5-3-14

It has been almost a year since our last trip to Mineral Point, and it was time to go back!  On our last visit we took a tour of historic Pendarvis and Shake Rag Alley, very exciting! This time,  we returned downtown to see what we missed.

This weekend was their first festival of the season, their big “Clay in May” event.  This festival focuses on the many pottery artists in town, it was the 5th year.  The artists give visitors a tour of their studios, behind the showroom we see in the front of the store.  Four businesses took part in this event:

1. Brewery Pottery

2. The Mulberry Pottery

3. Windy Ridge Pottery

4. Howdle Studio – Bruce Howdle

Roland Sardeson – Pottery and mason, Shake Rag Alley artist.

We took the tour of Howdle studio, what beautiful work!  Bruce Howdle was happy to show us his latest creations, including works in progress.  Private customers can even commission from him custom pieces of art.

In the back room of his studio his artist friend Roland Sardeson was making beautiful works of art on his potter’s wheel as we watched. On a couple of tables he had small pieces for sale too,  I got a tea-cup.  His artist skills cover a wide scope of categories.  He has even built this Free Little Library, beautiful!

We had lunch at the Red Rooster Cafe again, we loved it the first time we went last June.   This time we saved room for their famous Figgy-Hobbin dessert,  brought by the Cornwall miners a long time ago.  Yum!

Our visit included seeing other historic buildings we missed the last time.

The Walker House

The Mineral Point Railroad Depot Museum  Photography of exhibits are prohibited,  admission is charged.

Historic Jail Alley buildings.

 

As always, we enjoyed our visit to Mineral Point. Each visit is different and special!