NORTHVILLIANS,

• Music in downtown Northville through the Summer. Fridays - Link, Saturdays - Link, Sunday - From 1-3pm on Center St. (7/21-Al Carmichael, 7/28-Acoustic Ash)
   
• 7/25 & 26, 9am-4pm – New Hope Center for Grief Support kids' camp at Maybury Farm. This two-day program is designed to help each camper connect with other grieving children, letting them know they are not alone, and to help them learn about the reactions and emotions associated with grief, teaching them healthy coping skills to help them grow. Contact 248-348-0115 for more info.
   
• Music at Maybury Summer Concerts – Mondays through Aug. 12, 7PM. Link 

• Ford Field – Phase I (Waterfall erosion deterrent construction in Serenity Point where Randolph Drain enters begins soon, Infrastructure, entryway staircase, overview vista, fencing will follow before fall)
• Riverwalk – Daylighting of Rouge River & River Park continues with environmental work @ The Downs.
• Downs Initiative – Demolition work on the Club house intensified Saturday with the demo of the overhang on Center (street was closed for safety Saturday – Link (City News)
• LOG CABIN – The historic log cabin on River Street will be moved South about an eighth of a mile and will be used as the welcoming center for the River Walk pathway system from Hines Drive. Link
• Mill Race Village – Lane bricking project… preparations have begun to upgrade drainage and stability of the entry road by bricking the lane. For further details and support see link. Link

• Bicentennial - Chair Rick Sharp stated the next meeting is being scheduled for early September – Stay tuned for Details.
• Cemetery Restoration gearing up for next round of gatherings (Cemeterians – Chair David Marold confirmed next meeting day – Monday 7/29 - 7:00 PM in City Hall)

Let’s look at previous local visits by special dignitaries...

The following activities are chronicled in The Northville Record, the oldest weekly newspaper in the State dating back to 1869:

PRESIDENTIAL happenings –

• In 1992, President George H. W. Bush, the 41^st President of the United States (1989-1993) and First Lady Barbara Bush brought their campaign train to Northville. Their train route was through Northville’s Cabbagetown area where they waved to those gathered along both sides of the track. They moved slowly past the Albert Kahn-designed Ford Plant (Water Wheel Centre) and continued on through Bealtown, greeting countless citizens who witnessed this historic event.
   
• 1934 – Albert Kohler, a Northville native, had a part in decorating a record-setting cake for President Roosevelt. The 250-pound birthday cake was sent to the White House in Washington D.C. for the celebration. 

• 1904 – Gov. Warner (1905-1910) visited Northville routinely and lived close by in Farmington. He owned the Clover Dairy, and some of his 13 cheese factories were in the Northville area.  He spoke at our band shell in 1904 where he launched his quest to become governor (serving three terms). 
   
• 1932 – Gov. Brucker (1931-1932) spent time in Northville kicking off our Wayne County Fair (which was even larger than the Michigan State Fair). 
   
• 1950 – Governor (Soapy) G. Mennen Williams (1949-1960) opened up the Northville Downs racing season, in which the world champion mare Onolee Hanover was entered in the Governor’s Trot race.  Also in 1950, the Governor spoke at our Ford Field, and he dedicated the Northville State Hospital on Seven Mile (now Legacy Park). 
   
• 1962 – Gov. Romney (’63-’69). Mitt Romney’s father (George), the former Chairman of American Motors, launched his campaign for governor in Northville.
   
• 1982 – Gov. Bill Milliken (’69-’82) spent time in our city and always had a Northville flag on his desk in Lansing (given to him during his first visit here). He dedicated our Main Street renovation program in the early 1980’s.
   
• 1998 – Gov. Engler (’91-’02) signed legislation here while visiting the City of Northville in the fall before stopping at our historic Parmenter’s cider mill.
   
• Gov. Jennifer Granholm (’03-’10) lived here as a Northvillian, spending a great deal of time in the Ville. She is presently the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
   
• 2012 – Gov. Snyder conducted a town hall meeting in Northville to an enthusiastic crowd.
   
• Governor Gretchen Whitmer (2019 -) has been to town on many occasions, and I’ve had the honor to host her.

Northville, which dates back 200 years (before Michigan was a State), first had a “President of the Community,” then a Village Mayor and finally during the early 1950’s, transitioned to having a City Mayor. Since then, there have been only 6 Mayors: Ely, Allen, Vernon, Johnson, Roth and Turnbull.
 
OTHER NOTABLE VISITORS…
Prince Louis Ferdinand, the crowned Prince of Prussia, spent time with friends in Northville in the 1930’s.

Henry Ford enjoyed our town so much after his honeymoon here in the 1880’s that he brought many of his friends here, including his “Vagabonds Group” comprised of best friend Thomas Edison, naturalist John Burroughs and industrialist Harvey Firestone.

Eddie Stinson built planes here. Famous flyers (including Amelia Earhart, according to legend) tested planes at our airport located at 6 Mile & Beck.

Joe Louis, the World heavyweight boxing champ, trained and spent quality time in town as a Northvillian.

John Dillinger … supposedly broke into the hardware store where Baby-Baby is today.

Bob Seger – Played at The Cavern in ’67 & ’68 at the Northville Community Center on Main Street, located in the historic area we call School Square.

We all have 60 minutes in each hour and 24 hours in a day. It’s how we use this time and who we share it with that makes a difference in Life!  I challenge you to make a difference for our community, and perhaps we will be talking about you someday.

I would be remiss if I didn’t ask for all of us to keep in our prayers and hearts the families of those that were heinously shot at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.  And we pray for the speedy recovery of all who were injured, including the former president.