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Now back to Northville Historic businesses in continuous operations for more than 50 years
1827 – Northville Lumber was originally established as a flour mill by John Miller. History buffs may be interested to learn that records on file in Oakland County validate Northville Lumber as the oldest business in Michigan. Stewart Oldfield, who is the proprietor of Northville Lumber, is a descendant of the original Yerkes family who started Northville Lumber & owned the 400 acres behind the business location. They still own the original farmhouse just west of the business, and another Yerkes home is the center post of the Mill Race Village.
1869 – The Northville Record. Samuel Little began The Northville Record in 1869 (originally called The Wayne County Record), which makes this paper the longest operating weekly in Wayne County. Little was instrumental in building the famous 800-seat Northville Opera House on Dunlap and Center Street over nearly a decade in the 1870’s.
1873 – Parmenter Northville Cider Mill has been operating in Northville since Civil War veteran Benijah Parmenter used his discharge payment to start a mill in his hometown. In its earliest days, the mill was powered by a team of horses. It was run by five generations of Parmenters until being sold in 1968.
1907 – C Harold Bloom Insurance was started by Charles Harold Bloom in 1927. Mr. Bloom graduated from NHS in 1923, worked at the Northville Depositors State Bank and served as Treasurer of the Village of Northville from 1928 to the early ‘40s. He was active in the community through the Exchange Club, his church, and Red Cross Blood drives. Today, the Agency on Main Street is being run by the third generation of Blooms.
1910 – Lapham’s dated back to 1910 when Charles Ponsford purchased the store on Main Street. It was known for its quality merchandise and service for men. Daughter Beth Lapham took over in 1932. Beth’s son Charles, who worked at Zayti Trucking, served in the Korean War and was an NHS graduate, renamed it “Lapham’s Men’s Shop” and his wife (Maxine) ran the tailoring department. Today, the Lapham Family owns the Marquis Theatre and remains active in town.
1918 – Spagy’s Grocery was started in 1918 when Jim Spagnuolo bought the business located at 115 Main Street (very likely the oldest of all downtown buildings). It sold candy, fruit and vegetables and had a soda fountain. Today Edwards Café and Caterer occupies the property, which is still owned by the Spagnuolos.
1919 – Ely Coal & Ice. Beginning in 1919, Ely Coal & Ice provided customers with ice that was cut from the Mill pond in Cabbage Town and delivered to an ice-house on Center Street. This location, where condos are going up today on Center St., housed a hardware store, a garden center, a doughnut shop, and other businesses through the years. There were three generations of Ely’s: Carl, Charles, Ivan, Clancy and Chips.
1931 – Genitti’s is located where EMB Food Market started in 1931. In 1971, John Genitti bought the store with his wife Toni after serving in the US Army. With time, Genitti’s went from a meat counter and grocery store to a restaurant, Genitti’s Hole-in-the-Wall. Laura Genitti and family members have brought more people through Northville than almost any other business, with their catering, theater and social events across multiple facilities. They’ve hosted many visiting bus tours for lunch. Originally, the Theater building was home to Freydl’s Clothing and Dry Cleaners from 1894-1992.
1933 – Good Time Party Store was started in 1933 by Charles Altman, who sold it in 1970 to Jim Roth, who has grown it into the outstanding business it is today. Good Time’s food menu was expanded in the Bicentennial year of 1976, when Custard Time opened. The name and location have changed over the years, but the quality of customer service and level of commitment to the community remains the same.
1937 – Allen Monuments was founded by Former Mayor Mike Allen in 1937. His wife Betty, son Jim, and other family members were also involved in the business. Allen designed, manufactured and erected some of the finest memorials in the Midwest. The company is now Inch Memorials on South Main Street.
1949 – Long Companies. Glenn and Lois Long started Glenn C. Long Plumbing & Heating in ’49 out of their home in Northville. Their business offices and services have expanded throughout the years, and daughter Allison is the third-generation president of the company. Jim Long (Owner) continues to be a pillar of this community and we appreciate his dedication to outstanding service and integrity.
Next week we will touch on the history made by the Casterline’s, The Downs, Rebecca's, Northville Labs, Choo Choo Car Wash and the Wagon Wheel.
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