A note from from Mayor Brian Turnbull...


** NORTHVILLIANS,
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This week, as we continue to get ready for the Holidays, let’s see how Northville embraced the “Industrial Revolution” as it migrated from a milling town with folks journeying down the Erie Canal from the East Coast to the Michigan territory in the 1820’s. The “Northville Dreams” series (which started last week and spans the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries), is intended to help you witness how this town grew into what it is today.

But first, let’s review some of the events that are happening this month:
* Tipping Point Theatre – (361 E. Cady) The Theatre is getting into the Holiday spirit performing “It’s a Wonderful Life” until Dec. 18, see link for details. LINK ([link removed])

* December in Downtown Northville – “A Holiday to Remember!” 12/9 - 12/11. Live strolling Music, Horse & Carriage rides, and Christmas characters. See LINK for details. LINK ([link removed])

* Meet Santa in Town in December: Dec. 10-11, 17-18 – Admission is Free - Bring your camera! LINK ([link removed])

* Christmas in the Village (Mill Race Historical Village) – Stroll around the Mill Race Village at your leisure and think of Holidays of yesteryear.

* Art House – Children’s Holiday Shopping Day 12/17, 10am to 1pm, Gifts $20 and under, Hot Chocolate & Cookies, and a wrapping station… see link for details. LINK ([link removed])

* Northville High School Choir’s “Gift of Song” Holiday Concert – 12/20 and 12/21 at 7pm…see link for info and tickets. LINK ([link removed])

Northville Dreams...
I hope you enjoyed last week’s look back on what made our city special in the 1800’s. This week, we’ll transition to the 1900’s and see how Northville transformed to be a thriving town of the “Industrial Revolution.” I believe we have to know our past to plot our trajectory for the future. So, let’s take a look at some past high points:
* The gristmills & sawmills in the early & mid-1800’s spurred the initial growth of Northville, which had the advantage of being located on the headwaters for the entire territory. Northville is the location of four counties’ water systems running into town from the upper and middle Rouge River, the multi-county Randolph Drain authority and the spring-fed Johnson Creek, harboring one of the greatest fishing spots for Brown Trout (among other species) in all of Michigan.

* Fast Manufacturing Growth – As the Industrial Revolution started to gain steam in the Ville with our natural resources and hydraulic river power, manufacturing in Northville was often only outpaced by Detroit.

* Big Factories Arose – The Stimpson Scale and Manufacturing facility was a supplier to Sears and Wards among others, producing scales and other metallic products at the largest foundry in the state – Foundry Flask (located across from Northville Car Wash on East Cady St.). Additionally, Northville had the largest furniture factory in North America (Globe) producing school and church furniture, in the area of South Main and Cady across from the Northville Well next to the Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill (a historic gathering place).

* Craftsman, the Trades and More – Cobblers, coopers and carriage makers, along with lumbering and milling operations in town, were transitioning into production of goods with the assistance of heavy machinery run by our rivers, as well as by this newfound convenience called “electricity.”

* Electricity Finds Northville Residents – In 1882, Edison (who has a connection to Northville) built the world’s first power plant. It took until the 1920’s (just a hundred years ago) for electricity to reach nearly 50% of our households. In 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, electricity lit up the event ...the focus was on the conversion of electrical energy to mechanical energy.

* Henry Ford Loved Northville (you know this) – And he was a supporter & friend of Edison. It’s been documented that he brought Thomas Edison (along with others of his Vagabonds group - Firestone, Burroughs) to Northville on many occasions. They were witness to our very own local Industrial Revolution and helped to design our future.

* Lots of Car Parts and Airplanes – Our town became a center for Michigan’s industrial growth, with not only Bells and Scales, but machine parts and the manufacture of all of Ford’s engine valves (Model-T to the T-Birds) at the famous Albert Kahn-designed Valve Plant. Planes from Stinson (Piper Cub lineage), which are displayed at the Smithsonian and Henry Ford Museum, were produced in Northville along with many other items.

* Northville as Arsenal of Democracy – During WWII Northville played an extremely vital role, converting its production capabilities to support the War effort.

* Factories Move from Manual to Electric – Factories that were originally established through the use of manual labor, horse drawn power and river hydraulic power were converted to electricity. In fact, one of the original electrical generators was at the Globe Furniture Factory in Beal Town. It still exists today as the DTE Sub Station.

* Electrifying Northville – My Grandfather, who received an Electrical Engineering degree from Boston College in the early 1900’s, came to Northville and used the Globe Furniture generator to assist in electrifying Northville and hooked up historic Northville homes to the grid early on.

* Transportation Advances – In the early days, most folks ventured to the Ville via stagecoaches, trolleys, and trains. After the start of the 20^th century, personal cars and trucks became the preferred transportation mode.

* It All Starts with Water – Folks came to Northville for many reasons … to take in its topography (Rivers, Hills, & Lakes) and drink its healing Silver Springs water (precursor to Absopure) that fed our lakes and rivers. Northville Silver Springs Water was served on Trains, in the finest Hotels and at J.L. Hudson’s store downtown Detroit. With the backdrop of our town being the highest point in the County, with its natural mineral springs, and its river systems, mental and physical health rehabilitation institutes were built here and were part of our DNA.

Remember to embrace our history to ready ourselves for the future. We’ve covered a lot of our “growth history” over these last two weeks. Next week, we will focus on the waterways, their recreational use and their role in the continuing transformation of our town – the Hamlet in the Hills or Switzerland of Wayne County.

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.)

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