Designed in Gothic Revival style, the exterior was of yellow Milwaukee brick.  The interior trim and seating woods were largely cherry with touches of birch and pine.  Tiffany chandeliers graced the sanctuary, stained glass windows lined the walls, and one showcase window, known as the Rose Window, graced the balcony.  With its church spire soaring toward heaven, the First Methodist Church was dedicated on May 22, 1887.

The First Methodist Church was a bustling place of community worship, and a wing was added in 1959 to house fellowship activities.  Over the years, the Methodists joined with other churches to continue worship at this site.  By September 1970, however, the congregation merged with the Immanuel and Bethel churches of Monroe, and Sunday worship was no longer held in the century-old sanctuary, though the fellowship hall area was still used by community groups.

By September 1974, the First Methodist congregation realized the need to sell the church property and authorized their Board of Trustees to enter into negotiations for that purpose.  The price was set at $100,000, and preference was to be given organizations favoring preservation.

The First Methodist Church occupied what is still considered a prime piece of real estate just off of Monroe's historic courthouse square.  The story goes that a developer planned to raze the building, paving the way for a more "practical" use of the property.  It was at this time that a local arts organization was formed, initially for the dual purposes of preserving this architectural gem as an historic site, and using the facility for artistic and community activities.

Led by Margaret Gunderson Stiles, a "Save the Church, and Use It!" fundraising campaign began, and the community rallied to raise in excess of $100,000 to purchase the church and parsonage from the Methodists.  A grant of $20,000 allocated by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin aided this purchase, and the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 25, 1975.  The official transfer of the property was effected July 2, 1976, with the ownership of the property going to the Monroe Arts and Activities Center.

Through the years, the renamed Monroe Arts Center (MAC) continued to make renovations to the structure and increase its usability as a flourishing arts center without harming the integrity of its historic status.  A major remodeling of the sanctuary area occurred in 1982 which created a proscenium stage with backstage exits for performers.  The concert hall received new carpeting and chair pads in early 1991, and the brick exterior was cleaned, returning it to its original golden color.

The next major renovation effort came in 1996 with the establishment of the Next Century Fund.  Facility restorations, repairs and upgrades totaling $300,000 were presented to the community, and money was pledged over three years.  Some of the major work done was:  restoration of the Rose Window and all stained glass windows, upgrading of the heating and cooling systems, restoration of the Frehner Art Gallery, the re-flooring of Wesley Hall for more efficient use as a dance studio, upgrading and installation of indoor and outdoor lighting, and improvements to the concert hall sound and lighting systems.

In 1999, all phases of the Next Century Fund were completed, and all renovations were dedicated in a special ceremony and open house.  It was during this extensive renovation phase that the auditorium was officially named the Margaret Gunderson Stiles Concert Hall, in honor of the woman who first spearheaded the movement to preserve and make artistic use of this beautiful facility.

Beginning in 2000, a separate MAC Building Maintenance Fund was established to provide ongoing financial support to ensure the preservation of this historic and artistic Green County landmark.  Monies donated to this fund are used strictly for building improvements and are not a part of the ongoing operating budget.

The Monroe Arts Center continues to be an active force serving the arts, while preserving a historic landmark of yesteryear.  Woven throughout the Monroe Arts Center's history is a love of community, of historic preservation and of man's creativity. It is this spirit that continues to pervade Green County's home to the arts.