Romeo's Starkweather Gallery being renovated.

The historic Starkweather Building at 219 North Main Street in downtown Romeo is undergoing a $100,000 + renovation.    The 100 year-old property spent most of it life as a private residence has been home to the Starkweather Arts and Cultural Center since 1999. The Starkweather offers an estimated 500 square feet of exhibition space in three separate galleries as well as a shop for patrons.  The second floor offers space for a variety of community purposes.  Throughout the years, Starkweather has invited a wide variety of artists to exhibit their work and offered cultural events for the community.  They also feature a number of exhibits for both members and students and host an annual holiday show.    

The building was once the home of Helen Starkweather, a lifelong Romeo resident who taught arts and drafting in Romeo Community Schools for 40 years.  When she died in 1987, she left her home and studio to the Romeo Historical Society and the Village with the stipulation that it be used as an arts and cultural center.

As you might imagine with any building that has stood for more than a century, the volunteer Board of Directors were faced with not only maintaining the historical integrity of its appearance but also its structural and mechanical systems.  Needed repairs included historically authentic new windows, the replacement of rotting and unsafe floorboards, a new sanitary sewer and the reconstruction of a cornice which was in danger of toppling onto the sidewalk.

Some of the repairs were eligible through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, managed by the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development since 1982.  In that time, the program has provided more than $40 million dollars for making physical improvements and providing needed services for the benefit of its 21 participating communities. 

With expressed support for the project from Bruce and Washington townships as well as the Village of Romeo, more than $75,000 of the total project was allocated for correcting specific health and safety hazards.  The remaining costs will be covered by Starkweather fundraising activities. 

The project can be described as a labor of love and has required perseverance as well as vision.  The improvements will add to the charm of an already beautiful downtown for the next century.  Starkweather is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  When in town, be sure to explore all of the places to visit that Downtown Romeo has to offer.