NOV. 13 ISSUE ANSWERS: The desk in last week’s paper was used by the Romeo stationmaster in the above buildings. These buildings were located between the current Romeo Rental building and the DTE brick building (the old power plant) on East St. Clair Street. The building on the left was the first freight and passenger station from the 1870’s to January 1888. The Building on the right was the new Queen Anne style passenger station built in 1888. The acrylic painting on the right was donated by the family of the late artist, Ceinwyn Southerland, a past resident of Romeo. The following text in The Romeo Observer tells about the two buildings: The original board and batten station was probably what is now used as a freight depot. During the 1880’s there was a great deal of agitation for the construction of a more impressive station. It was “the crowning deformity of the nineteenth century; an architectural horror; a mere den to do business in.” Finally, in January, 1888 it was announced “plans for the new proposed depot…indicate a very fine building such as our citizens would be proud of,” The new station was finished to the north of the original one and was a picturesque Queen Anne design. Unfortunately it was destroyed a number of years ago. Another story shows the importance of the stations and railroad: Louie Bartholmew remembers his greatest boy-hood excitement was watching the evening train coming in. “I remember standing in front of the passenger depot on East Lafayette. I could see it appear down the track at 31 Mile Road. It was just a black speck. It was really a sight to me to see that train appear. Every mile they’d blow that whistle. It would get closer and closer. I’d hear the rustle and feel the vibrations and then I’d flatten myself against the depot building. It was so frightening.” -Richard Beringer, RHS Curator, R.M.D., Louie Barthomew and Ceinwyn Southerland