Bill Monroe Homeplace

Visiting Bill Monroe's home as a child and teenager is rewarding. Near the small village of Rosine in Ohio County, “Bill Monroe's Homeplace” is located in a large forest area. I am the only guest and so an older lady acts as a “tour guide” and leads me through the house and tells me about Bill Monroe's childhood days. Much of the house was put together at the beginning of the 20th century. Some furnishings are even originals. There is a large festival on site as well as concerts on the “Porch”. Both the furnishings and the entire surroundings give an idea of how difficult life must have been for the Monroe family with a total of eight children. Bill was the youngest child and grew up with severe visual impairment. Some of his older siblings had already moved out during his childhood and brought their own children with them to visit. Making music was an important part of the family's leisure activities. Bill's mother played the accordion and sang and his brothers played guitar and fiddle. However, Bill's mother died when he was just ten years old. His father died six years later. So Bill had to move in with his Uncle Pen (James Pendleton Vandiver). This was a well-known and popular fiddler throughout the area. Bill later dedicated the piece “Uncle Pen” to his uncle. Many of Bill Monroe's other pieces also refer specifically to his childhood and his memories of “The Old Homeplace”.

Located in Rosine, the Bill Monroe Museum is a loving and whimsical collection of various devolutionaries related to Bill Monroe and his family. What is particularly special in my opinion are the various gifts from Bill Monroe fans to him. Below there are stained glass windows with references to various songs, quilted blankets and mandolins. Bill Monroe's grave cannot be missed in the cemetery; it is the largest in the exposed area. To the left of his grave is the tombstone of his brother Birch Monroe, who is ten years older than him. The carved images on it have made some musicians laugh.