MONROE - In the 1500 block of 11th Street, to the west of the southwest side of the Square, stands the White Block building.
It wasn't built until 1930.
There was another building located in that spot for many years. The American House could be found there by people who lived in Monroe during the 1840s. The American House, a two-story building, began as a government building. The Green County Courthouse and other county offices were located on the second floor.
It was also used as a jail.
Its interesting history includes an escape from jail by one of the early settlers of Monroe.
Joe Payne was one of the founders of Monroe. He owned several properties in town, but by 1844 he had sold them and moved to Cadiz township. According to "the Story of Monroe" by E.C. Hamilton, Payne tried to establish another town but couldn't attract settlers. His cabin in Cadiz township burned in 1847 and he built a tavern near the Lafayette County border.
In the winter of 1849-50 he sold the tavern to John Bringold and bought land next to Bringold's property. He later built a fence between the two properties but it was discovered to be on Bringold's property.
In April 1850 Bringold began to remove the fence and Payne shot him in the head.
Payne was arrested and released on bail.
Just before his trial began he was kept in the American House, along with his wife Rosa. The deputy sheriff locked Payne and his wife in the room used for a jail cell and went to bed. The next morning, Payne was gone.
According to legend, Payne fled through the Square, obtained a horse from a friend and galloped west out of Monroe. A relative had a fresh horse for him in Cadiz township and he later made his way to California. His wife joined him later.
No effort was made to extradite him back to Monroe.
It wasn't built until 1930.
There was another building located in that spot for many years. The American House could be found there by people who lived in Monroe during the 1840s. The American House, a two-story building, began as a government building. The Green County Courthouse and other county offices were located on the second floor.
It was also used as a jail.
Its interesting history includes an escape from jail by one of the early settlers of Monroe.
Joe Payne was one of the founders of Monroe. He owned several properties in town, but by 1844 he had sold them and moved to Cadiz township. According to "the Story of Monroe" by E.C. Hamilton, Payne tried to establish another town but couldn't attract settlers. His cabin in Cadiz township burned in 1847 and he built a tavern near the Lafayette County border.
In the winter of 1849-50 he sold the tavern to John Bringold and bought land next to Bringold's property. He later built a fence between the two properties but it was discovered to be on Bringold's property.
In April 1850 Bringold began to remove the fence and Payne shot him in the head.
Payne was arrested and released on bail.
Just before his trial began he was kept in the American House, along with his wife Rosa. The deputy sheriff locked Payne and his wife in the room used for a jail cell and went to bed. The next morning, Payne was gone.
According to legend, Payne fled through the Square, obtained a horse from a friend and galloped west out of Monroe. A relative had a fresh horse for him in Cadiz township and he later made his way to California. His wife joined him later.
No effort was made to extradite him back to Monroe.