Since we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence this weekend, this column will look back more than a century to see how Green County was celebrating Independence Day in 1916. You will be able to see how differently we celebrate July 4 now than they did then — just before the World War.

The headlines in the May 10 edition of the Monroe Evening Times said, “Glorious Fourth to be fittingly celebrated here” with the fire department taking charge of the National holiday. It was added that the day would be observed in a “safe and sane manner” with sponsors making it second only to the annual Cheese Day. The firemen planned to keep “with celebrations of the past years, with the possible exception there will be fewer explosive and no elaborate display of fireworks.” The trend in this country at that time was to try to stay “free from unnecessary dangers.”

According to the editor, Monroe had “gained a reputation for being the best town in southern Wisconsin for public entertainment, and there is assurance that an immense crowd will be brought here.” About 20,000 people had been entertained for the second annual Cheese Day the previous October. The firemen hoped to induce that many people to come here for the Fourth.

“The usual good program of sports, races, and similar events” was being planned from early in the morning until late at night with the Square being the place to be. A baseball game was being planned at the fairgrounds. Explosives were costly at the time due to the immense demand that resulted from “the European war.”

Committee chairmen were appointed on May 27 with Frank Buehler in charge of amusements, George Winger — dance, E. H. Ethridge — entertainment, George Legler - baseball, and Emil Wyss — advertising. The chairmen were “empowered to choose their own assistants.” A subscription committee planned to make the rounds to the local businessman at the beginning of the week “to ascertain what amount can be raised to meet the expenses of the celebration.”

At a meeting on May 29, the committee “decided to engage a quartet and some vaudeville attractions for entertainment in the morning” for those who did not care to attend the baseball game. “The usual sport program on the public Square, with liberal prizes for the various events,” was to take place in the afternoon. There would be a band concert in the evening along with ”a fine display of fireworks.”

The Albany Vindicator shared in mid-June, “It looks just a little piggish for Monroe to want to celebrate every year, but Albany will draw the crowd just the same and will have a whoop-er-up time too.”

It was shared on Monday, July 3, that a party of 18 motorcycles from Freeport were on a four-day tour of the area and planned to be in Monroe for the Fourth.

The Times reported on Wednesday that, “Monroe entertained a crowd at the Fourth of July celebration yesterday which was exceeded only by that assembling here for the second annual Cheese Day. The day passed in a safe and sane manner from early morning until late at night, not a single accident being reported.” The trains into the city that morning brought a large number of people from the surrounding towns; still greater numbers came by automobiles. “It is believed the number of automobiles in the city, particularly during the display of fireworks in the evening, was the largest in the history of the city.”

The baseball game between Blanchardville and the Monroe Pirates at 10:00 a.m. “could not help but satisfy.” Until the end of the seventh inning, the score stood at 1-0 in favor of Blanchardville. “The local players went to pieces under the strain, and Blanchardville was able to run in three scores, while Monroe added only one more, making a score of 4 to 2 in favor of Monroe. The Orangeville band played for the ball game.” [There was obviously a mistake in that reporting.]

Some attendees preferred to remain downtown that morning where there was a concert by the Monroe Hussar band with a vocal solo by Maud Ellen Wenger, the address of the day by attorney William H. McGrath, a drum solo by 5-year old Verus Gmur, and three acrobatic exhibitions by James and Ferdinand.

Various races and contests made it a busy afternoon on the Square, but the feature event was the water fight between Monroe and New Glarus at 4:00. It lasted for one hour and 20 minutes, which made it the longest fight ever held here; the standpipe was practically drained. The New Glarus team had to “turn their hose up. Three times during the contest the New Glarus men were brought to their knees, and it would have been possible to have given the local boys a decision at that time, but it was decided to make the victory above question. A boys’ water fight followed and was nearly as well enjoyed.”

Even though the price of fireworks was high, Monroe gave a display “which surpassed anything which has been seen in this city in the past.” The fireworks were set off from the southeast corner of the square and witnessed by an even larger crowd than were present in the city during the day. Some of the farmers were “compelled to stay in their fields during the day,” but came in for the evening.

“The only criticism to be heard for the celebration is that all concessions, with the exception of refreshment booths, were barred from the square, although a fortune teller was allowed to apply his art. It is believed ten or a dozen baby racks, cane racks, knife boards and similar concessions would have been greatly appreciated, and it is also disappointing that the merry-go-round failed in its efforts to get a concession for the day.” Nothing was reported about the big dance held at Turner Hall with Bast & Booth’s orchestra performing.

— Matt Figi is a Monroe resident and a local historian. His column will appear periodically on Saturdays in the Times. He can be reached at mfigi48@tds.net or at 608-325-6503.