Click on any of the following for more information:
Mission Statement
A Brief History
Member Organizations
Executive Board Members
How You Can Help
Contact Us
Mission Statement
Turner Hall of Monroe, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) Non-Profit and
Wisconsin Chapter 181 Corporation. Its purpose is to:
- Preserve, perpetuate and nurture the Swiss traditions, heritage
and culture that were brought to Monroe and Green County by its Swiss forebearers.
- Preserve and maintain the Turner Hall building as is appropriate
and consistent with its status as a listing on the National and
Wisconsin Registers of Historic Places.
- Oversee the use and operation of the Turner Hall building, with
particular emphasis on and encouragement of those events, activities,
etc. which support the promotion of Swiss heritage.
- Continue to offer the Turner Hall building as a venue for public
events and meetings.
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A Brief History
In the mid-1800s, Swiss immigrants began arriving in south-central
Wisconsin in search of a better life. The area's gently rolling
hillside was very reminiscent of the immigrants' homeland. In 1845, 200
impoverished Swiss from the canton Glarus immigrated to what is now
northern Green County and established a new settlement known as
New Glarus.
While New Glarus, which is about 15 miles north of Monroe, is the
actual Swiss colony in Green County, large numbers of Swiss from
primarily the German-speaking regions of Switzerland steadily continued
to immigrate to all parts of Green County, particularly the Monroe area.
Although the last major wave of Swiss immigration to south-central
Wisconsin ended in the 1950s, the influence of the Swiss throughout
Green County is still strongly felt and seen yet today. In Monroe,
one of the most visible and still viable evidences of the Swiss is the
Turner Hall.
The Turner Hall derives its name from the German word for gymnast,
which is Turner. The first Turnhalle was built by Swiss
immigrants in 1868 on the same site as the current Turner Hall.
(Painting of the original structure at the right.) Originally a place for the Swiss to practice
gymnastics and preserve their Swiss traditions, it also soon became a center of community activities and
was often referred to as the "opera house".
On Labor Day of 1936, the original structure burned to the ground. Almost
immediately, plans were begun to build the present Turner Hall, which was
designed by innovative German architect, Max Hanisch, and completed in 1938.
Although there are many German Turner Halls
throughout the country, it is believed that this Turner Hall is the
only one of Swiss origin left in the United States. The building
itself, a Swiss Emmental-style chalet, has been listed on both the National
and State Registers of Historic Places since 1982. Its authentically Old World
interior houses many irreplaceable paintings and Swiss artifacts as
well as exemplary examples of Bauernmalerei (Swiss folk painting.)
The Turner Hall continues to be a vital place for nurturing Swiss
heritage through its many Swiss-related events and activities, as
well as a venue for concerts, dances, receptions, and a host of other
community events. Long known for being a place Where Old and New
Worlds Meet, legendary Swiss musicians such as the
Moser Brothers, Rudy Burkhalter (pictured at left), Martha Bernet-Zumstein, Betty
Kneubuehl Vetterli and Geni Good and his Glarner Oberkrainer
have been well-known to Turner Hall audiences. Until recently, Turner
Hall had been synonymous with the teaching, practicing and performing of
gymnastics in Monroe. A Turner Hall gymnast,
Marie (Blumer) Hoesly Herbert, competed in the 1952 Olympics in
Helsinki, Finland.
Its rich history also includes personal appearances by Susan B.
Anthony,
William Jennings Bryan, John F. Kennedy, and big band names such as
Wayne King, Tiny Hill and Lawrence Welk. (At right, Senator John F. Kennedy
greets Monroe's Spencer E. Bowen at Turner Hall in 1960 during
his campaign for the presidency.)
In recent years, the entire building...the authentic Old World
Ratskeller, the beautiful upstairs grand hall and stage, the gym, and
bowling lanes...has undergone loving renovation. Turner Hall's
volunteers and sponsors work tirelessly to support and maintain this
landmark gem and treasure of Swiss heritage.
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Member Organizations
Turner Hall of Monroe, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) Non-Profit and
Wisconsin Chapter 181 Corporation that is governed, run and supported
by the membership of the following four organizational sub-sections:
- New World Swiss Club
The newest of the member organizations, the New World Swiss
Club is an opportunity for anyone, regardless of ancestry, to support
Turner Hall and Swiss heritage. Current activites include a monthly
dinner event in the Ratskeller Restaurant, periodic updates and program discounts, and special rates
for Grand Hall rentals.
Click on the underlined name above for more information about the
New World Swiss Club, including how to
become a member.
- Monroe Swiss
Singers
Established in 1963 with 19 immigrants, this mixed choir, which
specializes in choral and instrumental Swiss folklore music,
numbers over 40 singers, many of whom are native Swiss or descendents
of Swiss immigrants to Green County. Turner Hall is the group's home
and headquarters. For more information about the Monroe Swiss Singers, click on the
underlined name above.
-
Foreign-Type Cheesemakers Association
This organization represents almost all of the area's cheese
factories and cheesemakers, many of whom are descendents of
immigrant Swiss who were Green County's early cheesemakers. Its milk testing
lab is located at 1520 17th Street, Monroe.
- Swiss-American Gymnastics Club
Formerly known as the Turn und Schwing Club, this is
the group from which Turner Hall derives its name: Turner
is the German word for gymnast. The Turners built the
first Turner Hall in 1868 and have had a long history and association
with Turner Hall in the teaching and practicing of gymnastics. The group and its
members are currently inactive.
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2023 Executive Board Members
President |
Gregory J. Smith |
Vice-President |
|
2nd Vice-President |
|
Secretary |
Sue Buetzer |
Treasurer |
Wayne Segner |
Directors |
Kendall Schneider Kelly Hermanson Carolyn Beach Thomas L. Schilt John Marean Ruth Windbiel |
Chief Financial Agent |
Gregory J. Smith |
Any board member may be contacted by sending an e-mail to
Board @ TurnerHallofMonroe.org
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How You Can Help
Like many non-profits, the challenge of meeting Turner Hall's
financial needs and goals is on-going. Turner Hall depends largely
on its membership and outside donations to survive. Not long ago,
Turner Hall, which has been a fixture and landmark in southern Wisconsin
since 1868,
came uncomfortably close to no longer existing. As the only Turner Hall of Swiss
origin left in the United States, that would have
been a terrible loss.
To that end, fund drives have taken place to ensure that the
doors of Turner Hall will always remain open to the community and to those
who embrace their Swiss roots, regardless of birthplace or residence.
Gifts to the Turner Hall of Monroe are welcome at any time, and
can even be part of your estate planning. Turner Hall currently has a
Turner Hall Preservation Endowment Fund, which was established in 1999 and is administered through the
Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.
Along with other gifts and donations, a very
generous gift in memory of Turner Hall member, Jack Kundert (September 10, 1931 - November 28, 2012), has provided
seed money to set up a Turner Hall Foundation.
Turner Hall of Monroe is an IRS 501(c)(3) Non-Profit and
Wisconsin Chapter 181 Corporation, so all gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
To make a donation, or for more information, please write:
Turner Hall of Monroe
PO Box 762
Monroe, WI 53566
or e-mail:
SwissHall@TurnerHallofMonroe.org
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