MONROE — On Wednesday, August 19, the Eugene Hotel re-opened 101 years to the day after it opened for the first time. With much fanfare, many eager supporters were in attendance at the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony just off the downtown square. Monroe Mayor Tom Miller opened the ceremony by reading a proclamation celebrating the hotel’s re-opening.

“This transformational project is the result of years of vision, determination, and unwavering commitment by the hotel’s owners and investors, who remained steadfast through unforeseen challenges, economic uncertainty, and moments when the completion of the project seemed beyond reach,” Miller said.

Jordan Nordby, executive director for Main Street Monroe, said he was in awe of how many people still have connections to the hotel.

“I hear from people whose sisters or brothers worked at it. People who used to eat at the restaurant in the basement. There are so many connections. Ribbon cuttings are always symbolic, but this one today feels like a homecoming,”Nordby said.

The hotel’s revival was made possible through public partnerships and private investments.

For decades, people had stayed, worked, gathered, celebrated and created memories at the hotel. The hotel’s return is another example that Monroe’s history also belongs to the city’s future.