NORTHVILLIANS,
I hope your New Year is starting off well ... we’ve seen our Spartans win the Peach Bowl against Pittsburgh (31-21) and, alas, we’ve watched the Wolverines battle unsuccessfully against Georgia in the Orange Bowl. As we enter 2022, I continue to encourage you to share your time & talents with all those in need in our community. Your daily efforts are felt in more ways than you can imagine. In this week’s letter, I’ll highlight some of the winter activities that have made Northville special throughout history. I invite everyone to take advantage of these local outdoor winter venues that are available in the Ville during this frosty season.
Before transitioning to these historic seasonal activities, let’s see what’s happing in town today…
- The Gnomes & Snowmen have invaded The Ville, thanks to the DDA, the Art House and the Chamber. Find all the Gnomes and Snowmen on your stroll through the Social District.
Now let’s take a look at the latest COVID data:
- COVID-19 CONFIRMED CASES: City of Northville has had 517 cases/9 fatalities, Township 3925/57, Michigan 1.8M/29K, Nation 56M/826K, Global 293M/5.5M. (CDC) * Wayne County Data.
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Winter Wonderland Activities through time and today's opportunities to get out and enjoy The Ville...
- Ski Jump Hill – starting about a hundred years ago and through the 1920’s, Northville was known as the “Ski Jump Capital of Michigan”. World champions would come to ski jump from the top of the structure which rose just west of 7 Mile and Hines Drive (see picture). The landing strip shot west towards the current location of the Good Time Party Store & Custard Time.
- Sledding at Amerman Grade School has been a generational tradition in our town. Most youth in our community, at one time or another, have sledded down that hill at 8 Mile & Center. I invite all of you young-at-hearts to visit this hill and watch the youth conquer its topography.
- For the truly brave, going all the way back to the late 1800’s, many would attempt toboggan runs, starting where Hillside Middle School is today. Back then, Buchner Mansion towered over the town…where on a clear day from its widow’s peak you could see Detroit to the east (30 miles) and Ann Arbor to the west (25 miles). Appropriately, this sledding spot was known as Buchner Hill. As the highest elevation in the county, it earned bragging rights as one of the best sledding and tobogganing venues in Southeast Michigan. Sledders could go almost a mile from 8 Mile to 7 Mile, dropping hundreds of feet from the starting point on top of the hill. Many youths historically have broken more than their sleds on this run!
- When I was young, lighted toboggan shoots were used on Hines Drive in Cass Benton Park, where frisbee golf is played today just past Kings Mill next to the river. It could get quite exciting on icy nights.
- Also, there were many stories back in the 1930’s about youth skiing behind model T’s and Model A’s on Hines Drive using a clothesline. My father was one of those adventurers behind a “Northville Electric” Truck.
- The Mill Pond, located behind the Mill Race Village, was a popular skating rink. Additionally, other areas for ice hockey were: The spring-fed pond in Orchard Heights and Curtis Lake (the only natural lake in Wayne County in Highland Lakes), along with makeshift rinks at the various gravel pits around town. Ford Field even had an area to skate for the youth in years past.
- Joe Denton Park on 7 Mile in Orchard Heights was sort of the bunny hill for beginner skiers and first-time sledders. I used to think it was steeper when I was a kid.
- Also, right in the community’s back yard is Maybury State Park and Cass Benton on Hines Drive, offering great snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing, walking or winter mountain biking.
- Take advantage of all these venues in the community to enjoy winter recreation. Or, just as easily take a stroll and experience the blanketed snow at the Mill Race Village, walk down historic streets such as Dunlap & Main, or be adventurous out at Maybury or Cass Benton.
It’s outstanding to have City, County and State parks all in the community for our enjoyment. Someday soon, all these may be connected by a pathway system linking the township, city, county and state walkways. That’s our vision.
In closing, I want to thank all those that volunteered to be on committees this past year. The outpouring for recent openings from those who wanted to share their time and talents was outstanding. There will continue to be plenty of opportunities to get involved and serve.
As the year unfolds, I encourage you to attend one of the many board & committee meetings posted on the City’s website: (https://www.ci.northville.mi.us/government/boards_and_commissions).
The participation and interest in these boards, committees and task forces have reinvigorated and encouraged me tremendously in imagining the future trajectory of this town. With the commitment and engagement by all, we will ready it for the next generation.
The future is bright for this community, historically known as the “Switzerland of Wayne County” and the “Hamlet in the Hills.” The best journeys in life are the ones we share…Together!
Keep that Northville Winter Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
https://mailchi.mp/5a31f2ec1a6e/turnbullformayor
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