This building, constructed in 1869, was one of the first carriage and blacksmith shops in Ann Arbor. It belonged to John Wagner Jr. John's father, John Wagner Sr. was born in Wurttemberg, Germany and brought his blacksmith skills to Ann Arbor in 1837. John Jr. chose to carry on his father's tradition. He organized his blacksmith shop in this building to add a touch of elegance to his craft. John Jr. became known as one of Ann Arbor's most skilled and reliable blacksmiths. An advertisement in the 1872 City Directory read, "John Wagner, Jr. Carriage and Blacksmith shop, keeps on hand and manufactures to order all kinds of Carriages, Wagons and Sleighs. Customer work and horse shoeing done promptly and in a satisfactory manner...Corner Washington and Second Streets," (Reade & Wineberg). Eventually hard times called for Wagner to sell the building. The building was sold to the Schneider family in 1874 and continued to function as a blacksmith's shop. The Schneider family moved and the building then went on to become a Hotel and later a bottling works.