Author: Your Tour Guide

185 South Main Street

c. 1877 – Italianate

George Washington Brabb (1843·1912) a native of Washington Township, was a prominent farmer and businessman with investments in a hardware store, a road cart factory, and an implement business. His large Italianate residence, erected in 1877, was one of the most sophisticated homes in Romeo with its smooth stucco-like board siding (now covered with clapboards),  dignified       entrance portico (expanded c. 1900) and elaborate  decorative motifs rendered in wood and cast iron. “Wash” Brabb and his wife occupied the north side of the residence and Brabb’s two sisters, Caroline and Anne, lived on the south side. In 1919, the home became the first Osteopathic Hospital in Michigan, before a larger complex was completed in Highland Park.

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174 South Main Street

c. 1853 – Transitional Greek Revival – Italianate

Dr. Seth Andrews (1809-1848) a native of Putney, Vermont and graduate of Dart­mouth College and Fairfield Medical College. spent 12 years in Hawaii ()836-1848) as a mis­sionary before settling in Romeo in 1853 and engaging in medical practice. His residence, transitional in style, combines a Greek Revival entrance and roof entablature with an Italianate hip roof and cube shape. The widow’s walk with pierced cross motifs in the balustrade is par­ticularly interesting. The large paned windows and front porch are later replacements.

153 Benjamin Street

c. 1859 – Transitional Greek Revival – Italianate

John Ketchum purchased a lot on Benjamin Street in 1855 and presumably con­structed his residence in 1859 when he took out an $815.52 mortgage. The home is essentially late Greek Revival in outline with Italianate porches and hoods over the windows which may have been added during the 1870’s. John Ketchum and his brother Benjamin owned the Peninsula Carriage & Wagon Manufactory located near the present site of The Village Park on North Rawles. By 1875, they had absorbed most of their competitors in Romeo and achieved “an unequaled reputation throughout Michigan and the west.” Very suddenly, however, in August of 1878, the company folded “being unable to make collections” and in the spring of 1879, John Ketchum sold his home and moved to Detroit to work as a salesman for another car­riage firm.

206 South Main Street

c. 1853 – Greek Revival

This Greek Revival Church, one of the few of its type remaining in Michigan, was dedicated December 16, 1853. Costing $8,000, it is a build­ing of dignified proportions with finely crafted mouldings including the uniquely carved Greek “key” motif surrounding the eight sided belfry. A spire originally terminated the tower, small­ paned windows with shutters graced the exterior, and a lower foundation anchored the building. Though changes have been made, the structure still proudly displays its New England “meeting house” heritage. The parsonage to the south of the church was also completed in 1853 at the cost of $800. Essentially Greek Revival in design, it included a Gothic “m” shaped bargeboard at the roof line which appears on several other residences in the Romeo area including the residence of David H. Buel “Architect & Builder.”

231 South Main Street

c. 1855 – Greek Revival

This exceptional Greek Revival residence with its wide entablature mouldings and serene appearance was built c. 1855 for Lucius Webster (1822-1865) a “teamster.” The home was sold in 1859 for $2,000 to Joseph Newman (1833-1901) a native of New Jersey, and Romeo merchant who proudly advertised in The Romeo Observer “Dry Goods, Teas, etc. at New York City Prices.”

232 South Main Street

c. 1885 – Victorian Gothic

A dispute over building costs for this Victorian Gothic residence “ornamented with bracket work etc. in good style” ended in a trial in Circuit Court. The builder, T. R. Galloway charged the owner with refusing to pay for “extras” furnished by him for the dwelling. The Owner, Isreal Park, a retired farmer. main­tained that these extras were a part of the original agreement. The settlement occurred when Park reluctantly paid Galloway $150 and ”this sum was increased. to $200 by the contributions of some of the witnesses and one of the lawyers.”

343 South Main Street

c. 1858 – Greek Revival

(No longer at location) This Greek Revival residence was built by Romeo’s early settler, Ashael Bailey, in 1858 as his third residence in the village. Commercial growth had forced him to move from his original homestead at the four corners. Bailey (1789·1862} a native of Haddam, Connecticut had arrived in January, 1822 when Romeo was little more than a wilderness and established himself as a pros­perous farmer, surveyor (first public roads of the county), and local benefactor (land for the first school and the Congregational Church). “The village of Romeo largely stands as a monument to him” proclaims the Macomb County History of 1905.

Located slightly to the north of the Bailey Residence is the $450,000 St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church completed in 1969. Designed by Farmington architect Charles Hannan with stained glass windows by world famous Gabriel Loire and tapestries by Romeo’s Eileen Auvil, the structure reflects the strength and primitive quality of modern architectural design.

296 South Main Street

c. 1879 – Italianate

Franklin Arnold (1830-1891) a native of Michigan and retired Washington Township farmer had this pretentious Italianate home constructed in 1879. Its cube-like shape, hooded windows, and hip roof with bracket supports had been the favored architectural style in Romeo since the late 1850’s. The pierced decorative front doors and the elaborate interiors are worthy of notice. The porch was extended c. 1904 when William H. Welch (1850-1935) a livestock buyer, acquired the home.

288 South Main Street

c. 1879 – Victorian Gothic

This Victorian Gothic residence was constructed in 1879 for John W. Smith, a wealthy merchant dealing in “carriages, spring wagons, cutlers, harnesses, robes, whips and trunks.” William T. Hosner prominent Romeo attorney pur­chased the home in May 1902 and added the classi­cal porch and bay windows.

131 Tillson Street

c. 1872 – Victorian Gothic

“A. J. Parker . plans to build a house on Tillson Street this season” noted The Romeo Observer in May 1872. The fine Victorian    Gothic residence that resulted has changed little over the years. Parker owned a “restaurant” on South Main which had “a room below, finely fitted up for gentlemen,” and “a room upstairs, fitted up in good style for ladies and gentlemen. There you can quench your weary thirst from founts that never dry.” By January,1874 “an opposition institution” opened in town and Parker “made some improve­ments in the appearance of his rooms.  He “fitted up his bar in much neater shape and also fitted up a ladies and gentlemen’s oyster room upstairs. Those who are patrons such institutions should call to see Jerome” sug­gested The Observer. In February 1875, it was noted that “Mr. Jerome Parker has closed up his saloon.”