MONROE - Turner Hall was packed for the party Friday night, as Monroe kicked

off its 150th birthday celebration.

More than 400 people crowded into the ballroom. Greeting them and taking

tickets were several citizens from ages gone by, members of the National

Honor Society dressed in historical garb from the 1920s through the 1960s.

Other members of the community were dressed in Civil War, 1880s and 1940s

attire. Mayor Ron Marsh and Judy Marsh dressed as George and Martha

Washington.

History was on display, thanks to the Green County Genealogical Society, the

Monroe Stamp and Postcard Club, Green County Historical Society. People were

able to view a 1907 plat map, the original land index of 1883, 1926

insurance maps of the city, area cemetery listing books, and pictures of the

historical building in Monroe.

Area historian Matt Figi put his collection of historic photos on video,

which played all evening on a wide-screen television.

Ron Spielman led off the night with a brief history of Turner Hall, and all

the famous people who have appeared on its stage, including Susan B. Anthony

and John F. Kennedy. Proclamations were read by Rep. Brett Davis and the

mayor, commemorating the Sesquicentennial anniversary of Monroe's

beginnings.

What birthday is complete without the cake? Swiss Colony prepared a 6-foot

birthday cake display made with nine full-sized sheet cakes. The cake was

chocolate-filled with chalet cream and decorated with champagne-colored

buttercream frosting and red roses.

The crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Monroe and blew out the candles.

And then, they let the food and entertainment begin. The beer had been

flowing from the start.

Rockin' Dueling Pianos, from the 176 Keys Dueling Piano Show, started the

crowd singing some oldies and goodies, like "See You Later Alligator," "I

Got Friends in Low Places," "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" and "I'm a Believer."

And on that note, with dancing continuing into the night, Monroe began its

151st year.