NORTHVILLIANS,
The Elections and voting are upon us! We have the time-honored duty to exercise our right to vote, to elect those who can best serve our community. Accordingly, this week we will look back through Northville’s history on some interesting political and patriotic activities around the Ville.
This November, I will write about our patriotism and elections, Veterans Day in the Ville, our Annual Santa Lighted Parade, followed by Thanksgivings in town through time.
Northville has always been known as quite a patriotic community. The Northville Record reported on “local patriotism” activities all the way back to 1895, remarking that over 5,000 visitors on that year’s Fourth of July enjoyed festivities all around town. Patriotism and local pride have always been part of our DNA. During this 1895 celebration, there was a sunrise 21-gun salute, a huge parade, and a fireworks finale. And like most Federal holidays Red, White and Blue decorations covered the town.
Before looking into Patriotic activities and historic voting events, let's see what’s going on in “The Ville."
- Holiday Greens & Winter Market (Downtown Northville, 11/18 – 11/19, 9am-4pm) and the Rotary’s Annual Goodfellows Newspaper Drive on 11/18 supporting Northville Civic Concern.
- City Leaf pickup – North of 8 Mile is the week of 10/30 & 11/27; South of 8 Mile is 11/6 & 12/4
- Northville’s Holiday Lighted parade – Santa arrives downtown to lead the parade and light the tree downtown, Friday, 11/17 at 6:30pm. Link
- Thanksgiving Dinner for all in our community…Thursday, 11/24 at noon, everyone is invited to enjoy food, fellowship, and football at the First United Methodist Church (777 Eight Mile). Call 248.349.1144 or see link if you are interested in joining or serving. Link
- Mill Race Festival of Trees – Sponsors needed. Festive lighted trees decorated by businesses, families, and groups line the lane during the month of December. Contact the Northville Historical Society if you are interested in sponsoring and/or decorating one. Link
- Northville High Football (10-1) knocked off Brighton in the first round of the State tournament and will be playing Catholic Central Friday in Northville at 7PM.
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LET'S LOOK AT THE CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE NORTHVILLE COMMUNITY OVER TIME...
1894 – 541 Northville ballots were cast in total: 298 straight Republican, 112 for the Democratic Party, 31 for the Prohibition Party, 1 for the Populist and 99 split votes.
1904 – Governor Warner of Farmington frequently traveled to Northville (the #2 economic power in the state at that time) via train to speak to residents at our Crow’s Nest stage (Main & Center).
1920 – The election marked the first-time women could vote in Michigan. The women’s suffrage movement started in 1848 and by 1869, the movement pushed for federal support. An article by Michele Fecht in “The Ville” noted that several Northville women attended a suffragist rally in Detroit in 1874.
1927 – Northville celebrated its 100th year as a Community (our Centennial) by hosting the largest parade ever seen in Michigan up to that time, which was made possible with help from Henry Ford.
1932 – Gov. Brucker was the honored guest on “Governor’s Day” at the Wayne County Fair, which took place at Northville Downs (larger than the State Fair).
1933 – Prince Louis Ferdinand (son of Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia), in an experiment of democracy, worked as a regular employee at Ford Motor Company. The Prince came to Northville on many occasions with Henry Ford.
1940’s – Speaking of democracy, it’s generally agreed that no American community contributed more to the Allied powers during WWII than the Detroit area, and Northville was a great part of that activity. Notably, this region grew to be known as the “Arsenal of Democracy,” a term coined by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt in a speech where he highlighted the need for cooperation between government and all citizens.
1950 – Governor Soapy Williams frequently visited Northville. In 1950, the UAW hosted him at Ford Field where he spoke with plant workers. He also went over to Northville Downs to present the Governor’s Cup. In 1952, he was the keynote speaker for the dedication of the Northville State Hospital.
1959 – For the first time ever, Northville used voting machines. The City had nearly 1,890 registered voters while the Township had close to 1,600.
1973 – A proposal to merge the City & Township was on the ballot. It passed in the City by 4 to 1 (942 to 259). However, the Township voted it down 1,504 to 1,358. That spelled defeat for the merger because the proposal had to carry BOTH the City and the Township.
1975 – The Township requested that the merger of City and Township be on the ballot again. But the motion was defeated even more soundly than two years before.
1976 – Former Gov. Soapy Williams returned to his favorite town to mark the 20th anniversary and expansion of the Hawthorn Center.
1982 – Published in the Northville Record: Governor Milliken stated that he was “especially pleased” to attend the dedication of the “first city in the state” to begin a project under the State Tax Increment Financing Law. He continued, “it’s a thrill to see a law translated into bricked sidewalks, parks and Victorian-period pieces such as graceful streetlamps, park benches, and a charming four-sided town clock.”
1992 – President George Bush & First Lady Barbara Bush slowed down their campaign train as they came through Northville’s Cabbagetown, waving to those by the tracks. They toured past the Ford Plant, the Chamber of Commerce building and Bealtown on their way south to Plymouth.
1998 – Governor Jennifer Granholm was a Northville Community resident when she was first Attorney General for the State of Michigan and then as Governor.
1998 – Gov. Engler stopped at Northville’s Parmenter’s Cider Mill during his campaign.
Since 2019 – Governor Whitmer has visited our town half a dozen times since her first inauguration, and she has been supportive of the many initiatives important to the growth and well-being of our community.
You can see patriotism is part of our DNA in the Northville Community. Growing up, my parents instilled in me that during the course of life, it is up to all of us to LEARN, DO and then GIVE BACK to the community. I speak from the heart when I say democracy and cooperation are an ingrained part of the fabric woven into our hometown. One of my grandfathers led the Republican activities in town and the other handled the Democratic events.
I would encourage everyone to get out and make a difference – CAST YOUR VOTE. We have 4 highly qualified individuals on the ballot for two City Council positions: Laura Genitti, Barbara Moroski-Browne, Marilyn Price, and Robert (Bob) Sochacki. See The Ville magazine’s latest issue for interviews with candidates. Link
It all happens on Tuesday, November 7th – be part of this democracy we live in!
Keep that Northville Community 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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