NORTHVILLIANS,
Over the past weeks, I’ve written about various aspects of Northville in our Fall season. Today I have the privilege and great opportunity to talk about our classic Halloween celebrations over time in the city we love.
Before looking into looking into the Halloween activities in town through the years, let’s see what’s going on in “The Ville” today.
- Visit Northville’s Parmenter’s Cider Mill, Celebrating their 150th season – Link
- Farmers’ Market (7 Mile/Sheldon) – LAST market of the season is 10/26 at Northville’s 100-year-old Award-Winning Thursday Market through October. Link
- Maybury Farm’s Corn Maze – 1 more weekend left – Link
- Halloween House Decorating Contest – Go online to vote. Link
- Rotary’s Annual Goodfellows Newspaper Drive – Sale proceeds support Northville Civic Concern (11/18 during the Greens Market).
- City Leaf pickup - North of 8 Mile week of 10/30 & 11/27; South - 11/6 & 12/4
- Streets of Treats (10/28: 10AM-12:30 PM) – Downtown Northville Trick-or-Treating. Link
- Halloween Community Trick-or-Treating (10/31: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
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Halloween comes to NORTHVILLE - let's take a look...
1908 – The Record reported that on Halloween night, some young pranksters took the front steps off a residence in the Historic District. Fast forward to 1938, it was reported that a SUGAR BEET was tossed through a window in Orchard Heights.
1951 – Ted Simms’ orchestra, all decked out in scary costumes, played for the Northville Halloween masquerade dance sponsored by the American Legion, with a “Boogie Woogie” Halloween scary pianist.
1953 – Yet another year where the VFW & Foreign Legion sponsored the community Halloween dances which took place at the High School gym, with an orchestra dressed in Halloween costumes.
1956 – Halloween festivities began with hours of free Scary Movies at the Marquis Theatre. A high school Halloween dance was held at the Community Center where 45 award-winning jack-o-lanterns were displayed (sponsored by the Mothers Club).
1960 – Northville trick-or-treaters collected money on Halloween from generous local residents for UNICEF, a fundraiser sponsored by the local churches.
1965 – The Northville Fire Department started their annual Halloween event and received great recognition regionally. Northville firefighters popped corn and gave out hundreds of local apples. Guernsey Dairy donated the popcorn machine, Casterlines provided the apples and Mayor Allen the popcorn. This tradition has continued to this day (58th Year).
1983 – Northville firefighters hosted thousands of folks at their annual Halloween event. Chief Allen observed that “it just keeps growing, like Halloween in the Ville!”
2010 – The Northville Record wrote about families that have had themed Halloween events each year for trick or treaters, some for close to 30 years. Themes mentioned were: Pirates of the Caribbean, Wild West, Monster Mash, Trolls, Star Trek, and Ghostbusters … just to name a few.
2011 – The DDA debuted “Skeletons Alive” in downtown Northville, with 10 skeletons that were the delight of the community. This fun event continues to grow yearly, to over 200 skeletons on display, with a spooky pirate ship built in the middle of it.
2023 – Northville will once again close streets around town for our youthful trick-or-treaters, 6-8 PM. The Fire Department will be hosting their annual Halloween open house.
Come enjoy some tricks & treats in downtown Northville, or just walk about enjoying the ambiance and all the people that have come to town. This concludes our “Fall Series” of activities happening in the Ville. We’ll transition to “Remembrances in Town” over the coming weeks, including Patriotism in the Ville, Veterans Days through history, and much more.
Keep that Northville Halloween Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
Click the following link to subscribe to this weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/5a31f2ec1a6e/turnbullformayor
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