NORTHVILLIANS,
In today’s update, I am beginning our fall series on Schools, the Victorian Heritage Festival, Cider Mills in the area, and colors of the season. Historically, since Northville’s first school was built in 1853, the Ville has always been known as a “Center of Learning”, with private & public-school availability. From one-room schoolhouses to various learning centers, including Schoolcraft College, educational development has been a top priority and an integral part of the fabric of this community since 1827.
As the school year begins, we will look at academic institutions in town. But first, let’s look at what’s going on in our city today:
Events/Info
- Northville’s Parmenter’s Cider Mill, since 1873 – Open for the season, a true sign of the advent of Fall. Also on this campus, check out the Northville Winery & Brewing Co. (est. 1982) for nightly live music.
- Concerts every Friday & Saturday at 7 PM through October – Downtown
- Farmers’ Market – Take in Northville’s Award-Winning Market through October, Thursdays (7 Mile/Sheldon).
- Cars and Coffee Saturday, 9/10, 8-10 AM – Join our monthly gathering (2nd Saturdays) at 212 W. Cady Street, behind Old Village School next to the library. Bring a car/bring yourself.
- Northville: The Bicentennial City History Lecture – 9/13 at 7 PM at the Northville District Library, presented by the Mayor – LINK
- The Victorian Heritage Festival – 9/16 to 9/18, Friday Parade, Victorian Saloon, Festivities, games, and bands, see link for additional info – LINK
- 33rd Annual Northville Duck Race at Mill Race Village, 9/18, 3 PM – LINK
- Annual Old Timers history lunch gathering 9/20, Genitti’s – 108 E. Main, 11:00 AM gathering, 11:30 lunch, then NOON History presentation & Senior of the Year announcement – LINK
- History Lecture at the Community Center by the Mayor, 10/13, 6 PM – LINK
- Northville Schools press conference on Safety – See Hometown Life 8/31 – LINK
- Turnbull Townhall quarterly gathering coming this month (Live/Zoom) will include schoolboard candidate introductions…stay tuned for details.
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With students back in class let's take a look at the various schools and their history in the Northville area.
The legacy of our school district and the naming of the schools in the district is quite unique. Over the years, various School Boards have named schools looking at their historical and geological significance as well as honoring community leaders.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Amerman was built in 1955 as a modern 10-room schoolhouse on 10 acres. The school bears the name of Russell Amerman, a past Principal & Superintendent who was respected & admired for his tireless community devotion.
Moraine was built in 1966 and was named after a geological formation (collection of earth, stone & sand) deposited by the glaciers. The school is on the moraine or edge of this phenomenon. This topography of hills & gravel depressions gave Northville its historical nicknames of the “Hamlet in the Hills” and “Switzerland of Wayne County.”
Silver Springs was built in 1975 and named for the famous bubbling Silver Springs which historically fed our Northville Well. (Silver Springs Lake is the only natural lake in the County). In 1913, the town received their water from this spring. The Silver Springs bottling company next to the well sold this water to department stores (JL Hudson), to the train lines and also fine dining establishments. The sparkling mineral water which was naturally carbonated was the precursor to Absopure of today.
Winchester was named in 1975 for one of the primary avenues within the Northville Commons subdivision, which connected to the Colony housing area, keeping the Northville frontier theme.
Ridgewood was built in 2002 and was named in a contest for its geological significance of the area. With its woods around this ridge of Northville, the name is perfect.
Thornton Creek (circa 1991) was on property through which the Thornton Creek riverbed ran. Sally Thornton was an early pioneer in the Northville area.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Meads Mill was built in 1975 where the Mead brothers had a mill in the 1800’s. The Meads Mill community was as large as Northville at one time, and the mill workers sent their children to a one-room schoolhouse which sat at the entrance of where the school is today.
Hillside (previous site of Northville High School) is one of highest points in Wayne County and was recently renovated/rebuilt. In the 1800’s this area was known as Buchner Hill because of the Buchner Family mansion that was on top of this ridge. One could view Detroit to the east and Ann Arbor to the west. To the north, was Taft’s gravel pit and at the time, 8 Mile Road didn’t cut through the property (with its athletic fields) until it was developed in the late 1950’s. Notably, the football field is sculpted into the side of the gravel pit in an amphitheater setting.
HIGH SCHOOL
NHS was built in 2001 on some of our original settlers’ farm property dating back 200 years – today, it’s ranked as the #1 High School out of 618 in the State.
OTHER SCHOOLS
OVS (Old Village School on Main St.) was the historic high school of multi-generations until 1959, when it transitioned to being the 6th Grade Annex. After that, it housed special education activities. Now it’s the home of the Board of Education. Bob Seger even played concerts on Friday nights at the teen club called the “Cavern” in the lower level of this historic structure.
Cooke School was named in honor of Ida B. Cooke who grew up and taught many years in Northville. After graduating, she taught English, coached basketball and was loved by her students. Cooke School was the only & first Junior High in town when it was built in 1967 (I attended its ribbon cutting). Cooke is now a special education center of excellence.
St. Paul Lutheran School was founded in 1896 and began a Christian Day School program. The present school facility contains ten classrooms from pre-school through 8th grade.
Northville Christian School & Montessori Schools have also provided educational opportunities for students in the community for decades.
Our Lady of Victory – The OLV school was established in the parish building in 1950 and transitioned in 1952 to the original 8-room school building. My eldest brother (Bob) was part of the first 8th grade class of 1959 (of whom all 13 attended the full eight years). The current facility opened in 2006 with nineteen classrooms. Mrs. Madigan, a teacher at OLV (who taught me in the mid-60s), was a legend in town and at the Church. Mrs. Madigan was the oldest resident of Northville when she passed at 107 in 2020. It was my honor to attend and speak at her last birthday bash. She could be seen into her 100’s singing in the choir, swimming at Schoolcraft College and driving her friends around town. She was a treasure of the community.
I hope you can see how important our schools are to the make-up of the fabric of our town. We are so fortunate that the leadership in our community and Schools work together for the benefit of our youth, which is the future of our town. School is back in session, and we all know that the greatest asset we have is our people, and that includes the children who are starting this new school year. Let’s stay connected to our youth and support their needs. I ask you to spread hope for the future & be there for our next generation, the young citizens of Northville.
Keep that Northville Back to School Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
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