Romeo Historic District facts for kids
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Romeo Historic District
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100 block of North Main Street, west side
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by the corporate lines of Romeo, Michigan |
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| NRHP reference No. | 70000281 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1970 |
The Romeo Historic District is a special area in Romeo, Michigan. It's like a time capsule, showing how the town looked long ago. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site in the same year. This means it's an important place to protect and learn about.
History of Romeo
The land around Romeo was first settled in 1821. The very first building was built in 1822. Back then, this area was called "Hoxie's Settlement."
In 1830, a man named Colonel John B. Hollister planned out the first part of the village. It stretched two blocks in every direction from St. Claire and Main Streets. By 1837, many simple log farmhouses were built. The settlement grew to over 200 people. It had 34 houses and many shops. There were stores, a wagon shop, and places to make leather (tannery). People also made shoes, metal items (foundry), and wooden barrels (cooper shop). There was even a factory that made hoopskirts!
Hoxie's Settlement officially became the village of Romeo in 1838. In the 1840s, the University of Michigan opened a branch campus here. It was called the Romeo Academy. This brought more educated people and professionals to the area. A railroad came through the village in 1869. This helped Romeo trade more goods and grow even bigger. Because the town grew carefully, many of its old buildings are still standing today.
What You Can See in Romeo
The Romeo Historic District has about 100 old buildings. They are very well-kept and show different building styles. Most of these buildings are made of wood. You can see many charming Gothic Revival cottages. This style often has pointed arches and fancy trim. There are also large brick buildings along Romeo's main street. These buildings show the town's history through their unique designs.
Romeo Images
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