Historical Society

The Monroe Historical Society’s final program of the year will be Sunday, December 11 at 2pm. The featured speaker will be Mr. Vincent Rush of Cincinnati Sports Photography. He will be discussing his time as a photographer with the USO and celebrities such as Bob Hope, Brooke Shields, & Wayne Newton. If you have ever seen any of Vince’s photos, you know what an amazing artist he is with a camera.
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The Monroe Historical Society needs your help! The big Apple Butter/Fall Fest is scheduled for Saturday, October 1 at Garver Farm Market and we need pint & ½ pint jars. If you don’t have jars but still want to help, a small $5 or $10 donation will help us purchase new lids and caps, along with the apples, sugar, cinnamon and other ingredients. Read more »

Do you have fond memories of “the Lake” (1923-2006) or was your first job at LeSourdsville (later known as Americana)? Then you’ll want to join us on Saturday, July 16, from 10am-2pm as we welcome Scott Fowler, author of the new book: LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park.

Beginning Saturday May 21, 2011 both museums of the Monroe Historical Society, located at 2 & 10 E. Elm Streets in downtown Monroe, will be open to the public from 10am - 2pm on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Museums feature rotating displays and admission is FREE! Read more »

Re-enactors of the Confederate States Marine Corps, Co B, Ohio River Detachment, will hold a "camp of instruction" at the Monroe Community Park, 500 S. Main St on Saturday, March 26 from 9-3.
 
Exercises will include the basic manual of arms, safety, marching in formation, essential maneuvers, and firing of cannon & muskets. The public is invited to attend and watch the soldiers at drill. This is a prelude to the big Monroe Civil War Days event October 21-23, 2011. For more information, visit www.monroecivilwardays.com

Saturday, May 22, the Monroe Golden Lads will be playing a DOUBLE HEADER rematch of last years olde tyme baseball game against the Cincinnati Red Stockings! Game times are 1:00pm & 3:00pm and held at the Monroe Community Park, 500 S. Main Street in Monroe. They will be playing on the grass field adjacent to diamond #6. This is a free event and fun for all ages! Bring your lawn chairs, your blankets, a picnic lunch and enjoy baseball in its original form. Interested in playing? The team is open to men ages 18-80. Just have a question? Contact Gene Williams 539-9573. The Monroe Golden Lads Olde Tyme Base Ball team is a joint venture with the Monroe Ohio Historical Society. www.monroegoldenlads.com www.1869reds.com www.monroeoh-historicalsociety.org

Vintage Base Ball is base ball (yes, it was spelled two words prior to the 1880s) played by the rules and customs of the 19th Century. The players (sometimes called ballists) wear period reproduction uniforms, either with long trouser and shield shirt, or a later style lace shirt and knickers. They recreate the game based on rules and research of the various decades of the mid-to-late nineteenth century. The playing of vintage base ball can be seen at open-air museums, tournament re-enactments and city parks. It is played on both open grass fields and modern baseball diamonds. Spectators may consider vintage base ball to be a new sport, however, some clubs have been in existence since the 1980s. Vintage base ball is a reflection of how baseball existed at an earlier time. Read more »

The Monroe Historical Society will be presenting a very special Civil War display from April 22 - April 25, 2010 at the Museum located at 10 E. Elm Street, downtown Monroe. Hours for this special event will be 10am – 3pm Thursday through Saturday and 1pm – 4pm Sunday.
Highlighting our presentation is a collection of letters from cavalry soldier Robert Burr of Cleves, Ohio (Hamilton County) to his sister Mattie Vance of nearby Bethany, Ohio (Butler County). The genealogy of the family begins with the legendary Aaron Burr and includes several Monroe families. These fascinating firsthand accounts of Civil War life, including the Battle of Shiloh, Murfreesboro and the taking of Savannah and ride to the sea, span the entire length of the war from 1861-1865. This is an unprecedented collection and a real treasure for Monroe:

“June 9th 1862 Savannah TN
I have got hardened to the sight of a dead man by this time. I would as leave sleep by the side of a dead man as to sleep with one that was a live only he wont keep me quite so warm.”

“March 17, 1863 Triune, TN Read more »