Operated by the Friends of Historic Meridian
Several families lived in the "Brick House" over the years. In addition to the Turner's, the Gottfried Herre and Walter Heathman families lived here. The last owner of the building prior to relocation was Keith Bartow, who taught music and operated a small musical instrument shop in the front room of the building.
The building was moved to the Historical Village in 1988. At the time it was moved, it was estimated to weigh 248,000 pounds!
The building was lifted on to a flat-bed truck and slowly moved from the corner of Marsh and Hamilton Roads to the Village in Central Park. As the truck came up over the curb in the park, one of the tires blew out and the truck had to be "jacked-up" to change the tire with the 248,000 pound building on top!
When the building was put in place, an examination of the interior found that a single Coke bottle on top of a stack of books hadn't even budged! What a tribute to the house movers!
Much work to rehabilitate the building was done by members of the Michigan Youth Corps during the summers of 1989 and 1990. Currently, the building houses a general store exhibit, the village gift shop, and a cozy office for the Meridian Historical Village.
According to oral tradition, Charles went to California looking for gold before ever starting his business. Later archaeological investigation of the stie gave no evidence of any blacksmith activity.
After Charles left for California, his father enclosed the large front opening with a door and two side windows, making it a village shop.
The Brick House is two stories tall and, in its original construction, had no interior access to the second floor. There was an exterior staircase similiar to the current one on the north side of the house.
This staircase led to the second floor, known as "Turner's Hall", which was used as a meeting place by fraternal organizations such as the Odd Fellows Society. Early news accounts frequently mention the Grange Association used the second floor for information and social activities in this rural community. Traveling actors and musicians frequently stayed at the Barnes House Inn (also relocated to the Village) and performed at "Turner's Hall".
The construction of the building is very unique, with exterior walls two bricks thick and held together with iron tie rods that run front to back and side to side. These are still visible from the building exterior.
The walls were supported by large stone slabs and the floor was packed clay and cobblestone to a depth of two feet. This would have provied for the firm surface needed for horses, wagons, and heavy equipment served by a blacksmith shop.
The building had a flat, tarred wooden roof that sloped from front to back. The first roof remains, and later a second, peaked roof was built.
Presumably, the new roof was added when the building was converted to a residence in order to help change the appearance from a shop to a house.