247 North Fremont Street
c. 1844 – Greek Revival
Professor Rufus Nutting arrived in Romeo in 1841 and with hi:; “estimable wife and daughter Miss Marcia” directed the Romeo Academy until J843 when he helped establish the University of Michigan branch and served as its headmaster until 1847. This fine Greek Revival residence placed proudly on its miniature acropolis may have been built c. 1844 by Nutting. According to tradition the residence has always been painted brown, “a quiet, agreeable color,” that was becoming popular in the East at this time. Supposedly, melodeons were made in the home by Rufus Nutting II during hie period of ownership (1846-1851). Rev. Dr. Philo Hurd, Congregational minister and a “stationmaster” in Michigan’s underground railway acquired the residence in the 1850s and presumably opened his home to fugitive slaves bound for Canada. John M. Potter, (1839-1894), “a pleasant, obliging and capable salesman” purchased the residence in the early 1870s. In November, 1875 Dr. John B. Fares, {1830-1898), a native of Wainfleet, Ontario and graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago “removed his residence to the brown house on Church Street” and purchased the home in 1878. His family has retained ownership of the home ever since.
