MARCH 15 ISSUE ANSWERS: “The streets were cumbered with stumps, and the traveler was brought to a standstill on dark nights too suddenly to enjoy any pleasure in the arrangement. There were five streets in the village. The first plank sidewalk had not been laid. Wolves prowled locally killing farmer’s sheep. There were no buggies or carriages in town. Stage coaches and plank roads were far into the future.” This description of Romeo concerned the period before 1838. Below, Dr. Hollister wrote in The Romeo Observer in 1871, “The most important events connected with our early history, previous to our christening [1838], center in the years 1824 to 1831 inclusive. It was during this period that habitations came to be within hailing distances and the region round about, to assume the appearance of a sparsely settled neighborhood. During this time many of those families settled here, which contributed largely to the character our village was destined to assume. During this period our first school was established, our first churches were planted, our first mechanics came to supply the various public wants, and society generally to take on its first rude forms of organization.” For those who wonder why this writer is celebrating the 201st birthday of Romeo, I have searched the Bureau of Land Management records and discovered that there were 505 purchases of land before 1838. Washington Township had 261 purchases and Bruce Township had 244 purchases. There was a lot going on in the area before 1838. Some think of the Romeo Archives as a pile of old lifeless papers and photos. These records are not lifeless. They speak of our beginnings and they are wanting to be excavated by you. Visit the Romeo Historical Society and the Romeo Community Archives and start digging. Richard Beringer, Romeo Historical Society staff