Milner-Aycock Building

John Malsby and Thomas Avery were the first known occupants of this building, doing business here in the 1890s. They were succeeded by James M. Day, who operated a dry goods business at this location in partnership with Will Avery and others starting just before 1900.

B.F. Stringer also had a leather goods business in part of the building, dealing in harnesses, shoes, and boots.

Aycock’s Department Store was open at this location as early as 1915 and continued in business until 1960. John and Earl Aycock sold most everything. Clothing and dry goods were located upstairs, while groceries and farm supplies were stored downstairs. They also sold wagons.

In July 1960, Aycock’s experienced one of the worst fires in Monroe’s history. The business was destroyed, with only the shell of the building remaining. The Aycock brothers restored and leased the building to the Milner Company from Gainesville. The Milners opened Milner-Aycocks in 1961 and continued business there until February 1992, when Walton County purchased the building for county office space.

In 2004, the City of Monroe took over the operation of the building from the county to house the Monroe Police Department and city court.