revival style former church graces the countryside of rural south central Wisconsin. This former church has retained its seating, its raised stage, and its window-lined walls overlooking the countryside. The opened windows allow breezes off the hillsides to make up for not having air conditioning. It is a small country church and its capacity is currently set at 141 people. We are hopeful to raise enough funds to install heat and AC in this space to make it more usable year round.
Included in this venue rental is the newly renovated walkout basement which houses the Historic Cooksville Trust’s History Center as well as an office. A bathroom and kitchenette are available for use downstairs as well as heat and AC. High speed internet is included throughout the venue. The archives room is a great place to host meetings or presentations for a negotiated price depending on your needs.
Rental fees for weddings and large events is $450 for the day and $100 for an additional day for set up or rehearsal. These fees reserve your date and are due at the rental agreement signing. There is a $50 cancellation fee if canceled 30 days in advance and $100 if it’s 29 days or less. Checks should be made payable to Historic Cooksville Trust, Inc.
Fees are negotiable for non-profit or other small groups of 20 or less. See our rental agreement for more details or contact rentals@historiccooksvilletrust.org.
FAQs
Is the event space handicap accessible?
The newly renovated walkout basement is handicap accessible on the ground floor. Due to its original design, the church venue space on the second floor is not handicap accessible. Donations to the Historic Cooksville Trust recently helped to fund the ADA compliant improvements made with hopes to continue that access to the second floor someday.
What time frame is the space made available as per the rental agreement?
Access to the Cooksville Congregational Church is flexible based on your timeframe needs. Standard access to the space is from 5pm the day before the big event for rehearsal/setup. If more time is needed, an additional day of rental will be required for $100. We ask that you be finished with the space by noon following the day of your event.
What is your cancellation policy?
If the event is canceled at least 30 days in advance, the cancellation fee is $50. Less than 30 days notice incurs a $100 fee.
Do I need insurance for events?
Yes, we ask that you provide your own basic liability insurance for events that you host in our rental venue. We recommend an easy-to-use and affordable event insurance company called Thimble.
Is the venue available for rent year round?
The archives room is available for rent year round and the event space on the second floor is available seasonally as weather permits.
Can I leave my garbage behind?
You will be responsible for removing all your items and trash from the church and outside grounds by noon of the day after rental unless other arrangements have been made with the rental coordinator.
Do you have requirements about who I choose for event planning or outdoor catering?
We recommend Wood Violet Events as well as El Grito Taqueria but you can choose to work with whomever suits you best. We do ask that you engage someone as the event planner and main point of contact with the venue’s rental coordinator on the volunteer-based HCT board.
How many bathrooms are available?
There is one bathroom in the basement for all to use. If you plan on having a group of more than 50 people in attendance, please plan on having a PortaPotty available. Rental options include Stoughton Lumber or Bucky’s Restrooms, Inc.
Is food and alcohol allowed on premise for events?
Alcohol is currently not permitted for use or serving on the property. Food service/ food trucks are allowed outside the building in the surrounding yard. Due to the historic status of the building, food is not allowed inside unless negotiated with and approved by the rental coordinator.
Are there options nearby for hosting a reception?
The Historic Cooksville Church is only a 30-minute scenic drive south of Madison, WI. A closer option is the Cooksville Community Center, a renovated schoolhouse which is two short blocks away. Visit cooksvillecc.com for more details.
Directly across from the community center is the Cooksville Square, a large, level, mowed green space with majestic oak trees. Contact Alan Sweeney, Town of Porter Chairperson at (608) 770-4026.
If you choose to host a reception at these nearby places, we recommend hiring a shuttle service for safe transport of guests.
Are there hotels available in the area?
Nearby Stoughton, about 10 minutes away, has several hotel options to choose from, including a newly built Tru by Hilton. Madison and Janesville also have many hotel options and are about a 30 minute drive.
Historic Cooksville Trust 