A note from from Mayor Brian Turnbull...


** NORTHVILLIANS,
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This past weekend, it was great seeing many Northvillians at the Northville Downtown Cars & Coffee gathering next to the Library featuring over 80 vehicles, including the Batmobile, one of our fire trucks, Jags, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Muscle cars and classics along with special edition pickups. It was a great chance for enjoying fellowship, cars and coffee. Remember, it’s every 2
^nd Saturday of the month from 8-10 AM.

Also, hundreds gathered Monday for the groundbreaking of the Downs Development, which has had over 500 hours of community input these past 5 years. The ceremony mentioned the 10-acre bioswale river park, the pathway system, and the new City Park.

This week, we will transition to our musical gatherings, which are in the downtown area every weekend. This features Friday, Saturday, and Sunday concerts in the Ville along with other venues for entertainment including Northville Winery, Great White Buffalo Brewing, Center Street Grill, Genitti’s and others.
Working together we can accomplish so much. The partnership that the City, Township, Schools, County, State, and federal government have forged is moving our dreams toward reality.

BEFORE LOOKING AT NORTHVILLE’S MUSIC ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE YEARS, LET’S SEE WHAT’S GOING ON TODAY...
* Music in downtown Northville from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Look for Friday small band gatherings, Saturday large group performances and Sunday afternoon street musical activities on Center St.

* The Northville Winery on Baseline Road has posted their summer concert schedule, and I invite you to experience their exciting atmosphere next to the Cider Mill. Link ([link removed])

* The Great White Buffalo Brewing Company has weekly music guests on Main and Center through the summer, too. Link ([link removed])

* Michigan Heritage Homes Program at Mill Race Village – 5/22, 7PM – Robert Myers of the Historical Society of Michigan talks about how to research century-old homes and apply for recognition. Link ([link removed])

* Northville for Peace Gathering, 5/19, 2-3:30 - Ford Field (Kite Flying, Drawing, Tie dye shirts) and 4-6:30 PM at Northville Community Center (Snack & Chat, speakers).
LINK: Worldwide Peace Day, Downtown Northville, May 19 ([link removed])

* Downs Development Groundbreaking, 5/13 – WDIV story: Link ([link removed])

* Convertibles needed to transport dignitaries in our Memorial Day and July 4th Parades - if you have one to share that you can drive in the parade, please contact me.

Questions from Citizens

INFO
- Pothole Hotline (Wayne County) – Call 1-888-762-3273.

Projects Around Town

* Ford Field – Phase I (Infrastructure, entryway, overview vista, fencing) Link ([link removed])
* Riverwalk – Daylighting of Rouge River & River Park work has begun @ Downs Link ([link removed])
* Northville Downs – Groundbreaking ceremony occurred Monday - Demo work has begun on the 49-acre Mixed Use development (31% greenspace) with a 10.4-acre River Park & City Park. Project Info Link ([link removed]) & City info Link ([link removed])
* Questions on purchasing a Downs home – [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
* Infrastructure – Crosswalk painting and review of new road construction underway

LET'S LOOK AT MUSIC ACTIVITIES IN NORTHVILLE OVER TIME...
1877 - Dating back to 1877, there was an article in the Northville Record about “Grand” concerts at the Opera House in town. Northville has a long history of being a summer destination, especially around the 4^th of July.

1800’s - Many stories from the 1800’s spoke about the Northville Community Band and its summer concerts downtown in the crow’s nest at Main & Center. Sometimes concerts were right on the streets, which would include Center St. by the Dancing Eye Gallery or Rebecca’s, or on Main Street by Starbucks across from The Early Bird Diner. Occasionally, the lawn of the American Legion was also the venue for concerts.

Street dances on Center & Main occurred from the 4^th of July weekend to Labor Day for the past 150 years. Cornmeal would be spread on the pavement to assist in the shuffling around for the dancers.

1900’s - In the early 1900’s, the City Council supported the street dances, which led to the completion of a section of brand-new downtown pavement in 1919. Naturally, this was commemorated with a dance.

1940’s - My parents and grandparents spoke about the Big Band Era and the headliners they would see around town that performed at the Casino in Walled Lake. Groups such as Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and others.

1948 - Northville Recreation even got into the act by sponsoring square dances, and today “Tunes on Tuesday” for our youth is still part of their curriculum. Beal Town down by Northville Downs sponsored their own community street dance on Yerkes St. between Johnson & Gardner. All this was to celebrate brand new streets in that section of the Village in 1948.

1950’s - Every area in town seemed to participate in the Dancing. In 1951, Orchards Heights on Eaton Dr. & Grandview had a street dance to honor the new graduates of Northville High School. All in the community were invited.

Similar to what’s happening today, an article in 1950 featured the summer concerts in downtown Northville, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church.

Northville at one time was blessed to have both a Northville community band and a strong high school band that at times combined for concerts in town. This included guest performances at the State Fair & other events in the area. A 1951 article spoke about the 65-member-strong combined orchestra. Music has always been important to Northvillians!

1960’s - The Mothers Club sponsored musical performances on the weekends at the Community Center which they rebranded as the Cavern. On the weekends, they would have headliners such as Bob Seger from Ann Arbor and others from the area for our high school crowd.

1997 - A Record article wrote that Northville had the reputation as the folk music capital of the metro area, in part due to the efforts of a local music store called the “Gitfiddler,” who sponsored an annual musical festival at Ford Field for more than twenty years.

As we take note of our past musical history and as we gear up for Friday, Saturday and even Sunday afternoon music events every weekend, we are ready for a great summer in this town we love. Even the Marquis Theatre is starting to be a consistent music venue in town. Dancing in the Streets of the Ville will be as wild and exciting as ever this summer of ’24, my friends!

Embrace the season and dance to the rhythm of the warm evening breezes. And remember, it’s not the destination that’s important, it’s the journey itself. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the musical happenings in our downtown social district. Invite your friends and family to experience what we all appreciate in this special town of ours.
Keep that Northville Musical Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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