This Green County Homecoming artifact is from a celebration in Monroe in September of 1909. The event was held in conjunction with the Green County Fair. It was to be a reunion of former Green County residents that had left the county decades before. A general invitation was sent out through the Monroe Times as a welcome for any and all former residents. Attendees returned acceptance letters from 18 states, Canada and the District of Columbia. The Illinois Central railroad consigned 18 additional coaches for the event. There was to be a parade, motorcycle and horse races, animal show, wild west show and a 24 year old “exotic girl tamed to the extent that she does not have to be chained”. People poured into Monroe and the event was a huge success. It is not known if any other “Homecomings” were ever held.

Information from the Monroe Times and Matt Figi.

The Green County Historical Society’s Historical and Rock show event held on June 20, was an immense success. A huge thank you to all who attended. The Museum is now open for the season on Saturday afternoons 1-4 p.m. The museum is looking for a donation of an old 1960s-1970s high school dress band uniform.