MONROE - Since its formation in the 1830s, Monroe has made strides to keep up an active downtown Square despite the challenges early development posed.
One such hindrance was fire: Buildings, most made of wood, lined the downtown blocks and often shared walls or staircases. In the 1860s, most of the buildings in the bustling downtown were at a risk for fire whether the flames began there or not.
A new book titled, "Monroe, Wisconsin Area Pictorial History" makes note of that particular problem and others through a collection of 260 photos from the 1870s to the current century. The piece was put together by Matt Figi, treasurer of the Green County Historical Society Board.
The changing appearance of the Square, as well as the damage caused by fires there, can be seen in the pictorial.
"The businesses were all located downtown at that point," Figi said. It was an era before modern furnaces, when buildings were heated through the use of flame rather than ducts. But with such close neighboring buildings made of wood, it was easy for a stray coal to engulf an entire floor in little time, only to move to the adjoining wall.
In January of 1870, the Bloom and Son Hardware Store on the southwest of the Square burned to the ground. Fire struck the southeast of the Square nine years later. In the fire, the P.S. Young and Co. grocery store perished, but was rebuilt. Fire struck the wood building once more in 1882.
"After these fires, it became city law that any buildings on the Square had to be brick. That prevented it from going too far."
The law worked to limit destruction - a later fire in 1889 only took one business rather than half the block.
Figi said the oldest buildings reside on the southern block of the Square, with some saved from fire in the 1860s because they had already been built with brick.
The Green County Historical Society aims to preserve this type of information through works like the pictorial history book to be admired in the present and into the future by history lovers like Figi.
"This is so we could preserve this history because there are so many photos of Monroe from past years," he said.
A retired teacher, Figi moved back to Monroe in 2004 after a career in Indiana, near Chicago. For the last 12 years, he has been dedicating much of his time to the historical society and frequently oversees the Green County Historical Museum along 9th Street. The museum is celebrating its 50th year in October.
Figi said his newest book will also be his last.
For the new book, which has been a decade-long endeavor, Figi collected photos from families and individuals throughout the area. His 2006 book with a similar title had photos and information, but since its creation Figi has been busy learning and gaining more photos of Monroe's past.
He continues to seek out information for photos which have no one to claim them, and no one to tell the story behind the snapshot in time.
Collecting photos is not a new pastime for Figi. Every time he visited Monroe over the years, he would preserve anything of interest.
"I just started setting aside pictures I thought would be interesting in the book," Figi said. "And eventually, it became a good fundraiser for the historical society."
"Monroe, Wisconsin Area Pictorial History" can purchased through the historical society, online and throughout a number of city locations, including the historical museum, for $25 each.
One such hindrance was fire: Buildings, most made of wood, lined the downtown blocks and often shared walls or staircases. In the 1860s, most of the buildings in the bustling downtown were at a risk for fire whether the flames began there or not.
A new book titled, "Monroe, Wisconsin Area Pictorial History" makes note of that particular problem and others through a collection of 260 photos from the 1870s to the current century. The piece was put together by Matt Figi, treasurer of the Green County Historical Society Board.
The changing appearance of the Square, as well as the damage caused by fires there, can be seen in the pictorial.
"The businesses were all located downtown at that point," Figi said. It was an era before modern furnaces, when buildings were heated through the use of flame rather than ducts. But with such close neighboring buildings made of wood, it was easy for a stray coal to engulf an entire floor in little time, only to move to the adjoining wall.
In January of 1870, the Bloom and Son Hardware Store on the southwest of the Square burned to the ground. Fire struck the southeast of the Square nine years later. In the fire, the P.S. Young and Co. grocery store perished, but was rebuilt. Fire struck the wood building once more in 1882.
"After these fires, it became city law that any buildings on the Square had to be brick. That prevented it from going too far."
The law worked to limit destruction - a later fire in 1889 only took one business rather than half the block.
Figi said the oldest buildings reside on the southern block of the Square, with some saved from fire in the 1860s because they had already been built with brick.
The Green County Historical Society aims to preserve this type of information through works like the pictorial history book to be admired in the present and into the future by history lovers like Figi.
"This is so we could preserve this history because there are so many photos of Monroe from past years," he said.
A retired teacher, Figi moved back to Monroe in 2004 after a career in Indiana, near Chicago. For the last 12 years, he has been dedicating much of his time to the historical society and frequently oversees the Green County Historical Museum along 9th Street. The museum is celebrating its 50th year in October.
Figi said his newest book will also be his last.
For the new book, which has been a decade-long endeavor, Figi collected photos from families and individuals throughout the area. His 2006 book with a similar title had photos and information, but since its creation Figi has been busy learning and gaining more photos of Monroe's past.
He continues to seek out information for photos which have no one to claim them, and no one to tell the story behind the snapshot in time.
Collecting photos is not a new pastime for Figi. Every time he visited Monroe over the years, he would preserve anything of interest.
"I just started setting aside pictures I thought would be interesting in the book," Figi said. "And eventually, it became a good fundraiser for the historical society."
"Monroe, Wisconsin Area Pictorial History" can purchased through the historical society, online and throughout a number of city locations, including the historical museum, for $25 each.