Monroe City (600?) Built 1936
October 17, 2024
October 17, 2024
Over the last year I've been reading any history book about Indiana high school basketball that I can get my hands on. There has been so much good stuff written about the golden age of the 1940s-1980s. The one class tournament that spawned absolute fervor over basketball in this state also created a lot of interest in preserving the history through some fantastic literature. I've learned about obscure teams from far flung places all over the state. Whether it's a story about a big school continuing an unprecedented run of dominance, a tiny town going on an unprobable sectional run, or something in-between, they all seem to resonate. Most of them revolved around the action in the month of March as teams tried to make their mark in the postseason. There's a reason people were rightfully incensed when some out of touch "leaders" in Indianapolis did away with the one class tournament in 1997. Basketball in Indiana is uniquely special, and that tournament was a big part of it. While I'm not one of the people who thinks it killed Hoosier Hysteria and there's no reason to go to games anymore, it was definitely a loss. While reading all of the great stories involving the state tournament, another competition kept being mentioned with a similar sense of reverence: The Wabash Valley Tournament.
The Wabash Valley Tournament was a midyear showdown held between teams from western Indiana and eastern Illinois, centered Terre Haute. At its peak in the 40s, there were over one hundred schools participating. No it didn't hold the same prestige as the state tournament, but it still carried a lot of weight for those who participated, and winning it was a pretty incredible feat. It was also a pretty nice way to break up the grind of the regular season. My final stop on my fall break gym tour took me to a school that was one of a handful of small schools that managed to win the Wabash Valley Tournament in 1967 (coached by the relatively unknown at the time, Sam Alford), the Monroe City Blue Jeans. The Blue Jeans (named after a local politician who eventually became governor and loved denim) also earned three sectional titles competing in one of the most historic sectional sites in the state at the Adams Coliseum in Vincennes. Their gym still stands connected to the old school that is completely intact. The whole place has been turned into a community center that serves its town in a variety of ways. From an event center, to a thrift store, to hosting youth basketball, it gets a lot of use. The gym is the centerpiece that still shines with the same glow it had when the Blue Jeans were taking on the Decker Aces, Frichton Eagles, or any other nearby rival 70 years ago.
What struck me walking into the gym at Monroe City immediately was the same thing that hit me when I visited the old gym at Lebanon over the summer. Sunlight was just streaming through the old windows that mercifully haven't been blocked in and hitting the hardwood floor in a majestic way. The court has a brighter golden hue to it, and the light just enhances it beautifully. It's incredible the effect windows like this can have when they're left untouched. The rest of the gym has the same aura. It's designed in the standard 30s gym way: seating along each sideline with a stage behind one baseline. The walls all around are a very dark brown brick that is just gorgeous. The side of the gym that is the most basic is the one that shares a wall with the old school, and even it has a lot to look at. There is blue padding right underneath the hoop (which has two practice goals attached on the sides like the one at Sharpsville) to protect players from the brick wall that sits very close to the out of bounds line. Up on the wall are large blown up photographs of notable teams from the past, some sectional winners along with the aforementioned Wabash Valley Tournament winning squad. The names of each player are listed below. Featuring these teams this prominently is a fantastic way to honor their contributions to the tradition of the school and gym.
The opposite baseline features a wall with a stage that rivals any I've found in a gym from this era. A heavy deep blue curtain spans across it with a smaller trim banner running across the top with MCHS stitched in the center. The stage opening is framed in with lighter bricks. It all looks very regal. There are two more wooden practice hoops sitting perfectly alightned against the wall on either side of the stage. An old scoreboard hangs in one of the corners here as well. There are also two white doors leading to the back of the stage and the old locker rooms. The only part of the gym that doesn't feel original to when it was built is the sideline to the right of the old team photos. The original bleachers here have been removed, and a kitchenette has been installed in one corner to serve the community when they have different events in the gym. This takes up about half of the floor space on this side. Some older wooden retractable bleachers have been installed beside it on the other half so no space is wasted and for additional seating. The beautiful windows run along the top here. One very cool feature are the pennants hanging in between the windows honoring other past schools from the surrounding county and little towns.
I've saved the best side and feature of the gym for last. The sideline I haven't talked about features one of the most picturesque scorer's tables you'll ever find. It has beautiful vertically panelled wood running across it with MCHS written on it in wooden letters. I kind of doubt it's original to the gym as this kind of intricacy would not be common for a scorer's table in the 30s, but I don't care. It's awesome. And it's not even the best part! Sitting behind the scorer's table are seven rows of the most unique bleachers you'll ever find. My guide, Mr. Jake Scott, said he believes they are original. They sure look like they are. They are permanent bleachers, but they have big gaps between the boards where you would sit and the ones you would put your feet on. This was fairly common in the big sets of retractable bleachers that were popular in the 60s and 70s, but I've never seen a permanent set like these. They're stained a very dark brown color that matches the brick in the gym, and white lines have been painted to separate individual seats. They look fantastic. I could not get enough of them. The windows, team pennants, and old team photos continue along this wall above the marvelous bleachers.
Mr. Scott was kind enough to show me around not only the gym, but other parts of the school as well. Like Williamsburg, the old school was just as interesting to me as the gym itself. I got to see a really neat trophy case that includes a ball from that famous Wabash Valley Tournament winning team. He also showed me a room that they have turned into a museum full of old Monroe City memorabilia. There was so much to take in. The coolest thing of all that he showed me was the official scorebook from the 1955 season. They have multiple from different years. That was a truly one of a kind moment for me. Mr. Scott is about my age, and I had a great time talking to him about the history of the whole place. Most of the people I encounter on these trips are two to three times my age. He's very invested in the community center and seeing it progress in a way that will be an asset for the town in the years to come. Finding more people like this in the next generations who care about preserving the history of their communities while finding ways to make that history relevant in today's world is going to be key to keeping these old buildings going. This is what is happening in Monroe City, and it was a wonderful thing to see in person.
