Postcard showing a photo of the oldest frame house in Battle Creek. Typed on back: The oldest house in Battle Creek. Originally stood on the Bromberg site, Monument Square. Now stands near Michigan Central stockyards, on Locust street. (Old Time Picture #47) From: Everts, L. H. & Co. History of Calhoun County, Michigan... Philadelphia: Everts, 1877, p. 81. The first frame house, properly speaking, was that erected by John V. Henry, in the old Gardner settlement, which is about five miles from Battle Creek. he built a goodly-sized frame structure out there, intending it for a tavern, in 1834, but never covered or utilized it. The frame was removed to Battle Creek in 1836 by Isaac Merrett, who placed it on the site now occupied by the American hotel. It was used for a number of years by Lowry & Hewitt as a tavern, probably having been thus used about 1840. In 1837 Judge Tolman W. Hall erected a frame dwelling-house on the lot next east of the American hotel, which now constitutes the back part of the Bristol house, being the first fram residence built on Main street.