102 Church Street
c. 1875 – Gothic
Organized in 1828, the Congregational Church has had three “meeting houses” all on the same site. The first was erected in 1833 by Charles Chamberlin and was eventually moved west on Church Street to be used as the Romeo Academy. The second was built in 1842 of Greek Revival design by Mr. Wilcox and was demolished in 1875 to make way for the present structure. The Romeo Observer noted that “a few felt disposed to shy a little when brought face to face with the matter” of replacing the old church. Nevertheless, “farewell services” were held in June, 1875 and “some very beautiful stereoscopic views of the interior . . . decorated and adorned in a beautiful manner” were taken so the parishioners could have “a picture of the old house so soon to be numbered among the things of the past.”
The designs for the present building were prepared by Charles H. Marsh, a talented 27 year old architect from Rochester, New York who was to establish a large and profitable practice in Detroit before his premature death due to heart disease in 1881. “In the whole design of the edifice,” noted the Detroit Tribune for July 1875 “the aim has been not to sacrifice its dignity by the addition of cheap and tawdry ornaments. It is to be of the Medieval Gothic style of architecture, the exterior walls being buttressed, and the tower finishing at the height of 100′ without a spire …” The construction work was supervised by Romeo builder, R. F. Odion and the cornerstone was laid July 4, 1876. Even though the building was occupied the following spring, the interior was being completed as late as 1883 when the “Messrs. Wright and Co. of Detroit,” well known cabinetmakers, were “lettering the panels in the rear of the pulpit . . . at the expense of Mr. & Mrs. Hugh McMillan of Detroit.”
At this point in the tour, you can make a decision: