Monroe

Today is Monroe's 110th birthday, it is also Wenatchee's 120th birthday and the 120th anniversary of the first Great Northern train to arrive in Seattle via the newly completed transcontinental tracks.  I've previously waxed on about Wenatchee's birth and of course the railroads, so tonight is about Monroe.  The town's orginal settler was Henry McClurg, who claimed the land at the confluence of the Snoqualmie and Skykomish rivers in 1860.  Within a few years he moved closer to present day Monroe and then in 1893 when the Great Northern decided to run its tracks a bit further to the east, McClurg moved to the present location and renamed the place for President Monroe. 
In September 1901, fire destroyed the business district of the town, highlighting the need for a reliable water supply and a fire department and thus gave rise to need for incorporation.  The incorporation vote took place in December of 1902 with the yea votes carrying the day.  By August of 1903 the first fair was held, leading to many years later a race track and even more years after that, me going to a demolition derby one summer Saturday night.  I don't have photos of that, in fact I really don't have many photos of Monroe, so here is one I do have.
Enjoy
Dan