The earliest building in Romeo to serve as a community center was the Gray’s Block at 231 North Main Street. It was constructed in 1869 to house Gray’s Opera House. The $22,000. building was designed in the Italianate style by local architect Oscar S. Buell, and financed by brothers Hugh, James and Noah Gray. When finished, the three-story structure had stores on the ground floor, with offices, a ballroom and a Township Hall that seated 1,000 people on the upper levels. The building was at the time “the most costly and elegant building in Macomb County” according to the Romeo Observer- 1869.
At the turn of the twentieth century the Gray’s Opera House provided the spot for social activities, staging plays, vaudeville shows, and musicals. And for all its special entertainment, it was also known to have withstood five fires between 1876 and 1941. With varying degrees of damage necessitated rebuilding, and much repair and improving. The Masonic Temple would make a home there in later years, as did the Romeo Village town hall occupied space in the building in the 1950’s. But one of its more important meetings would soon come to light.
A citizens meeting was held at Gray’s Opera House in Romeo on January 11, 1879. The object of this meeting was ‘merely to get matters in shape for raising of the $30,000 promised for the erection of a new county building, should the county seat be moved too Romeo’. ‘ The Honorable A.B. Maynard, being present, addressed the meeting briefly to explain the object and purposes to the citizens of Romeo in the matter under consideration’. ‘He stated that the proposal had nothing to do with any unrest felt with Mt. Clemens, but Romeo was simple exercising its undoubted and unquestioned right, in a business point of view. Mr. Maynard spoke for about 10 minutes and his remarks seemed to be well received, by the end of the meeting they had amassed $6000. though subsequently, other citizens followed the example and within a short time the entire $30,000 was raised. In todays money, these men raised $784,746.00!
A few years ago, when I first came across this story, I became aware there was a touch more to this story, and although Mt. Clemens was appreciative that Romeo was willing to burden themselves with becoming the county seat, (thank heavens they didn’t) their offer was declined, but the $30,000. raised, was kindly accepted to build the new jail, Mt Clemens very much needed at the time.
On that ‘wee note’ till next week.
Images and articles courtesy of the the Romeo Community Archives at the Kezar Library.
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Linda Osborne Cynowa 