NORTHVILLIANS,

This coming week is a special one, it’s our time to celebrate an honored part of Northville history with the VICTORIAN Heritage Festival. As we approach our 2027 Bicentennial, it’s up to us to learn all we can from our rich history. By 2027, our Victorian “Gateways to the Community” may be even more vibrant, with potentially new, thoughtful development along recaptured riverbanks that will include a connected pathway system. We are on an exciting trajectory, with our downtown becoming a true Victorian destination.

The Victorian era took place around the years 1820 – 1914, corresponding roughly but not exactly to the period of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901). It was characterized by the growing number of people that were given the right to vote and booming industrial growth.

During this time, Northville transformed from one of the first milling areas in the State to a bustling Village with a dynamic downtown bringing folks in via trains, trolleys, and stagecoaches. Northville grew to be the second largest industrial power in the state behind Detroit.

• Mayoral Town Hall Video: 100-plus Northvillians heard updates on our special local initiatives, and the 4 candidates for two Council positions were introduced (Laura Genitti, Barbara Moroski-Browne, Marilyn Price & Bob Sochacki). See Link
   
• 9/20 @ 7:00 PM – Northville District Library Victorian History Seminar. The Mayor will touch on Northville’s Victorian history & have an open Q&A. Link
   
• 9/22 - 9/24 – Victorian Festival in Northville with weekend events. Link
   
• Northville’s Parmenter’s Cider Mill, Celebrating their 150^th season (since 1873) – Friday 9/22, 11:00 AM Link
   
• Concerts every Friday & Saturday at 7:00 PM through October – Downtown.
   
• Tipping Point Theater – Live productions scheduled for the rest of the year – Link
   
• Farmers’ Market (7 Mile/Sheldon) – Take in Northville’s 100-year-old Award-Winning Thursday Market through October. Link
   
• Our Novi/Northville 36^th annual CROP Hunger Walk – 10/1 at 1:00 PM starting at the Presby Church (200 E. Main St, 48167). If you want to engage, see events.crophungerwalk.org Link
   
• 33^rd Annual Northville Duck Race at Mill Race Village – 9/24, 3:00 PM. Festival activities for everyone start at noon! Link
   
• Oakwood Cemetery Tour – 10/14, 11-2 & 5-8pm – Hear actors share the storied pasts of those in our oldest cemetery; sponsored by the Northville Art House and Historical Society. The Mayor will be on guide duty … for details and tickets, see Link

This week the Victorian Festival teams up with our schools to highlight our heritage. Let's look at some of historic Victorian days in town...

• In 1927, Northville celebrated its first 100 years with a huge Centennial Parade, the largest parade in our state’s history up to that time, which commemorated our Victorian roots. Henry Ford (honorary citizen) assisted.
   
• Through the years, the Victorian Festival has had house tours, performance acts, historic walks, and other learning experiences for the community at our living history area called the Mill Race Village, which has a plethora of Victorian structures on its grounds.
   
• Victorian Weddings have been commonplace at the Mill Race during the Festival (I’ve officiated over 50 so far, complete with Tails & Top Hat).
   
• Northville’s Victorian-era baseball teams (Eclipse) have games in authentic vintage uniforms at our historic Ford Field, along with Victorian-style Cricket games, too.
   
• Additionally, historical Victorian parades, home tours & costume balls have been associated with our yearly activities. Also, duck races & Victorian hat contests have taken place in past years with bagpipers piping.