Romeo turns old house into new Starkweather Arts Center

The Starkweather Arts Center is opening up the rest of its downtown Romeo historic building this fall, on the 10th anniversary of its first art show.

Artists and art connoisseurs of all colors, creeds, and ages have used the facility since Helen Starkweather, a former art teacher with Romeo Public Schools, willed the building, 219 N Main St. near the Masonic Temple, to the village for use as an art center in 1987. It's now a source of pride and vibrancy in the village center.

"It's the only place like it around," says Tara Klein, director of the Starkweather Arts Center. "There are no other galleries around. Everyone calls this the gem of Romeo."

The 3,500-square-foot building was built in 1865. It originally served as a millinery for Starkweather's family. The shop was in the front and the family lived in the back. Fixtures from its millinery days are still visible.

Today the building has a gallery, shop, and offices on the ground floor. The newly renovated second floor now has space for art classes, a gallery, and offices. The new portion will allow the arts center to host classes for the first time.

Source: Tara Klein, director of the Starkweather Arts Center
Writer: Jon Zemke

Romeo turns old house into new Starkweather Arts Center

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