NORTHVILLIANS,

• Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14^th (OK, you know this).  But did you know that it was first begun in Rome, way back in 496 A.D.? (That’s a LOT of Valentine’s Day cards!)
• It originated as a festival day honoring the Christian martyr Saint Valentine.
• Through folk traditions it has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

• Chili in the Ville – Saturday February 26^th, 1– 5PM, Downtown Northville. The City & Township Fire Departments along with several restaurants will face off in a HEATED chili competition. Ice Sculptures will be on display, along with the availability of chili samplings.
• Snowmen sculptures by artists Joe & Jennifer Rutherford are on display in downtown Northville through the winter months. Howell’s “Woody the Woodchuck” predicted 6 more weeks of winter...so, you have plenty of time to walk the downtown streets and spot the sculptures.

• Reminder - Free at-home rapid COVID Test Kits (The first batches have already been delivered): Residential U.S. households can now order one set of 4 free test kits from the USPS here: https://special.usps.com/testkits.

Transitioning to Valentine Days of Yesteryear...
 
1897 – A special section came out for the first time in The Northville Record featuring Valentine Day gifts for your significant other. Yearly there had been various ads, but this year started the special section.
1923 – Again, a hundred years ago a whole section in the paper was dedicated to local Valentine Day specials…at Northville Drugs (Lucy and the Wolf today) they offered chocolates, cards, and special fountain drinks.
1939 – Freydl’s Women’s Store (now Adorn Fine Flowers) published a wild poem of their own in The Record:

If you’ve a special Valentine
And you’d like to make her thine
Glance about at our gay array
Of perfume, jewels, and lingerie

• Also, in 1939, my grandfather’s Northville Electric Shop (Baby Baby store location) advertised practical Valentine gifts, including radios, lamps & electric clocks to “Make life easier for MOM!”

1940 – The D & C Store (Great Harvest Bread) advertised heart shaped Bracks Candy Boxes for 29 cents.
1949 – Freydl’s Men's store (Genitti’s theater today) had a Valentine’s Day tie sale…all for 64 cents.
1957 – Paul’s Sweet Shop (the building now in Mill Race as the General Store) advertised “Paul’s homemade candies make … Happy Hearts!”
1964 – Northville was always known for Valentine’s Day dances, going back to big bands in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. There have been all kinds of gatherings at various halls, with even Bob Seger playing at The Cavern at the Old Village School in the 60’s. In 1964, a Valentine’s dinner dance sponsored by the Newcomers’ Group was hosted at the VFW Hall with local entertainment.
2013 – The Record featured photos of Seniors enjoying a Valentine’s Day gathering at the Community Center…each year a special event is planned for our elders. This year (2022), it will be a Senior Tea for “Valentine’s Day Week” on 2/15 at 11:00 AM @ the Community Center. Sign up today:
https://www.northvilleparksandrec.org/senior-services/activities-events/special-events
 
As we ready for Valentine’s Day 2022, I encourage you to shop locally and make your dinner reservations downtown. Enjoy the Northville ambiance (like Northvillians have done for generations).
 
Keep that Northville Valentine’s Day Faith! … Let’s move forward helping others and reaching out to them during this Valentine’s Day period to keep all connected in the community!