Turner family prominent in building heritage of Pensacola

Richard Hill Turner was born in Forsyth, Georgia Sept. 19, 1832, but left following the death of his father while he was quite young. When he was about 16, he and his brother moved to Auburn, Alabama, where he attended school. He moved to Pensacola in 1857 and found work as a carpenter. In November 1867, he married Mary Gingles. Not long after returning from Confederate service with the 3rd/15th FL Cavalry in the Civil War, he started his own construction company. Turner Construction was later operated by his son, Charles Hill Turner, and grandson, William Richard Turner.

Richard Hill Turner was active in the Methodist Church and was one of the first to urge a mission in the new and developing East Hill areas. The mission became the Gadsden Street Methodist Church, which held its first services in 1899 and opened a new church in April 1903.

Before joining his father in business, Charles Hill Turner studied architecture at South West Presbyterian University in Tennessee. He entered the building business at the height of Pensacola's lumber boom. Many of his buildings featured extensive carved woodwork. Some of the most prominent buildings in Pensacola were built by Charles Turner including three of the four buildings on the corner of Palafox and Garden streets : the Blount Building, the Masonic Lodge and the now defunct San Carlos Hotel. Others were the Saenger Theater, the City Hall (now the T. T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum), the C. and P. Bank building.

In 1921, Charles Turner built the Bayou Texar bridge from east Pensacola Heights to Gadsden Street. It was replaced around 1954 with a new bridge on Cervantes Street. He built other bridges and some streets for the city and county. Charles Turner built more than 22 residences, many of them for family members. Some are still considered as works of art. Charles Hill Turner was joined by his son, William Richard in the company. In all, the Turner Construction Company was an important building firm in Pensacola for over 90 years. Richard Hill Turner was buried in St. John's Cemetery 1 North Section 5 and brother Charles Hill Turner was buried in St. John's Cemetery 1 North Section 7.

 On December 13, 1866, her married Miss Mary H. Gingles.  They were the parents of eight known children: Charles (1868-1945), Mary (1870-1961; married J.A. Merritt), Adelaide (Addie, 1872-1946; married Walter S. Garfield), Richard H. (1875-1947), Emma (1877-1963, married J.W. Hyer), J. George (1880-1916; buried next to parents), Filo Harris (1883-1977), Fanny Ann Turner (1886-1974; married J.S. Leonard).  Richard Hill Turner died December 17, 1908. From Journal Friday December 18, 1908: “Richard H. Turner Sr…78...came to Pensacola in the year 1857...a carpenter…until the great Civil war cloud broke serving faithfully and well with the First Florida Regiment…December 13, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gingles, of this city…survivors: C.H. Turner, Mrs. Jno. A. Merritt, R.H. Turner Jr., Mrs. W.S. Garfield, Mrs. J. Whiting Hyer, Geo. J. Turner, Filo Turner and Miss Fannie Turner.”   He is buried next to his wife Mary H. Turner, son George Turner and Whitfield Turner.

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