What Did Romeo Think About It? - The Korean Armistice Agreement

Seventy years ago today, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed by the United States, North Korea, and China to cease fighting in the Korean War.

As I was contemplating a subject for this post, I wondered how the Village of Romeo reacted to the news, so starting today, I'm starting a new segment called "What Did Romeo Think About It?" It will reveal how the town reacted to famous national and global events.

So, what did the Romeo residents think about the armistice? Luckily, we know what they thought because the news landed on the front page of the July 30, 1953 issue of The Romeo Observer.

The title of the article along with the opening sentence, "A 'business as usual' air pervaded throughout the downtown area of Romeo Monday morning shortly after it was announced that the shooting had stopped in Korea" sum up the overall feeling.

It later explains that this was due to people simply taking a "quiet casual acceptance" to the event because the talks about the truce filled the air for two years at that point.

In addition, it becomes clear that Romeo was feeling relieved that the fighting was ceased. There was even a sense of hope for those whose sons were overseas. For example, Mrs. George Washington, who had two sons serve in the air corps, said this regarding the news, "I think it's a wonderful thing that a truce was signed and I hope that the peace proves lasting."

Another mother Mrs. Harry Readle, who lost her son LaVerne in the Korean War nine months prior, expressed similar sentiments with this, "I thank God for it; where it doesn't help me now, it has helped other mothers. I hope this will be a lasting peace."

While some people expressed hope, others were more skeptical. For instance, Lawrence M. Kelly, president of the Romeo Savings Bank and veteran of both world wars, felt that while he is grateful for the Armistice, he asserted, "The only way we could have peace without question would be for an absolute unconditional surrender. To obtain that under present world conditions, would demand a practical over-coming of the entire Communist Conquest."

This point of view is understandable consideirng the growing presence and fear of communism at the time.

Reverend Earl C. Page of the First Congregational Church and Commander of the Romeo AMVETS expressed the most concern with this statement, "In my belief the Korean truce signing conflict than it was in the signing of the armistice in 1918, admittedly by a cessation of hostilities, but which was resumed in 1941."

Page elaborates that it wasn't a truce in the truest sense because of the uncertainity of the terms "and that fighting could break out again on the 155 mile Korean front [aka the Demilitarized Zone] at anytime."

What the reverend said still carries weight today, especially with the close encounters that have occurred within the last 10 years.

Overall, the people of Romeo in 1953 felt relief, hopeful, and skeptical about the Korean Armistice Agreement.

Source: The Romeo Observer, July 30, 1953, p.1 and p.3

RCA Photo of the Week - July 20, 2023

This past Tuesday saw Romeo High School (RHS) 1974 graduate Doug Simunic get inducted into the American Association of Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. This was due to his work as manager for the indepedent teams the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks from 1996 to 2017, the Winnipeg Goldeyes from 1994 to 1995, and the Rochester (Minnesota) Acres in 1993. He won six league championships and was named league Manager of the Year six times. To top that off, according to the American Association of Professional Baseball, Doug is the winningest manager in indepedent baseball history with 1,346 career regular-season victories by the time he retired.

It may be cliche to say that Doug had shown greatness when he was younger, but it was true. To prove this, I dug up this photograph from the June 6, 1974 issue of The Romeo Observer. In it, Doug on the right and Romeo Bulldogs Varsity Baseball Captain Dave Maxwell hold the Oakland A League championship trophy. The caption explains that they won this with a 8-1 record.

Doug is also listed as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for that season. Looking at the Romeo High School Athletic History from Barnado to Barr, 1936-1996 book, it's easy to see why. In 1974 alone, Doug had seven homeruns, which is tied as the most in any season in RHS history. He was MVP in 1973 as well. One of those reasons was that he initiated the most put-outs in one season with 213 of them.

If any person deserves to hold the championship trophy along with the team captain in 1974, it would've been Doug.

Once again, congraluations to Doug Simunic - 2023 inductee to the American Association of Professional Baseball Hall of Fame!

Source: The Romeo Observer, June 6, 1974, p.8-A; the American Association of Professional Baseball; and Romeo High School Athletic History from Barnabo to Barr, 1936-1996 : 60 years of Bulldog records complied by Jerry Barr, 1996

RCA Photo of the Week - July 13, 2023

The Romeo Vintage Fest is this Saturday, July 15! Maybe you'll see a classic car like this one: a 1954 Super 88 Oldsmobile Sedan!

The January 21, 1954 issue of The Romeo Observer contained this very photo as that new automobile was on display at Ralph Garrison's Oldsmobile-Chevrolet show room on East St. Clair street. The Oldsmobile was completely redesigned that year, and the caption discusses that in brief, but great detail. Specifically, it mentions that the new model "features a 185 horse-power engine, a 1221/2 inch wheelbase and a stunning panoramic wrap-around windshield." The actually advertisement, which is on the same page as the picture, goes even further with its descriptions about the car's "Body by Fisher - that new lower, longer, lovelier silhoutte[,...] dramatic new flair in its sweep-cut doors and fenders[,...and] new 185-horsepower World's Record 'Rocket' Engine with 8.25 to 1 compression ratio."

The newspaper really wanted people to know how powerful that engine was.

On top of that, according to an article on the front page of the very same edition of The Romeo Observer, the Orchard Moldings Corporation produced the interior trim for Pontiac and Oldsmobile autos, and they had a plant located off Scotch Settlement Road. In other words, the car you see here was, to some extent, locally made.

So if you see any 1954 Super 88 Oldsmobile or other Oldsmobile/Pontiac models at the Romeo Vintage Fest, give them a honk as long as you ask the owners.

Source: The Romeo Observer, January 21, 1954, p.1 and p.4

RCA Photo of the Week - July 6, 2023

This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the founding of the Washington United Methodist Church, and with some help from the Washington Historical Society, we recently uncovered a photograph that details a bit of that history.

The picture, which is from the April 21, 1955 issue of The Romeo Observer, shows the president of the Washington Methodist Church (its name at the time) board of trustees Scott Mills buffering the new tile flooring. In the background, Hazen Licht (left) and Robert Hendee (right) sweep and wash the floor.

But why are they doing this? According to the photo caption, they were preparing the new church for the initial service on Easter Sunday.

For context, the older building, which was erected in 1844, was destroyed in a fire on December 17, 1953. The cornerstone for the new structure was laid on the same site as the previous one on Sunday, November 21, 1954. It took some time for the former to get constructed. In fact, the services were held at the Washington Elementary School during this time. Additionally, the Easter Sunday service referenced earlier actually took place at the Davis Methodist Church according to the April 14, 1955 edition of The Romeo Observer.

By the end of 1955, the new edifice was complete, and it still stands today on Van Dyke Road near West Street.

Happy Anniversary Washington United Methodist Church!

Source: The Romeo Observer, December 24, 1953, p.I-1, p.I-4, and p.III-2; November 18, 1954, p.I-4; April 14, 1955, p.I-4; and April 21, 1955, p.I-6