Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill Honor 50 Years of Cat’s Cradle

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen’s chambers were crowded with local musicians and members of the local music community to see the board pass a joint resolution with the Town of Chapel Hill to honor and celebrate the music venue Cat’s Cradle last week.

The resolution declared 2019 the ‘Year of the Cradle,’ an idea brought to the board by former part-owner Bill Smith to honor the music venue’s 50 years of existence. The towns praised the Cradle for playing an integral part of the regional economy for music. Alderwoman Bethany Chaney, who read parts of the resolution, described Cat’s Cradle as the “center of a larger ecosystem” that contributed to the business of other venues, recording studios, record stores, sound/lighting/video production, cultural tourism and more in the area.

The resolution concluded with: “On behalf of music lovers of everywhere, but especially residents of the town of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Chapel Hill Town Council are proud and honored to proclaim 2019 the Year of the Cradle. While that leaves only a few short weeks to sing the Cradle’s praises and encourage the public to binge on local music, we believe this how [current owner] Frank Heath, who never has been one to be showy, would prefer it to be.”

In 1969, Marsha Fitch Wilson started Cat’s Cradle by holding pop-up concerts in the Pickwick Theatre Building in Chapel Hill. The Cradle did not have a permanent location until a few years later, when it moved under what is now Mediterranean Deli. After being evicted over noise complaints, the music venue moved around many locations before settling in its current location in the 300 building on East Main Street in Carrboro.

Heath, who bought Cat’s Cradle in 1984, was in attendance for the recognition. He expressed his gratitude for the gesture by both of the towns.

“Thanks to you,” he said to the board, “and all the bands, as well as the people who ran the Cradle before I did. They were the ones who made it a place to be taken over and run successfully.”

Chapel Hill Town Council member Karen Stegman, who read the resolution with Chaney, said it was one of the most fun things she’s done in her two years in her position.

“It is an honor to be part of this,” she said before reading the resolution. “I’m happy to represent Chapel Hill and to celebrate the Cradle like, for so many of us, was part of our youth and childhood.”

More information on Cat’s Cradle can be found on the venue’s website.