RCA Photo of the Week - July 10, 2025

Last year, we acquired four collections. Romeo Community Archives volunteer Jim Tyler donated one of them - a set of digital copies of photographs that he and his family took between the 1930 and the 1970s in Romeo.

Jim was born in 1938 and grew up in the village with his parents, brother Dean, and half-brother Bob. His mother Irene owned a beauty shop in downtown Romeo, while his father Raymond was a photographer. Jim graduated from Romeo High School in 1956. Soon after, he joined the military and later the missionary.

Even when he was away, Jim visited Romeo from time to time. He also took up photography as a hobby because he caught the camera bug from his dad. He snapped pictures of the Romeo and Washington areas, especially in the 1960s and 1970s.

This photo seen above was one that he shot in 1963. It shows downtown Romeo facing south on Main Street. While we were working on the digital collection, Jim talked about the origins of the pictures. With this one, he mentioned that he took it while he was in his car, and the light was still red. Said light turned green by the time he was done. Don't worry, he was still being a safe driver.

What's fascinating about this photo is the businesses that occupied South Main Street in 1963. We identified five of them in the picture alone. These include the Community National Bank and the Romeo Texaco Service Gas Station (with the star logo) on the right side. The PNC Bank and the Peaches Brunch House occupy those spaces currently. On the left side, there's Schaaf's Pharmacy near the front, the Gamble Store (a hardware store with the green logo background), and the Detroit Edison Company in the back. Today, Paramount Roofing, Two Friends Dog & Cat Grooming, and Tech City Electronics are in those buildings as of now.

It's always interesting to see how downtown Romeo looked like in the past.

Are there any other businesses that you can identify in this photo? Let us know.

To see more photos from the Jim Tyler Photograph Collection, check out our online Archives Catalog. For other inquiries, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890.

Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Jim Tyler Photograph Collection, 1963 and Romeo Telephone Directory, January 1964

RCA Photo of the Week - July 3, 2025

Summer is finally here! What do you plan on doing this year? Will it be barbecuing in the backyard, attending an outdoor concert, going to the beach, etc? The three kids in this photo have the right idea by doing the last one 60 years ago.

The picture seen here graced the front page of The Romeo Observer's July 17, 1965 issue. It depicts three kids with two hiding behind their rafts, while the one on the left gives a cheeky grin. We don't know who the children are, but if anybody knows, feel free to contact us.

The photo was a part of the Newsreel section, which contained pictures to show what was going on that week. Imagine them as a slice of Romeo life. In addition, the picture had a brief caption, which cheekily read, "Just in case you forgot what time of the year it is, it's summer (as everyone discovered this week). As you swelter a bit in the high humidity and high temperatures this week, just think of how nice it would be at the beach reclining on a raft in the surf. Fun, isn't it!"

It certainly would be nice to be on the beach right now.

Regardless of how you spend your summer this year, I hope you have a blast!

Happ Fourth of July!

To see more photos like this one, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org, call (586) 690-4890, or check out our online catalog.

Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, July 15, 1965, p.1-A