MONROE - Dennis Dalton opened a business just off of Monroe's historic Square because of his love for photography - but it wasn't long before he realized that the building itself sparked an interest in him he didn't even know existed. The interest in his building's historic past blossomed into hobbies, committees and friends he would have never otherwise had in his life.

Dalton was born in Prairie du Chien, along with a twin brother. The family lived in Cassville, and his parents were in the restaurant business. Dalton has memories of the flood that hit Cassville before they left and of getting out of school to help sand bag along the Mississippi. When Dalton was 6, the family decided to move to Monroe: A tornado had come through town and ruined several houses, including his maternal grandparents' home, and the Daltons came back to help care for his grandfather.

The 1976 Monroe High School graduate was the yearbook photographer and enjoyed photographing nature. He was more involved with AV Club than sports. He entered a couple of photography contests in high school and took first place, building his confidence and letting him learn more about lighting and composition.

He had a classmate getting married two months after school was out, and he asked Dalton to photograph the wedding. Dalton reluctantly agreed. He was shooting 35-mm film and felt confident enough to get the job done.

He attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville after high school and came home on weekends to work. However, when the K-Mart shoe department in Monroe needed a manager, Dalton realized he didn't have time for both. He was soon promoted to the Madison store and then to the Beloit store, always taking photography jobs on the side.

Dalton also worked at The Camera Shop for about five years and stayed quite busy with photography, but he was having trouble scheduling weddings since he was only off one weekend per month. It just wasn't enough.

By 1985, Dalton decided to open Dalton Photography, at first running the business out of his home. He said his wife at the time thought it was crazy.

"Well, it was crazy," he agreed with a laugh. He used his living room as his photography studio and his kitchen as his office. Each night, he would pack up and then unpack each morning to start his days.

In 1986, Dalton's business had grown enough for a store front, and he moved to his current location, just across from Turner Hall. He said the move was somewhat scary at first.

"I'm a strong believer in promotion," he said. "And all of mine at that time was done by word of mouth."

Outdoor photography was just getting popular, and Dalton was heavily promoting it. His first year in business, he photographed 25 seniors. In his peak years, he would take on 450 seniors in a season. He would also photograph about 50 weddings per year and had two full-time and one part-time employee when business was booming. He was also taking several photography courses to stay current and keep educated.

When digital photography came into the works, the business changed drastically. About 15 years ago, Dalton decided to open a tuxedo and tanning business alongside the studio, keeping busy during prom season. The business-minded Dalton said he very much enjoyed the addition and still runs it today.

As time went on, changes in the photography world became more prominent. Dalton considers himself old-fashioned - only moving to digital photos a few years ago, wanting to stick with what he's always known and loved. Dalton had his own dark room and developed all of his own film, something he enjoyed each night before everything was done on the computer.

"I'm glad I was a photographer when I was," he said.

As photography changed, Dalton looked forward. He was also ready for change, and it came by way of someone asking if he would manage Turner Hall. Since it was conveniently across the street from his studio, he agreed.

"I never thought I'd be in the restaurant business," he said. "My real love is photography."

But the job seemed to be a perfect fit. After a year and a half, the Monroe Country Club approached Dalton to come on as a full-time manager, and he worked there more than four years. Next, The Laughing Trout was opened by one of his former classmates and Dalton was asked to serve as the front house manager, a job he's been at for the past three-and-a-half years.

"I like people and the daily tourism-oriented tasks," Dalton said. "I love to promote Monroe and I love listening to others."



Community involvement

After purchasing the circa-1853 building for his studio, someone soon approached Dalton asking to go through the attic. The person hoped to find a historical piece of Monroe, and it ignited an interest in Dalton to learn more. It's likely how his involvement in historical preservation began.

While learning more about his own building, Dalton became interested in Monroe's history. He joined forces with others and started Historic Monroe Inc., the group that moved the depot building from Smokey Row to 21st Street where it now serves as the Historical Cheesemaking Center. The group raised funds and managed through lots of red tape to move and preserve the depot, a project that Dalton is proud of but isn't sure he'd do again.

"It was very time-consuming," he said. "Luckily it all worked out."

Dalton is a collector and has hundreds of historical photographs, glass negatives and artifacts of Monroe.

Dalton has spent the past 25 years on the Cheese Days board of directors and served as the president during its 100th anniversary in 2014. He joined the group after taking the official photograph for the ambassadors, and then served as the parade chair.

Through his children's involvement, he is also a past president of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association, when its goal was to build an indoor home rink. Lots of fundraising went on to help make that dream happen, and Dalton is proud that his son was able to use the indoor facility his final year on home ice in 2000.

He's also served on the Green County board of supervisors for the past 20 years. Dalton served on the law enforcement committee for 18 years and chaired it, served on the tourism committee for 16 years, the property committee and chaired that and also served on the tri-country trail committee and the human services committee.

"It's been very interesting learning the aspects of government," he said. "I feel like I've made a difference by expressing my opinion."

Although being vocal sometimes may have hurt his business, Dalton said eventually, people understood and would come back around. It was more important to him to step forward and represent for the people.

"I've enjoyed the different committees - and being part of a community and trying to make a difference," he said.

"I've always felt Monroe has been good to me and I wanted to give back."

Dalton stays busy and, although he still enjoys photography on his own, he does just a few shoots per month today. When thinking back over the years, there isn't much he hasn't seen walk through his studio, and he can barely go anywhere without people recognizing him.

"I wish I would've written a book," he said. "I've seen it all, and I should have taken notes."

But Dalton is still reaching for opportunity and, come August, he'll be headed to warmer weather. He's accepted a job at a new resort in Florida, and he's looking forward to the warmer weather and the opportunity that has knocked.

"I'm going to try it," he said. "I know I'll miss Wisconsin - but I can always come back."

Dalton is having an auction June 25 at Turner Hall, and many are looking forward to seeing the artifacts he's collected over the years. He said that he's planning to keep some that are near and dear to his heart.

When he looks back at the time he would spend at auctions, it had become a passion.

"It was kind of a sickness," he laughed.

Dalton's ultimate love is still photography and today, he enjoys photographing abandoned buildings, farms and machinery - or anything old with some history to it. He's managed to combine his two favorite things - history and photography - and loves to commemorate special items in today's throw-away society.

Preserving the past for future generations to enjoy is so important to Dalton, and he loves that Monroe's Courthouse has been preserved.

"Monroe has had the insight to see the gem of the Courthouse," he said. "We're unique. We've preserved it. And I've been a part of that."

Dalton also enjoys spending time with his children, one in Idaho and another in Wisconsin, and his two grandchildren with one on the way that he enjoys watching grow up. He also enjoys biking and golfing.