DECEMBER 14 ISSUE ANSWERS: How do we calculate our age? Do we measure from the day we graduate from high school? Why do we measure Romeo’s age from the year it got its “certificate” from the state? Romeo had Native Americans living here and the French mill was west of the village. But they didn’t stay. The Baileys arrived by the Walk-In-The-Water paddle wheel boat from New York in 1822. In the winter of 1822, the Bailey family traveled with a new born baby through trails made by Indians in an ox cart from Mount Clemens to Romeo. They bought a cabin from Jeremiah Allan and settled there for the rest of their lives. They built a house and small orchard in Romeo where the current gas station is located in the center of Romeo. After the fire destroyed the home they built a third home where the Catholic church now stands. Their third house has been moved to Sisson Street. The Baileys were the first who stayed for the rest of their lives. That’s why this RHS museum curator measures Romeo’s ago as 201 years old (1822-2023.)