MONROE - Turner Hall of Monroe will kick off its sesquicentennial with a concert by the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in its Grand Hall, 1217 17th Ave., two blocks south of the Square. Advance tickets are available through Feb. 17 at Turner Hall's Ratskeller Restaurant or can be mail-ordered through the Turner Hall website at http://turnerhallofmonroe.org/shs.html. Tickets also will be sold at the door for an additional charge. The restaurant will be open that evening.
Turner Hall derives its name from the German word for gymnast, which is Turner. The first Turnhalle in Monroe was built in 1868 by Swiss immigrants on the same site as the current Turner Hall. Originally a place for the Swiss to practice gymnastics and preserve their Old-World traditions, it also soon became a hub of community activities and was often referred to as the "opera house."
Although there are many German Turner Halls throughout the country, it is believed that Monroe's Turner Hall is the only one of Swiss origin left in the U.S. The current building, a Swiss Emmental-style chalet designed by innovative German architect Max Hanisch, has been listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places since 1982. Its authentically Old-World interior houses many irreplaceable paintings and Swiss artifacts as well as exemplary examples of Bauernmalerei, or Swiss folk painting.
During the past 150 years, Turner Hall has enjoyed a rich and varied history. During the 1940s and '50s, it was synonymous with dancing, featuring many Swiss and "old time music" accordion bands. Some big band groups such as Blue Barron, Eddy Howard, Art Kassel, Lawrence Welk, Wayne King, Griff Williams and Guy Lombardo also made appearances there.
Although the Glenn Miller Orchestra never performed at Turner Hall during those big band years, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was established the same year in which a "new" Turner Hall of Monroe reopened following the original structure's demise by fire in 1936.
At the height of its popularity, the Glenn Miller Orchestra disbanded in 1942 when Miller volunteered for the Army, where he organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. Miller took off in a single engine plane from Europe Dec. 15, 1944, to precede his band to France, disappearing over the English Channel, never to be seen again. The Army declared him officially dead a year later.
The popularity of the 1954 release of the film "The Glenn Miller Story" renewed interest and led to the reformation of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, the reincarnated Glenn Miller Orchestra performed its first concert June 6, 1956, and has been performing its biggest hits ever since, including its signature piece, "Moonlight Serenade."
The Glenn Miller Orchestra is the first of many events scheduled throughout 2018 celebrating Turner Hall's sesquicentennial. A Swiss movie night is scheduled for March, with a special fundraiser dinner and historical presentation slated for April 28. A complete listing is available at http://turnerhallofmonroe.org/shs.html, with other events still being added.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit, the mission and governance of Turner Hall of Monroe is essentially the same today as it was in 1868. Turner Hall is handicapped-accessible.
Turner Hall derives its name from the German word for gymnast, which is Turner. The first Turnhalle in Monroe was built in 1868 by Swiss immigrants on the same site as the current Turner Hall. Originally a place for the Swiss to practice gymnastics and preserve their Old-World traditions, it also soon became a hub of community activities and was often referred to as the "opera house."
Although there are many German Turner Halls throughout the country, it is believed that Monroe's Turner Hall is the only one of Swiss origin left in the U.S. The current building, a Swiss Emmental-style chalet designed by innovative German architect Max Hanisch, has been listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places since 1982. Its authentically Old-World interior houses many irreplaceable paintings and Swiss artifacts as well as exemplary examples of Bauernmalerei, or Swiss folk painting.
During the past 150 years, Turner Hall has enjoyed a rich and varied history. During the 1940s and '50s, it was synonymous with dancing, featuring many Swiss and "old time music" accordion bands. Some big band groups such as Blue Barron, Eddy Howard, Art Kassel, Lawrence Welk, Wayne King, Griff Williams and Guy Lombardo also made appearances there.
Although the Glenn Miller Orchestra never performed at Turner Hall during those big band years, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was established the same year in which a "new" Turner Hall of Monroe reopened following the original structure's demise by fire in 1936.
At the height of its popularity, the Glenn Miller Orchestra disbanded in 1942 when Miller volunteered for the Army, where he organized and led the famous Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. Miller took off in a single engine plane from Europe Dec. 15, 1944, to precede his band to France, disappearing over the English Channel, never to be seen again. The Army declared him officially dead a year later.
The popularity of the 1954 release of the film "The Glenn Miller Story" renewed interest and led to the reformation of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Under the direction of drummer Ray McKinley, the reincarnated Glenn Miller Orchestra performed its first concert June 6, 1956, and has been performing its biggest hits ever since, including its signature piece, "Moonlight Serenade."
The Glenn Miller Orchestra is the first of many events scheduled throughout 2018 celebrating Turner Hall's sesquicentennial. A Swiss movie night is scheduled for March, with a special fundraiser dinner and historical presentation slated for April 28. A complete listing is available at http://turnerhallofmonroe.org/shs.html, with other events still being added.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit, the mission and governance of Turner Hall of Monroe is essentially the same today as it was in 1868. Turner Hall is handicapped-accessible.
