NORTHVILLIANS,

• In 1886, legislation was officially passed making it a State Holiday in Oregon, and the rest is history. In 1887, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the state of New York also passed laws creating an official Labor Day holiday.
• The holiday became a federally celebrated event in 1894, commemorated by a Labor Day parade in New York City, which followed celebrations dating back to the 1880’s there.
• Labor Day weekend also symbolized the end of summer, and many celebrate the beginning of fall with social gatherings, including family BBQ’s, parades and other festivities. Traditionally, athletic events have taken place over this weekend, ESPECIALLY football games (Go Mustangs! on Thursday, Go Green! Friday Night and Go Blue! Saturday).

• Music in downtown Northville. Saturday evenings – Link, Friday nights – Link, Thursdays, from 7-9 on Center St.
• Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill is open now (Baseline Rd) – 7 days a week from 10am till 8pm … 151 years and going strong! Link
• Farmers’ Market – Visit Northville’s Award-Winning Market, Thursdays, 8AM-2PM (Highland Lakes Shopping Center – 7 Mile/Northville Rd)
• Victorian Clothing Sale – Fri. & Sat., Sept. 6 & 7, 12-5pm at Mill Race Village – Get ready for this year’s Festival! Link
• Northville Old Timers Lunch & History presentation, along with the Senior of the Year Announcement – Tuesday, Sept. 17, 11:00 AM, Genitti’s 108 E. Main St. Pay at door ($15) or over the phone (248 349 0522). Link
• Northville: The Ideal Suburban Village – History lecture by the Mayor at the Northville District Library, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7PM. Link
• The Northville Historical Society’s new coffee table book A Ride Through Northville by Steven Quay takes readers on a historical journey through the Northville of the 1950’s through the 1980’s. Pre-order a copy before its release date of Sept. 21.  Link

• Ford Field – Project work beginning, Phase I: Infrastructure, waterfall, staircase, vista, fencing, invasive tree removal, / Phase II – Play structure, bathrooms, drainage.
• Riverwalk – Daylighting of River & River Park at the Downs is progressing.
• Downs Initiative – Demo completed of buildings, grading is commencing, foundations on Cady and infrastructure work for the entire 49 acres moving forward.  Link
• Log Cabin – Moved – Its new location is on the corner of River St and Seven Mile close to Custard Time (near its future permanent site). Link
• Mill Race Village – Bricking of the lane is progressing, and the Village will be open in September. Commemorative engraved bricks are still available to purchase. Link

• Bicentennial Task Force Mtg – 9/12 (Thursday) 7:00 PM City Hall
• Cemetery Restoration Task Force – Met 8/26, future meetings will be posted

Let’s look back at some of the ways Northvillians have spent Labor Day in town over the years...
1895 – Labor Day train excursions left the Northville Train station (by the historic well on Northville Road) on an excursion to Belle Isle for the day. According to The Northville Record, the whole trip cost just 50 cents (round trip).

1910 – Horse races, ball games, and music by the Northville City Band in the crow’s nest at the intersection of Main & Center entertained spectators. This year had one of the largest crowds ever up to that time, according to The Record.

1949 – The VFW sponsored Labor Day games, events, and music for the community.

1955 – The Northville Eagles supported festivities and organized the parade, which was led by state and local officials, with speeches at Ford Field. A community picnic was held at Cass Benton Park for the entire community.

1957 – Professional Motorcycle racing took place over the Labor Day weekend at Northville Downs following a NASCAR stock car race earlier that year on July 4th.

1985 – Labor Day baseball tournaments continued the local Northville tradition. I even played in a few of them over the years … when I was much younger.

1995 – On this Labor Day weekend, a big-top circus dazzled and delighted the community (complete with Elephants).

Relax and enjoy your Labor Day holiday as we ready for the fall season and the new school year in our community. Have a BBQ, connect with family & friends and remember the holiday’s true meaning – to celebrate the hard work, determination, and sacrifices of our AMERICAN WORKERS.

Keep that Northville Labor Day Faith!