Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
MONROE - Mary Alice Hart may have never wanted to become a teacher, but she wrapped up more than three decades doing just that in the Monroe school district - and now after her retirement, she's still answering that unexpected calling by teaching the hobbies she enjoys. She is known for her organization, which is likely how she's managed to stay so involved with her community and her hobbies for so many years.
Life has brought much change for Hart, but she isn't one who's sad to leave things behind. She sees whatever is next as a new chapter and a fresh opportunity to move forward.
She was born in south central Illinois, just outside of Olney, the home of the white squirrels, Hart recalls with a smile.
She was born and raised on a farm, but with three brothers, she spent most of her time as her mother's helper, she said. With her mother as her 4-H leader, she took a strong interest in the group, submitting several items focused on sewing and gardening for the fair.
The fair was often the highlight of summer for Hart - the dress review was always a big deal. Television was just coming around but she recalls instead spending a lot of time with extended family on Sundays and having a strong sense of church and community involvement.
The 1960 graduate of Olney High School graduated from Eastern Illinois University, a teachers college at that time, but she knew one thing - she didn't want to become a teacher.
Her intent instead was to work in the extension services office. She spent summers working in the extension office while attending college, and after graduation in 1964, she landed a job at the extension office in Rockford as an assistant home advisor. She said she has never forgotten her first boss - a stickler for detail whose lessons have stuck with Hart.
Although Hart loved the city and landed her dream job, during a weekend with friends in Monroe, she met her future husband, Horst. The couple married in 1966.
They came to Monroe where Hart found a job teaching Home Economics at the high school. She soon left to work for the extension office in Green County, but came back to teaching at the junior high after just a few years.
"I really enjoyed working with the kids," she said. "For the most part, teaching in that particular area, students are there because they want to be there."
As a teacher, she said she was very organized. Students always knew what they were doing and what was expected of them. And, for the most part, Hart said they didn't disappoint her.
She taught a total of 32 years. She said she enjoyed the students and loved the flexibility of having summers free after starting a family.
While teaching consumer education, Hart was an advisor in local American Field Services (AFS) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) programs. She also served as an advisor for several FCCLA officers and was the chair of the Monroe AFS board. She served on the governor's task force on financial education.
Over the years, some of the most fun for Hart was watching students blossom in her classroom. She said watching an individual learn skills and creativity was amazing and she still recalls specific projects from her students.
Hart said she was ready to retire when she left in 2000. Although she misses her students, she has kept busy with other things that are dear to her.
She still enjoys teaching in different capacities, such as quilt shows, classes and presentations. The work with hands-on classes gets to be a lot, but Hart said she wouldn't want to be doing anything else. She began quilting on her own when her son was born around 1970. She started a quilting class at the school, and although it started slow, it ended up being one of her most popular courses.
"There were so many neat, cool things that happened in that class," she said. "One of the biggest was the self-confidence of the students."
She has been involved in the Madison Quilt Expo since it started and has taught there for the past three years. She has an upcoming show at the Monroe Arts Center from January through March.
Down in the dirt
Hart's mother and 4-H can be credited for her interest in gardening. It's been something that she's loved her entire life. In the early 1970s, while living in an apartment and after she was first married, Hart said she truly missed her garden.
Soon, she contacted Joe Urban and Jim Glessner, both media people in the community at that time, and asked them if they would help her start a community garden. The idea took off, and soon there were two sites - one just east of the high school and another where Northside Elementary School stands. There was no grant and no money, but lots of interested, helpful local people and neighbors working together for one common goal.
There were sign-ups, and people plowed, planted and worked. Soon, there were about 300 community gardens in two locations - something Hart is very proud of. Those plots are gone now and Hart has her own garden, but she has great memories of the fun times, hard work and people who worked hard on the community project.
Community service
In the evenings, Hart would often teach outreach classes at Black Hawk Technical College on subjects ranging from gourmet foods to cross stitch. She even recalls co-teaching a microwave class when the devices first came on the market; she still comes across people who tell her they still have her recipes.
In 1993, she was asked if she wanted to run for the Green County Board of Supervisors. She said she's always been community-service minded - and after spending 20 years on the board, she said she learned a lot and was happy to have served.
"I think the county can be proud of the people we have in our management positions," she said. She calls the building of the justice center one of the bigger issues during her time there.
She was the chair of the human services committee, and also served on the personal and labor relations committee, committee of committees and audit and bonding. She was also a member of the local and regional Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) committees and served on the following: emergency management, LEPC, EMS and veterans service committee and library board. She said the ADRC stands out to her as something Green County should be very proud of.
But Hart's time wasn't all work and no play. On a weekend after first moving to Monroe, the couple was invited by friends to introduce them to the curling club in Monroe.
"I hated it," Hart laughed. "It was cold, and I didn't know what I was doing."
But she stuck with it anyway, and after a while, she got a lesson - and she got better. That's when she started really having fun. It was something to look forward to in the winter time, and November through March, Hart could often be found there.
She also served on the Alpine Board, as the president and secretary for several years.
She said the challenge and camaraderie made her stick with curling for 40 years before giving it up. "I was never an athletic person," she said. "But that I could do. It was good exercise and just fun."
She hasn't completely let gardening go from her life either, and after learning that Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison was looking for volunteers, she signed up and makes a weekly trip during gardening months to get her hands in the dirt and help out.
She feels she was able to stay as busy as she was with a supportive husband. They have a son, Ryan, and two grandchildren with whom Hart loves spending time.
"I guess I just don't do well sitting still," she said.
Life has brought much change for Hart, but she isn't one who's sad to leave things behind. She sees whatever is next as a new chapter and a fresh opportunity to move forward.
She was born in south central Illinois, just outside of Olney, the home of the white squirrels, Hart recalls with a smile.
She was born and raised on a farm, but with three brothers, she spent most of her time as her mother's helper, she said. With her mother as her 4-H leader, she took a strong interest in the group, submitting several items focused on sewing and gardening for the fair.
The fair was often the highlight of summer for Hart - the dress review was always a big deal. Television was just coming around but she recalls instead spending a lot of time with extended family on Sundays and having a strong sense of church and community involvement.
The 1960 graduate of Olney High School graduated from Eastern Illinois University, a teachers college at that time, but she knew one thing - she didn't want to become a teacher.
Her intent instead was to work in the extension services office. She spent summers working in the extension office while attending college, and after graduation in 1964, she landed a job at the extension office in Rockford as an assistant home advisor. She said she has never forgotten her first boss - a stickler for detail whose lessons have stuck with Hart.
Although Hart loved the city and landed her dream job, during a weekend with friends in Monroe, she met her future husband, Horst. The couple married in 1966.
They came to Monroe where Hart found a job teaching Home Economics at the high school. She soon left to work for the extension office in Green County, but came back to teaching at the junior high after just a few years.
"I really enjoyed working with the kids," she said. "For the most part, teaching in that particular area, students are there because they want to be there."
As a teacher, she said she was very organized. Students always knew what they were doing and what was expected of them. And, for the most part, Hart said they didn't disappoint her.
She taught a total of 32 years. She said she enjoyed the students and loved the flexibility of having summers free after starting a family.
While teaching consumer education, Hart was an advisor in local American Field Services (AFS) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) programs. She also served as an advisor for several FCCLA officers and was the chair of the Monroe AFS board. She served on the governor's task force on financial education.
Over the years, some of the most fun for Hart was watching students blossom in her classroom. She said watching an individual learn skills and creativity was amazing and she still recalls specific projects from her students.
Hart said she was ready to retire when she left in 2000. Although she misses her students, she has kept busy with other things that are dear to her.
She still enjoys teaching in different capacities, such as quilt shows, classes and presentations. The work with hands-on classes gets to be a lot, but Hart said she wouldn't want to be doing anything else. She began quilting on her own when her son was born around 1970. She started a quilting class at the school, and although it started slow, it ended up being one of her most popular courses.
"There were so many neat, cool things that happened in that class," she said. "One of the biggest was the self-confidence of the students."
She has been involved in the Madison Quilt Expo since it started and has taught there for the past three years. She has an upcoming show at the Monroe Arts Center from January through March.
Down in the dirt
Hart's mother and 4-H can be credited for her interest in gardening. It's been something that she's loved her entire life. In the early 1970s, while living in an apartment and after she was first married, Hart said she truly missed her garden.
Soon, she contacted Joe Urban and Jim Glessner, both media people in the community at that time, and asked them if they would help her start a community garden. The idea took off, and soon there were two sites - one just east of the high school and another where Northside Elementary School stands. There was no grant and no money, but lots of interested, helpful local people and neighbors working together for one common goal.
There were sign-ups, and people plowed, planted and worked. Soon, there were about 300 community gardens in two locations - something Hart is very proud of. Those plots are gone now and Hart has her own garden, but she has great memories of the fun times, hard work and people who worked hard on the community project.
Community service
In the evenings, Hart would often teach outreach classes at Black Hawk Technical College on subjects ranging from gourmet foods to cross stitch. She even recalls co-teaching a microwave class when the devices first came on the market; she still comes across people who tell her they still have her recipes.
In 1993, she was asked if she wanted to run for the Green County Board of Supervisors. She said she's always been community-service minded - and after spending 20 years on the board, she said she learned a lot and was happy to have served.
"I think the county can be proud of the people we have in our management positions," she said. She calls the building of the justice center one of the bigger issues during her time there.
She was the chair of the human services committee, and also served on the personal and labor relations committee, committee of committees and audit and bonding. She was also a member of the local and regional Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) committees and served on the following: emergency management, LEPC, EMS and veterans service committee and library board. She said the ADRC stands out to her as something Green County should be very proud of.
But Hart's time wasn't all work and no play. On a weekend after first moving to Monroe, the couple was invited by friends to introduce them to the curling club in Monroe.
"I hated it," Hart laughed. "It was cold, and I didn't know what I was doing."
But she stuck with it anyway, and after a while, she got a lesson - and she got better. That's when she started really having fun. It was something to look forward to in the winter time, and November through March, Hart could often be found there.
She also served on the Alpine Board, as the president and secretary for several years.
She said the challenge and camaraderie made her stick with curling for 40 years before giving it up. "I was never an athletic person," she said. "But that I could do. It was good exercise and just fun."
She hasn't completely let gardening go from her life either, and after learning that Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison was looking for volunteers, she signed up and makes a weekly trip during gardening months to get her hands in the dirt and help out.
She feels she was able to stay as busy as she was with a supportive husband. They have a son, Ryan, and two grandchildren with whom Hart loves spending time.
"I guess I just don't do well sitting still," she said.