5 Fascinating Facts About Old Stone House in Salisbury, NC

The Old Stone House in Rowan County is one of the most iconic landmarks in North Carolina. Now a museum, this structure was once the masterpiece of a teenage immigrant who sailed from Germany to Philadelphia. Visitors who check out the home today can step back in time and view hundreds of artifacts from the eighteenth century. Here are five fascinating facts about this incredible piece of history that will make you the new local history expert.

1. Its German Architecture Is Among the Best in the Southeast

The house was built by Michael Braun, a German immigrant from the town of Granite Quarry. The stone design will easily make you feel like you’re right in Germany. While it stands today as a magnificent piece of architecture, visitors will be surprised to know that wasn’t always the case.

The house stood abandoned during the 1900s and became the site of vandalism for over twenty years. At one point, developers wanted to tear down the thick granite walls to make way for a road. Today, this iconic structure stands among the best colonial-style homes in the North Carolina area.

2. It Took Seven Years to Build

Braun began building the home on 274 acres of land near Crane Creek by hand. The entire project took 3,500 tons of granite from a quarry that a mile away. He polished each stone for the front of the house to fit together correctly and create an impressive design.  The back of the house did not share the same flair as the front – it stood unevenly supported on a wooden peg.

3. There Is a Secret Inscription Over the Doorway

If you look up at the doorway as you enter the home, you’ll see a hidden inscription chiseled into the stone above the door. The inscription refers to Braun and his three wives and ten children and the year the house was completed. Braun likely put it there because it is customary to inscribe new dwellings with the builder’s name in Germany.

4. Many People Fought to Save the House

After standing vacant for a long time, parts of the home began to collapse, and looters started to cut up pieces of the house for firewood. Family trustees first attempted to save the home in 1927 but could not afford the cost of repairs. A few years later, Braun’s direct decedents tried to restore the house and ran into financing issues as well. The Rowan Museum stepped up in 1957, saved the home, and converted it into a museum.

5. Michael Braun is Buried Nearby

Although it is not a confirmed fact, many people over the centuries have believed that the man who built the stone house, Michael Braun, is buried in the nearby family cemetery. The Braun cemetery is located across from the house where he and his wife Margareta lay at rest. Michael’s headstone is missing, but visitors can still see his wife’s original tombstone.

Next time you are in the Salisbury area, challenge your friends and family to some history trivia and bring them to this landmark to learn while having fun. On your way back, visit Cloninger Toyota, where we will happily help you with all of your Toyota sales and service needs.

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