Category: Complete Tour

280 North Main Street

c. 1871 – Victorian Gothic

The Methodists held their first meeting “at the house of Albert Finch” in the fall of 1824, making them the oldest re­ligious group in Romeo. A Greek Revival building was completed by 1840 and in 1871 due to over­ crowded conditions the congregation accepted plans for a new church with John C. Kaumeier of Adrian, Michigan as builder. The bricks were made by Albert Hovey of Bruce Township, the furniture in the Sunday School rooms by Rattenbury & Co. of Romeo, the elaborately carved pews (now removed) were made by Kaumeier’s firm in Adrian, and the $2,750 organ was produced by the Marshall Brothers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Costing $42,000 in all, the church was dedicated June 8, 1874 and the old structure was relocated at the four corners as a furniture store for a number of years. Victorian Gothic in design, the new church boasted an extremely impressive spire and a series of lovely stained glass windows. The spire was destroyed during a windstorm in the 1930s and several other minor alterations have occurred to the exterior since that time. An addition for offices and classrooms were added to the north side of the building in the early 2000s.

264 North Main Street

c. 1849 – Gothic Revival

Dr. Watson Loud (1806-1895) a native of West Hampton, Massachusetts and a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, settled in Romeo in 1846 where he practiced medicine for six years before joining B. Newbury in a dry goods business. On De­cember 21, 1848 Loud purchased a sizeable lot for $600 and presumably erected his Gothic residence the following spring. It reflected the new interest in “natural architecture” and introduced to Romeo board and batten siding, Gothic arcades, bay windows, and extensive verandas. James C. Ford (1851-1916) a Romeo clothing merchant and Dr. Loud’s son-in-law, acquired the residence in 1895. Dr. Loud’s board and batten carriage bam still stands on the lot to the south.

246 North Bailey Street

c. 1868 – Late Greek Revival (with Queen Anne Porch)

141 Dickenson Street

c. 1865 – Italianate

300 North Bailey Street

c. 1869 – Late Greek Revival

Captain Milton Thompson built this late Greek Revival residence in 1869 at a cost of $2,000. Thompson owned a wagon shop and an interest in a blacksmith and foundry. In March, 1873, the home was sold to Tsaac Jud­ son for $3,000. In January of 1884, Wallace West· brook acquired the residence for $1,650.

338 North Bailey Street

c. 1904 – Colonial Revival

372 North Bailey Street

c. 1836 – Early Greek Revival

Samuel Ewell (1779-1842) a native of Norwich, Massachusetts arrived in Romeo in the spring of 1836 and constructed this Greek Revival residence soon after. Ewelrs son Samuel Holbrook Ewell (1819-1907) poet, editor of the Romeo Argus, 1861·62, and later of The Romeo Observer, 1869-1874, and part-time his· torian, noted in his sketch of Romeo that a single lane which is now Bailey Street led up to the Ewell residence in 1837. This is probably the oldest residence in the village of Romeo today.

421 North Bailey Street

c. 1862 (Renovated 1878, 1898) – Second Empire

It was constructed soon after McGill purchased his lot from Edwin W. Giddings on May 9, 1862 for $196. On September 15, 1873 John H. Brabb (1820-1894) purchased the home for $1775. The Romeo Observer noted on November 13, 1878: “Mr. John Brabb is renovating his residence.” It is assumed that the mansard roof was added at this time. On December 6, 1889 the home was sold to Mr. Ira Bride, a Detroit race horse enthusiast and gambler. Bride stabled his prize horses in the barn across the road at the Fearnaught Riding Park (destroyed) and kept on his own lot a two-story doghouse (next house to the north) for his pet dogs. The dogs had the run of this house and lived a “plush life.” A mysterious fire damaged much of the interior of the residence during the mid-1890’s and on March 31, 1898 Mr. Bride sold his home to George T. Hartung for $500. Hartung rebuilt the home and added the present Queen Anne porch.

104 West Gates Street.

c. 1870 Victorian Gothic

“This is a very fine iooking house,” noted The Romeo Observer in January 1871, “and is pleasantly located as it commands a full of all the travel on one side of our most busy streets.” The cost  was listed at $4,000 , including “improvements on the lot.” A smaller version of the Rowley-Gray residence on Church Street, the Tackels home has the same prolific brackets, a similar floor plan, but a more simplified window treatment. The porch is a c. 1900 replacement.Charles Tackels (1827-1906), a native of the Romeo area, acquired wealth through partnership with his neighbor Harvey Mellen in timber lands, grain transactions and real estate investments. He also served as county treasurer from 1878-1882.

440 North Main Street

c. 1886 – Queen Anne

“A home that ought to satisfy the most fastidious” proclaimed The Romeo Observer in September 1887. Queen Anne in style, the builder, R. F. Odion, combined picturesque exterior details (gracefully turned porch supports, decorative Japanese roof gable and porch balustrades) with quality interior woodwork (solid butternut). Charles M. Tackels (1858-1929) the son of Charles Tackels was casher a! the First National Bank in Romeo.