NORTHVILLIANS,
Halloween will be here Saturday with a Full moon in the night sky … it will truly be a unique holiday this year.
Let’s look at Northville Halloweens through the years:
1908 – The Northville Record reported that on Halloween night some young boys thought it would be smart to tear the front steps off a residence on west Main Street. The police at the time believed it was the same set of boys who did the same prank the previous year.
1916 – The newspaper promoted the Halloween box social at the Baptist Church and warned, “The goblins’ll get you if you don’t watch out!”
1938 – On Halloween night in Orchard Heights, a resident on Eaton Drive found themselves needing new glass for their front door which was broken by someone tossing a sugar beet through it, according to the police blotter.
1941 – The Lloyd H. Green VFW Post Auxiliary planned a Halloween party for their first social event at their new building.
1948 – Police Chief Joe Denton distributed safety precautions for Halloween and Devil’s Night to prevent accidents that might spoil the fun of Halloween, which was also on a Saturday night that year (just like now, 72 years later).
1951 – Ted Simms & his orchestra played for the Northville Halloween masquerade dance sponsored by the American Legion. Previously the Free Press noted that “Boogie Woogie pianist” Ted Simms won first prize in an amateur talent contest in Detroit’s Downtown Theatre.
1953 – The Northville Lloyd H. Green VFW post again sponsored a community Halloween dance at the High School gym with the Fisher’s orchestra from Ann Arbor providing the music. Halloween mischief was confined to mostly window soaping, but one Northville Police blotter reported an apple was thrown through a storm door on Spring Drive.
1954 – The Halloween program was a “double success” according to City officials. Not only did hundreds of children enjoy themselves at parties and activities such as a Halloween Art Show sponsored by the Mothers Club, but minimal mischief happened while goblins and witches were out. (Northville Record)
1956 – The festivities began with two hours of free movies at the Marquis Theatre (called P&A theater at the time) with candy, doughnuts & cider provided by local businesses. A special high school Halloween dance took place at the Community Center and 45 award-winning jack-o-lanterns from all the schools were displayed.
1960 – Northville trick-or-treaters collected money on Halloween from generous local residents for UNICEF, an event sponsored by the Baptist, Methodist & Presbyterian Churches.
1967 – Two brand new ‘67 model Ford patrol cars debuted for Devil’s Night.
1969 – The Northville Fire Department deserves recognition for its Halloween project. The volunteer department of Chief Bud Hartner was on duty at the station when trick-or-treaters came around. Northville volunteers popped corn (more than 25 pounds of it!) and hundreds of local apples were given out. John McGuire (Guernsey Farms) donated the popcorn machine, Fred Casterline the apples and Mayor Allen the popcorn.
1983 – Northville firefighters hosted over 1000 children at their Halloween event. Chief Jim Allen observed that “it just keeps growing” and cited that it was the 18th annual Fire Department Halloween party, complete with cotton candy, popcorn, soft drinks, local cider and a costume contest.
2010 – The Northville Record wrote of the Danol Family’s tribute for Terry Danol (husband, father and local Halloween legend). Terry, who loved Halloween, passed away the previous month but his family continued their annual holiday tradition in their yard on Linden. Jim Long, longtime downtown business owner, told the Record, “The Danols have made Halloween night in Northville special with their themed exibits each year.” Since 1998 the Danol family has transformed their home on Linden into various Halloween themes: Pirates of the Carribean, The Renaissance Era, Wild West, Monster Mash, Trolls, Star Trek, among a host of other themes through the years. Northville will forever miss Terry Danol.
2011 – The DDA debuted “Skeletons Alive” in downtown Northville to the delight of the community. This fun event continues to grow each year!
Have a Safe Halloween Northvillians! And remember to get out on Tuesday, 11/3 and vote for Good government locally, regionally, and nationally.
Keep that Northville Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
Click the following link to subscribe to this weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/5a31f2ec1a6e/turnbullformayor
Northvillian 
Leave a comment