Long before Interstate 75 became the north-south thoroughfare that transformed Butler County, travelers relied on U.S. Route 25 to move between Cincinnati, Dayton and points north. At the center of it all was a single building at the intersection of U.S. 25 and Ohio 63.
Built in 1910 by Marion G. Warner, the structure now known as the 1910 Building began as a general store. After the small-town shopkeeper’s death in 1922, the store stayed in the family. His wife, Lizzie, took over operations before passing it on to their daughter, Nelle. U.S. 25 was established, turning Monroe into a regular stop for people traveling between Cincinnati and Dayton and north through Detroit all the way to Port Huron, Michigan.
When Nelle eventually sold the building to Earl C. Marshall, she included a condition in the agreement: no “intoxicating liquor” could be sold on the premises. Marshall honored that request and introduced something new at the business: a soda fountain. It quickly became a popular gathering place, especially for local youth, among them Jim Price, who worked as a “soda jerk” during his high school years and now serves on the Monroe Historical Society Board. Travelers frequently stopped in for flavored sodas, ice cream and a break from the road.
“It was a popular stopping point between Cincinnati and Dayton,” says Scott Fowler, a board member of the Monroe Historical Society. “Ruth Lyons used to travel the route for her broadcasts at Channel 2 in Dayton and her home in Cincinnati. She loved the ice cream.”
Through the years, the building saw life as a pizza parlor, dress shop, office space and even the city’s Mayor's Court before eventually becoming home to the Monroe Historical Society.
The building’s restoration owes much to Jim , who acquired ownership in the early 1990s. With a commitment to honoring Monroe’s past, he invested in repairs and allowed the Monroe Historical Society to establish a museum within the space.
Inside, the Hale Media Room houses vintage radios, early televisions and rotary telephones, showing how communication evolved alongside the growth of towns like Monroe.
The Chickahominy House, which is often called the Main Museum, was built next door in the late 1990s after a community fundraising effort. Together, the two buildings serve as a hub for preserving local history.
Exhibits range from a fully restored 1924 Monroe fire engine to displays honoring Lesourdsville Lake and Americana amusement parks, once popular destinations known for rides like the Screechin’ Eagle roller coaster. Another section honors Monroe residents who served in the armed forces, connecting local lives to national history. Among the collection is a 45-star United States flag, dating from 1896-1908. It is one of the oldest known flags in Butler County.
Today, the 1910 Building and the Chickahominy House offer visitors a chance to step into history and see how a single intersection once connected a small town to a much larger world.
About This Series
West Chester + Liberty Lifestyle celebrates America250 with stories featuring stops on the Time Travel Trail, sponsored by Travel Butler County. These historic sites highlight the important role Butler County played in the settling of Ohio and the United States. TravelButlerCounty.com
“Ruth Lyons used to travel the route for her broadcasts at Channel 2 in Dayton and her home in Cincinnati. She loved the ice cream.” -Scott Fowler, Monroe Historical Society