NORTHVILLIANS,

Valentine’s Day 2023 – It’s that time of the year again, when we slow down and give a Valentine’s Day gift to a spouse, friend, family member, a loved one or even a neighbor. Take a moment to reach out to those you know who would appreciate some Valentine’s Day cheer and let them realize how much you appreciate them.

This week I’ve gone back to look at past Valentine’s Days in the Ville, according to clips from The Northville Record, dating back to the 1800’s.

BACKGROUND ON VALENTINE'S DAY

• Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14^th.  Its origins can be traced to Rome (496 A.D.), having 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.

• Quarterly Mayoral Town Hall Recording – See attached recording from 1/26 Session with Debbie Dingell (U.S Representative). LINK
   
• Senior Valentine’s Day Tea 2/15, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Northville Community Center (303 Main St.) – Celebrate love & friendship with a wonderful tea provided by Victoria’s Tea Salon who will serve up delicious sandwiches, desserts, along with a harpist. LINK
   
• Chili’in the Ville – Saturday February 25^th, 1-5 PM, Downtown Northville. The City & Township Fire Departments, along with a plethora of restaurants, will face off in a Heated chili cooking competition. Ice Sculptures will be on display, along with the availability of chili samplings. LINK

Transitioning to Valentine Days of Yesteryear...

1897 – A special section came out for the first time in The Northville Record (oldest paper in the State) featuring Valentine’s Day gifts for your significant other. Every year had featured various Valentine ads, but this year included a special page with the illustration seen above and a variety of romantic stories and poetry.  

1923 – Again, now a hundred years ago, a whole section in the paper was dedicated to local Valentine’s Day specials.  At Northville Drugs (Lucy and the Wolf today) they offered chocolates, cards, and special RED fountain drinks.

1939 – Freydl’s Women’s Store (now Adorn Fine Flowers) published a racy poem …

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 today) advertised practical Valentine gifts, including radios, lamps & electric clocks to “Make life easier for MOM!”

1940 – The D & C Store (Great Harvest Bread) advertised 29 cent heart-shaped Candy Boxes.

1949 – Freydl’s Men's store (Genitti’s theater today) had a V-Day tie sale…all ties for 64 cents.

1957 – Paul’s Sweet Shop (the building now in the Mill Race Village as the General Store) previously stood where Studio 170 is today. They advertised “Paul’s candies make Happy Hearts” and reminded shoppers that their fine candies were homemade. Proprietor Paul Folino was previously a Mayoral candidate & Citizen of the Year Award recipient.

1958 – Cupid’s Guide to Valentine gifts from local stores debuted in The Northville Record.

1959 – WJR’s vocalist Jan Wynn was featured with the Jimmie Clark orchestra (sponsored by the Northville Rotary Club) at its Valentine dance at the Community Center.

1964 – A Valentine’s dinner-dance was sponsored by the Northville Newcomers Club and was hosted at the VFW Hall. Northville was always known for Valentine’s Day dances, from big bands in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s to Rockers in the 1960’s & 70’s.

1968 – Bob Seger played at “The Cavern” in the Old Village School around Valentine’s Day in ’67 & ’68. He actually performed four times there in 1967 and again in 1968, just before he headlined at Cobo Hall. The Anti-War song that hit the top of the charts in Europe entitled “2+2” was reportedly debuted at The Cavern before it was released in January 1968.

1981 – Genitti’s had jars of jellybeans & candy sticks on their window ledge for Valentine’s Day. They also kept a counter full of sweets ranging from chocolate covered banana chips to peanut brittle. It was reported that the treats were homemade by the Old Village Sweets-N-Treats shop (Plymouth).

2013 – The Record featured photos of Seniors on the front page enjoying their annual Valentine’s Day gathering at the Community Center. Today, the tradition continues with the Senior Tea for “Valentine’s Day Week” (see events section for details).

Shop for your Valentine in Northville’s Social District – there is something for everyone: Spices, shoes & clothes, entertainment, jewelry, candy, framing, gift cards for goods, services and/or meals at all of our restaurants, and more! As we ready for Valentine’s Day 2023, 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!