273 Chandler Street, Romeo

Posted byLinda Osborne CynowaPosted inVillage of Romeo, Village of Romeo ResearchTags:, , ,

Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’s 

The Gray – Tinsman Residence

One of the historic homes I researched for the Archives when I was starting this journey was the Hugh Gray/ William Tinsman residence at 273 Chandler Street in the Village of Romeo. Hugh Gray (1842-1884) having grown up in the Romeo area from a prominent family of entrepreneurs, had a Second Empire residence, with a mansard roof constructed in 1872 by R.M. Bickford of Romeo for the cost of $10,000. The home was thought to be one of the finest in Romeo. It was finished in an all brick exterior with hard woods on the interior.

In June of 1884, a fire broke out in the upstairs area of the residence, according to the Romeo Observer. The fireman were soon on the scene ‘having pulled their fire engine up the hill’ on Chandler Street and through many obstacles only to find the water pressure not sufficient as they would have liked. In all only the walls of the residence were saved. Several weeks later, Hugh Gray died at 42 years of age, from “the excitement attendant upon the burning of his home”. The origin of the fire would remain a mystery. (See article below).

273 Chandler Street, Romeo

William Tinsman (1836-1916) a successful Washington Township farmer, purchased the residence for $1,250 in November 1885 and hired John Scot an architect from Detroit to re-design the home into the Queen Anne style that you see in these images. The Weiler family were the owners from 1917 to 1924. By the 1930’s it was named St Agnes School. and in 1940 the Pentland School, later known as Haven Farm until 1975. The house went into major disrepair and in a very derelict condition that has continued for many years. There is hope the owners are able to bring is back to the elegant home it once was, but even that in not a sure thing.

Image taken from the old Romeo High School
Sketch of 273 Chandler Street, date unknown
ROMEO OBSERVER 2 July 1884

Articles courtesy of the Community Archives at the Romeo Kezar Library.

Photo images courtesy of The Record Newspaper, Washington MI.

ROMEO OBSERVER 19 July 1884

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Published by Linda Osborne Cynowa

Linda Osborne Cynowa has lived in the Washington Township community since 2007. She moved to this area because of its beautiful hills, stunning scenery, and fruit orchards. Linda’s background is in photography, genealogy, and with a lifelong love of history, found herself working in a voluntary capacity with the Romeo Community Archives at the Romeo Kezar Library. She researched the many historic homes and families in the Romeo and Washington area, which led to a keen interest and knowledge of the area’s history. With a love of the Arcadia Publishing ‘Images of America’ books, she was always bothered that Washington Township wasn’t represented. When inquiring about this, she was told, “You haven’t written it yet”! With the encouragement of the Archivists at the Community Archives, a proposal was submitted for consideration. In September of 2019, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP became part of the ‘Images of America’ series.

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