Post Messenger Recorder -

What do Jack Dempsey, Lawrence Welk, John F. Kennedy, Susan B. Anthony and Marie Blumer-Hoesly have in common? The most likely answer is probably, “not much,” but in this instance they have much in common. Each has spoken or performed at Turner Hall in Monroe, dating back to 1877, when Susan B. Anthony gave a speech at Turner Hall, which is the last remaining Swiss built and operated Turner Hall in the United States.

Lawrence Welk and his orchestra performed there in 1940, Jack Dempsey in 1950, John F. Kennedy in March 1960 while campaigning for the democratic nomination for president. Marie Blumer-Hoesly was Turner Hall’s homegrown star. A member of the Monroe Turn and Schwing, Blumer-Hoesly learned her routines at Turner Hall before competing in the 1952 Olympics, in the Turning competition.

For most of the world watching the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, the big news was the return of the Soviet Union to the Olympics for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the United States winning the most medals at 76. But in Green County, the big Olympic news was Blumer participating in the games.

For the past 147 years, Turner Hall in Monroe has been the Swiss cultural center for Green County. Built in 1868, the first Turner Hall served the area’s Swiss cultural needs until it burned to the ground in September 1936. And the Turner Hall still functions in that capacity.

Initially, the cause of the fire was not determined, and blame was attached fixed to a lightning strike. But further investigation showed that the cause of the fire was electrical problems. A decision was quickly made to rebuild the Turner Hall, which reopened in 1938 with a three day celebration.

Turner Hall was hosting a dance the night of the fire. When the fire broke out, the managers tried to get everyone to leave the building. But many in the crowd thought the yells of fire were a practical joke; until the smoke from the fire broke through the ceiling, the celebrants kept on dancing, ignoring the shouts of fire.

The Zimmerman’s Band was playing that night, and as the fire got more intense, the band played on until all were safely out of the now fully-engulfed Turner Hall. One true story of the fire tells of a wife and two children sitting in the car the night of the fire, waiting for the husband/father to come out of Turner Hall to take them home.

The story goes that the father worked part-time at Turner Hall and was partaking of a beer after his job was done for the evening. His wife quipped to the others in the car, “I wish Turner Hall would burn down.” She never forgave herself for making that comment.

Sherry Anderegg, Turner Hall’s historian, tells of the grand re-opening of Turner Hall after being rebuilt. “There was a lineup a block and a half long to get into the celebration. There were so many people in the dance hall that the manager and employees had to tie long ropes to the floor beams to hold one side of the hall back so the other side could dance. They switched back and forth all night. People were climbing in windows to get in to the festivities.”

Turner Hall has held many different events over the years, wedding dances, big bands, educational programs, Turn and Schwing, movies, operas, graduations, roller skating, rabbit and poultry shows, medicine shows, vaudeville, Green County National Guard, Co. K and H send-offs and welcome homes and many more types of programs.

On Saturday evening, November 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with an open cash bar and a five course meal beginning at 6:00 p.m., Turner Hall’s Swiss Heritage Series will bring back to life for one night, Dempsey, Welk, John F. Kennedy Susan B. Anthony and Marie Blumer-Hoesly, who will tell their stories.

This fundraiser, aptly named Within These Walls, will help to keep bringing top quality entertainment to this wonderful institution that many volunteers have worked so hard to build, in order to keep our Swiss heritage alive year round. Sunday, November 1, will be the annual Swissfest, with Swiss musical groups from the area.

The cost for the Within These Walls event is $80.00 per person, and themed tables for eight can be purchased for $600. Turner Hall is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. To make your reservation, please call (608) 966-3362.