MAY 10-16, 2023 ANSWERS: The Mechanics Block (1870), 117-119 West St. Clair Street. This Italianate block with its rhythmic arches and contrasting brick was completed in 1870 at a cost of $6,000. The store to the east was first occupied by Issac Crawford and Timothy Lyon who engaged in “blacksmithing, wagon-making and repairing.” In 1874, The Romeo Observer office was established here for a short time and in December, 1880 Wellington Jersey purchased the store and established his marble showroom and work shop on the first floor and turned the second floor into a “hall (Marble Hall) well adapted for society meetings and the like” with a floor composed of alternate strips of maple and cherry carefully planed and oiled absolutely perfect for dancing.” The store to the west was originally occupied by Horace Bogart, a manufacturer of “carriages, buggies, wagons and sleighs,” whose firm “The Old Reliable” had been in business “ longer than any other” of its kind in Romeo. The Panic of 1873 evidently caused its failure and in 1875 the Ketchum Brothers, a rival firm from across the street, rented the property for a few years before The Romeo Observer was established here in 1880. –Richard M. Daugherty’s book, A Tour of Historic Romeo. A great deal of building went on in downtown Romeo from 1865-1875. Buildings now were made of brick instead of wood. They were stronger and fire resistant. The Mechanics Block is an example of the new building techniques. The second floor of this building had a dance floor as did the Grays Opera House on North Main Street. The three story earlier Greek revival wooden building at the southeast corner of South Main and East Lafayette streets where the contemporary credit union building now stands was Romeo Hall or Prices Museum. It had a room for dances, speakers and concerts. Romeo provided plenty of entertainment for its citizens.-R. Beringer RHS

MAY 10-16, 2023 ANSWERS: The Mechanics Block (1870), 117-119 West St. Clair Street. This Italianate block with its rhythmic arches and contrasting brick was completed in 1870 at a cost of $6,000. The store to the east was first occupied by Issac Crawford and Timothy Lyon who engaged in “blacksmithing, wagon-making and repairing.” In 1874, The Romeo Observer office was established here for a short time and in December, 1880 Wellington Jersey purchased the store and established his marble showroom and work shop on the first floor and turned the second floor into a “hall (Marble Hall) well adapted for society meetings and the like” with a floor composed of alternate strips of maple and cherry carefully planed and oiled absolutely perfect for dancing.” The store to the west was originally occupied by Horace Bogart, a manufacturer of “carriages, buggies, wagons and sleighs,” whose firm “The Old Reliable” had been in business “ longer than any other” of its kind in Romeo. The Panic of 1873 evidently caused its failure and in 1875 the Ketchum Brothers, a rival firm from across the street, rented the property for a few years before The Romeo Observer was established here in 1880. –Richard M. Daugherty’s book, A Tour of Historic Romeo.
A great deal of building went on in downtown Romeo from 1865-1875. Buildings now were made of brick instead of wood. They were stronger and fire resistant. The Mechanics Block is an example of the new building techniques. The second floor of this building had a dance floor as did the Grays Opera House on North Main Street. The three story earlier Greek revival wooden building at the southeast corner of South Main and East Lafayette streets where the contemporary credit union building now stands was Romeo Hall or Prices Museum. It had a room for dances, speakers and concerts. Romeo provided plenty of entertainment for its citizens.-R. Beringer RHS

No items found.