photo Ellen Ebert
Although the original tower was a variation of an onion dome shape, this polygonal replacement is still a dominating feature of the southwest corner of the Green. Modern siding covers the decorative shingles that are typical of the style, but on the Whitfield Street side you can still see the outline of what was a second- story balcony. The “Monroe block” was built by J. Harrison Monroe who bought the old Sherman Hotel which stood here and incorporated part of it in the west wing of this building. Hotel Halleck, named no doubt for Guilford’s famous poet son, occupied the upper floors. Monroe’s Pharmacy was here and space was rented to Markham’s Jewelry Store until 1902 and then to the post office until 1964 when its present building was erected on Water Street.
From Guilford: A Walking Guide, the Green & Neighboring Streets [by] Sarah Brown McCulloch. Text from 2006 printing, revised, with editorial notes in brackets from 2012.
