The Monroe Post Office, just off the southeast corner of Monroe's Square, was the originating location of the "Limburger Cheese War." It all began when a physician from Independence, Iowa, prescribed limburger cheese for the ailment of a farmer's wife. The order was put through to Monroe, and the package was promptly shipped by Postmaster John Burkhard. The Iowa mail carrier, offended by the stench, refused delivery, and the package was returned to Monroe. Burkhard, taking it personally, rewrapped the package and again sent it on its way. Upon receipt, the Independence Postmaster Miller returned it to Monroe for the second time. Burkhard then took his gripe to the U.S. Postmaster General in Washington D.C., who ruled it did smell but was not hazardous. Burkhard unwilling to give in, challenged Miller to a "cheese-smelling duel," if Miller could sit at a table and not wretch from the stench of freshly-cut Limburger, then he would never again raise a stink about Wisconsin and its cheese. Miller accepted and they met on March 8, 1935 at the Julien Hotel in Dubuque, Iowa. Sitting across from each other, Burkhard boasted that nothing on earth tastes better with beer, unwrapped the cheese and pushed it in front of Miller, offering him a clothespin and a gas mask. Miller shook his head and meekly surrendered by responding, "I won't need that clothespin, I haven't any sense of smell." The battle was over before it began and Burkhard was declared the winner. The Goetz Junior Theater, pictured on the left, opened the following year on Dec. 25, 1936, featuring Eddie Cantor in "Strike Me Pink." Questions or comments may be directed to Mary Ann Hanna at 608-325-4324 or nhcchistory@yahoo.com.