A note from from Mayor Brian Turnbull...


** NORTHVILLIANS,
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Over the last 2 weeks, I wrote about our Victorian Heritage Festival Days, a fitting example of our “vibrant Northville” with people, bands, and festivities throughout the three-day event. Then last week we highlighted our Old Timers organization which annually gathers to share stories of times past and honors the Senior of the Year (George Miller for 2022).

This week we will touch on another Milestone – the 50^th year of The Mill Race Village, the community’s walking history area. The anniversary was celebrated last week with music, the duck race, and festivities for all to enjoy.

Before we talk about Mill Race, let’s first look at what’s going on in our city today:

Events/Info
* Northville’s Homecoming, 9/23 – The NHS homecoming activities for the week culminated with a parade downtown and the Football game (it was the MI Game of the Week, with two highly ranked teams). In the end, NHS was edged out by Brighton 17-14, but that didn’t dampen the homecoming festivities. Keep that Mustangs Faith!

* Living and Learning’s Hockey Hearts and Heroes Event – 9/29. Doors open 5:30 PM, game at 7:30 PM. Watch the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association and Frontline Workers/First Responders battle it out! This fun-filled family evening benefits the Living and Learning Enrichment Center. See LINK for tickets and info – LINK ([link removed])

* Northville / Novi CROP Hunger Walk, Sunday 10/2 – 1:30 PM starting at Presby Church (200 E. Mains St.). See LINK for additional info – LINK ([link removed])

* History Lecture at the Community Center by the Mayor – 10/13, 6 PM – LINK ([link removed])

* Northville’s Parmenter’s Cider Mill, since 1873 – (630 Baseline), open for the season. Also on its campus, check out Northville Winery & Brewing Co. with its music.

* Concerts every Friday & Saturday at 7:00 PM through October – Downtown

* Farmers’ Market - Northville’s Market, Thursdays-7 Mile/Sheldon, open through Oct 27

This week, the Northvillian will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Mill Race Village, which was a major part (as always) of the Victorian Festival. Let's look at some history.
* My parents always instilled in me that to plan for our future, you must first know the past and then embrace the present. And while so many of us have done so, I encourage everyone who comes into town on Griswold to take a moment and rediscover the Mill Race Historic Village as they celebrate their 50^th anniversary. It is truly a walking history of our community, set in a scenic environment with its topography of the river, pond, hills and greenspace.

* We are fortunate to have the Northville Historical Society that provides a clear lens into a proud history dating back almost 200 years. The Village tells Northville’s story better than any book ever could. The Mill Race Village was established in 1972 when Ford agreed to deed this property to the City.

* Today, the Mill Race contains eight historic local buildings … I remember seeing them moved there when I was young.

* The Village preserves a slice of what Northville was like before 1900, during our first 100 years. We are now closing in on our second 100 years and will celebrate our bicentennial in 2027. The Village will certainly be spotlighted then.

* The Mill Race was once the site of the Yerkes Northville Grist Mill and then later was owned by Henry Ford who strolled this area on his honeymoon. The Village consists of an inn, a blacksmith shop, school, church, gazebo, wooden bridge, general store, an interurban trolley station and several Victorian homes.

* During the 1960’s, the Northville Woman’s Club (established 1892) assisted in creating the Northville Historical Society, which developed Mill Race Village to preserve and protect many of the city’s beautiful Victorian buildings. To learn more about joining the Woman’s Club, email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Their new season kicks off with a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 7.

* I would invite each & every one of you to imagine times of yesteryear by walking the Village grounds and envision what life was like in the Ville many years ago.

Mill Race Village Milestones

1964 -- Charter meeting of the Northville Historical Society
1972 -- Ford donated the property to the City for creation of the Village (11.83 acres)
-- New School Church & Hunter House moved to the Village
1975 -- Yerkes House moved to The Mill Race area
1976 -- Minuteman Wood Bridge built
1979 -- Gazebo constructed
1987 -- Cady Inn moved to the Village
1992 -- Interurban Trolley station positioned at Mill Race
2010 -- The General Store is relocated & rebuilt on the grounds

I appreciate the time & talents shared by all of you on the initiatives associated with the Mill Race Village area over these past 50 years. I encourage you to stay connected to our heritage in the Ville and take a tour around the Mill Race Village. You can support the preservation work of the Historical Society by becoming a member ([link removed]) , if you aren’t already. Let’s keep our history alive!

Keep that Northville Historic 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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