The General Store — formally known as the Heathman-Herre House or "The Brick House" — has one of the most colorful histories of any building in the Village.
Built in 1877 by William H. Turner as a blacksmith shop for his son Charles, the building's story took an unexpected turn when Charles left for the California Gold Rush. His father converted the ground floor into a shop entrance, and the building began its long journey through the commercial life of Okemos.
Turner's Hall
The upper level became known as Turner's Hall, serving as a community meeting venue for:
- The Odd Fellows Society
- The Grange Association
- Traveling actors and musicians who performed at Turner's Hall and stayed at the nearby Barnes House Inn
This combination of commerce below and community above was typical of small-town Michigan in the late 19th century.
Later History
The building passed through several owners:
- The Gottfried Herre family
- The Walter Heathman family
- Keith Bartow, the last owner, who operated a musical instrument shop
The Move
In 1988, the building was moved to the Meridian Historical Village — a massive undertaking, as the brick structure weighed 248,000 pounds. The successful move was a testament to the community's commitment to preserving local history.
Today
The ground floor now houses a general store exhibit recreating the experience of shopping in a 19th-century rural Michigan store, along with the Village gift shop where visitors can purchase historical books, period toys, candy, clothing, and local history materials.
The gift shop is open Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, May through October.