The Shirley Campbell Barn
648 Jackson Street, Clinton MI
Built by William B. Richmond
Circa 1900 – 1920
This beautiful U shaped complex of 3 connected Gambrel roof barns was once the home of a large dairy operation. These barns embody the prototypical set-up: the main floor was used for hay, straw, and grain storage while the basement housed the cows. Raised ramp field stone foundations provided walk in access to the main floors on the outside of the U and to the basements on the inside. The U shaped buildings also protected the barnyard.
The Richmond family: Levi, then Levi’s son William, and finally William’s grandnephew Eric Halladay, consecutively owned this farm for over 140 years! William Richmond was a well-known Clintonite, as he was the founder of the Smith-Richmond Bank (later becoming the State Savings Bank) and owner of the Clintonian Inn (later known as the Clinton Inn).
Norman and Shirley Campbell bought this property in 1998 as a retirement paradise. They enjoyed gardening vegetables and flowers, and working on the barns. Eleanor Campbell, Shirley’s daughter, has fond farm memories of watching her dad putting metal roofs on the barns, taking family pictures, having bonfires, and enjoying the beautiful grounds and fields.
Interview Notes
The Shirley Campbell Barn
648 Jackson Street, Clinton, MI
Date of Interview: 9/1/2022
Interviewer: Mark Jenkins
Interviewee: Eleanor and Shirley Campbell
1.) Plat Map Ownership Record (Bridgewater Township Sections 32 and 33)
1976 Eric R. Halladay
1970 Eric R. Halladay
1967 Eric R. Halladay – For the last 3 years of William Richmond’s life, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Halladay (William’s grand niece and nephew) lived with him on the farm and took care of William. The Halladay’s had a son named Dick.
1915 William B. Richmond
1896 William B. Richmond
1895 William B. Richmond – Levi’s son. He was born on this farm in 1856. He died on 6/11/1938 (82 years old). He was the youngest of 7 siblings. He was the founder of the Smith-Richmond Bank which later became the State Savings Bank of Clinton (where he was the Vice President). He spent his whole life on this farm. He married Anna Pennington of Macon in 1896. She passed away on 1/10/1920. He re-married Mrs. Ella Collins in 1921. She died in November 1925. William also owned the Clintonian Hotel (the Clinton Inn) and was a livestock broker.
1874 Levi C Richmond
1864 Levi Richmond
1856 Levi Richmond – married Sarah Warner
2.) Features of the Historic Barn
- Listed on the 2007 “A Washtenaw County, Michigan Heritage Driving Tour” Tour 3: Historic Barns. The brochure states “Formerly a large dairy operation, this grouping of 3 gambrel roofed barns forms a U shaped complex just outside the village of Clinton. All of the barns have metal roofs. The farm is divided by geographic lines: the barns are in Washtenaw County while the Greek revival farmhouse is in Lenawee County.
- Norman maintained the barns by installing metal roofs, painting the exterior, and repairing water damage.
- Formerly a livestock and dairy farm.
- 3 connected barns. The rest of the features listed apply to all 3 barns.
- 2 floors – main floor (hay, straw, and grain storage) and basement for animals.
- 1 shed addition.
- The open side of the U shape, the former barnyard, faces east – protected by the buildings to the north, south, and west.
- Gambrel roof shape.
- Vertical wood siding painted red with white trim.
- Hand hewn timbers.
- Field Stone foundation is raised by ramps on the outside of the U. The ramps have stone wall sides.
- Ribbed steel roofing.
- Lightning rods, ornate designs on the doors, and windows with half-moon tops comprise the exterior ornamentation.
- Hay trolleys and tracks are in place.
- There are 6 other small historic buildings on the property including a corn crib and a chicken house.
3.) Personal / Family Information
- In 1998 Norman and Shirley Campbell bought the farm from the Halladay’s. Norman and Shirley bought the farm to retire there. Norman enjoyed gardening vegetables and flowers and working in the barns. He loved the barns for their endless storage opportunities! This was their dream retirement paradise.
- Norman’s father owned the Clinton Dairy and owned the farm just south of this farm. Norman’s father’s farm was sold and sub-divided into the large tract of housing north of Washington Street. Norman and Shirley had 5 children. Shirley’s maiden name is Smith.
- Fond remembrances of the barns include watching her dad put metal roofs on the barns, having family members over for pictures in front of the barn, enjoying bonfires, taking beautiful pictures of the grounds and flowers, planting vegetables and riding through prairie grass fields.
- They rent the land out. Currently, soybeans are growing.