NORTHVILLIANS,
This past week has been an eventful one in the Ville – MLK Day activities, the City’s “Goals & Objectives” sessions which help chart the future of our community, and then some exciting presentations by our Task Force members, such as the Rouge River Restoration and Riverwalk team. As many of you know, initiatives along our river include exciting (and thoughtful) development projects like the Foundry Flask property and Northville Downs. Ultimately, we will have a reimagined Ford Field “Central Park” on one end of the Riverwalk and a potential multi-purpose venue that houses a new Farmers’ Market on the other end. The future is bright, and we are trying to be transformational in pursuits that will serve all of southeastern Michigan with these connected initiatives.
Going back to the 1800’s and early 1900’s, Northville was once ranked in the TOP THREE economically in the state, with Detroit & Wyandotte battling it out with us. We have spoken about the many patents that originated in the Ville. I noticed this week a display case at the Library on all things made in Northville, motivating me to write on this topic...but first let’s see what’s happening in town today.
- The Gnomes & the Snowman in our Downtown Social District will end their visit here at month-end. While you can, enjoy the hunt as you search for them throughout the Ville.
- Check out the Winter Evening Hike at Maybury State Park – Saturday, February 5th at 6:00 PM. (Pets are welcome on this guided tour. Meet at the Trailhead building at the 8 Mile entrance.
Now let’s take a look at the latest COVID data:
- COVID-19 CONFIRMED CASES: Northville has had 631 cases/9 fatalities, Township 4896/63, Michigan 2.0M/31K, Nation 67M/851K, Global 328M/5.5M. (CDC) * Wayne County Data.
- Free at-home rapid COVID Test Kits: Residential U. S. households can now order one set of 4 free test kits from the USPS here: https://special.usps.com/testkits
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Reflections on items made in The Ville through the years...
The library display that caught my eye is similar to one many years ago at the Mill Race Village, highlighting Northville’s manufacturing might. According to The Northville Record, our town was Michigan’s hub for production in the post-Civil War decades through the first quarter of the 20th century. I would like to touch on some of the companies responsible for items made here in Northville.
Globe Furniture
- The Globe Furniture Company was a global leader of manufactured school furniture in the 1800’s. The company also made church pews and materials for trolleys and later manufactured trucks.
The American Bell & Foundry
- A portion of bells in North America were cast in Northville. Next time you see a bell from a school, church or private residence, take notice! Castings similar in size of the “Liberty Bell” were formed in the Ville. Recently, while fishing on the AuSable, I noticed a large bell at a yellow cottage – “Northville Michigan” was embedded in the casting.
Dubuar Manufacturing
- Dubuar made pulley blocks, wheelbarrows, screen doors and air rifles in the Cabbage Town area. Plymouth was the capital of Daisy Air Rifles, and Northville was close behind at one time.
Clover Condensed Milk (Rogers Family)
- The company originated in the Orchard Heights section of town and then migrated to Cabbage Town. It was known for its “Porcelain” condensed milk brand and had patents on the product. You may know the Rogers’ stately home today as Shiro’s Restaurant.
Northville Mills (Yerkes Family)
- This grist mill was the first in the Michigan territory and the catalyst for much of the community’s early growth. It produced the celebrated Gold Lace flour. The Yerkes were original pioneers, starting as grist mill owners and then transitioned to their family business known as Northville Lumber (oldest business in the State of Michigan).
Parmenter’s Cider Mill
- Originated after the Civil War through the work of two vets garnering apples from our local orchards. Parmenter’s is also one of the oldest continuously running businesses in the state.
Stimpson Scale
- They manufactured & sold their products through Montgomery Ward (1872) catalogs, along with Sears & Roebuck (1892), and were located in the Beal Town area near Foundry Flask.
Northville Laboratories
- Still in operation today as Jogue Labs in Orchard Heights at One Vanilla Lane. It was initially a Langfield Family operation (former Mayor). Vanilla beans were brought to this country by Northville Labs, and they provided flavorings to global businesses.
Northville’s Ford Valve Plant (Designed by Albert Kahn)
- Henry spent a great deal of his time in Northville, including his honeymoon. The first of Henry Ford’s “Village Workshops”, the Valve Plant, produced all the engine valves for Ford from Fordson Tractors to Model T’s, Model A’s all the way to Mustangs & Thunderbirds.
Sparkling Silver Springs Water
- With the abundance of natural bubbling springs in our area, Silver Springs Bottling Company (a forerunner of Absopure) not only provided water for the passenger trains, fine stores & eateries, but also bottled Grape and Orange pop with their naturally effervescent mineral spring waters.
Stinson Aircraft Corporation
- These planes are on display at The Henry Ford Museum and the Smithsonian, the true pioneers of the modern single wing planes (Piper Cub). Eddie Stinson lived in Orchard Heights.
The Tin Man Outfit from The Wizard of Oz
- Around the time of 1936, the Starkweather Farm (Stonewater subdivision today) had an extraordinary tin smith who made a tiny teapot out of a single copper penny. His artisanship caught the attention of many, which led him to making the tin suit for “The Wizard of Oz”.
Championship Ski Jumping
- Skiers came from all over and gathered high atop the ski-jump platform in Northville through the 1920’s. World-record jumpers competed here, launching from this platform that towered above where 7 Mile & Hines Drive meet today.
Other items made in Northville were pipe organs, carriages, monuments (Allen Monuments was the largest in the state, owned by a former Mayor) and Foundry Flask (Flasks). Other industries included the Fish Hatchery, TB Centers (Maybury & Eastlawn) and medical treatment facilities (Gold Cure), among many other businesses.
The town’s history transitions from a pioneering area to a milling town, to an industrial power to a special place to live in Southeastern Michigan, with its topography & waterways. As ever, I encourage you to continue to share your time & talents with those in our community. Whether through participation on one of our 27 boards and commissions, one of our special Task Forces, through Civic Concern, our Senior and youth programs or through your local Church. Thank you for all you do.
We always have to know where we’ve been to project where we want to go in the future.
Keep that Northville 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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