NORTHVILLIANS,

Happy Fourth of July Weekend – summer is now in full swing! As we ready for a unique (pandemic-related) Holiday weekend, I thought it would be interesting to look back at yester-year celebrations & what used to be going on in this town we love:

• 1895 – Over 5,000 visitors enjoyed festivities from dawn-to-dusk with a sunrise 21-gun salute, a parade and virtually a three-ring circus ending in Fireworks.  Historically, Wayne County Fair @ Northville Downs use to rival the State Fair attendance with rides, games, animals & midways.

• 1927 – Centennial Celebration:  A huge 3-day event that included concerts, activities, ball games, square dancing, fireworks and the largest parade in Michigan up to that time, with floats from Henry Ford himself.
• 1932 – Horse Races (including thoroughbreds): Parade, Firework, Street Dancing & Music on Center from Main to Dunlap…  similar to the set-up today downtown with music & festivities.
• 1948 – Water Hose Fire Department Battle: Versus Plymouth, exciting & humorous (Northville wins!)
• 1953 – Pony Rides and More!  Activities included Ford providing pony rides for more than a 1000 children and “speed boat” rides for 9 hours on the Mill Pond.
• “Lovers Lane” always popular on July 4^th – Balboa Lake/Ambler Pond where 7 Mile is located today between St. Lawrence Estates & Rogers St. was a beautiful watershed area, with weeping willow trees giving it the nickname” Lovers Lane”.
• Ford Field (Northville’s Central Park), where recently 1200 folks gathered for a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally, has historically been our gathering touch point. I encourage you to enjoy its beauty. Walk Ford Field & the Mill Race area this weekend.
• Ice Cream & Dairies are part of Northville’s history.  In our past, Cloverdale’s (Rebecca’s today) would serve Ice cream along with Guernsey’s, who was originally located in downtown close to Main/Center.  Today, we have Custard Time, Yogurt Palooza, Brown Dog and of course, Rebecca’s, to handle our Ice Cream desires. As you know, our downtown is now converted into a walkable outdoor pedestrian mall, with restaurants serving open-air tables, bands playing in the background & retailers displaying their wares in a festive environment … and Ice Cream is surely part of it!   

• Michigan Schools will open this fall – School Roadmap is being published this week by Governor Whitmer.
• State Executive orders still requires wearing of face coverings while inside public enclosed areas & social distancing ... so Mask Up!

• Northern Michigan, outdoor crowds approved to 250 (Northville 100), Indoor-50 (here 10), outdoor performance & sporting events – 500. (Gyms, Casino’s & The Downs will open soon!)  
• COVID-19:  A novel Virus (meaning it’s unique) – Northville has had 46 cases/7 fatalities.  Michigan 70K/6.3K & the Nation 2.6M/124K.  Testing & contact tracing continues.  We don’t want to drop our guard now... Keep masks on, social distance & wash hands.  Be smart & enjoy your weekend.
• We will transition to the “New Norm,” as it relates to our work, socializing & spacing. My commitment continues to keep you connected & safe, while having open communication.
• City Hall will be open AFTER the 4^th of July, all services are still available remotely.
• FAR (Floor Area Ratio) recommended by Planning Commission @ .36 is moving to City Council this month (meeting July 20^th).  

• I continue to thank all those who have shared their time & talents in these unprecedented times – now it’s time to move forward intelligently and together, into our future.
• I wanted to give a shout out to our Police & Firefighters who were dispatched to St. Lawrence Estates for a lightning strike that engulfed a 4-unit condo building Saturday.  All occupants were exited safely. Data shows that after a lightning strike occurred, the first flames were reported at 3:46 AM, with the Fire department dispatched & on scene within 7 minutes.  I wanted to thank our first responders & all the assistance we received from Northville Township & Novi… keep those affected at St. Lawrence in your thoughts & prayers.  Let’s say Thank You to our 1^st responders today!
• Reminder – there are 14 City Road Projects underway (some infrastructure dating back to 1895), surface lots are being redone, and, as everyone has enjoyed, Sheldon Road has been repaved by Wayne County.  We’re moving forward!

Enjoy the holiday weekend! Keep that Northville Faith! Be safe & stay #NorthvilleStrong!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849