Trains and Trolleys

NORTHVILLIANS,

Over the next few weeks, the Theme will be “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” in Northville. Today, we will start by talking about the Trains and Trolleys that traveled through Northville and made it one of the top three commerce cities in the State during the 1800’s, hosting the largest furniture factory in America and other commerce such as foundries, mills and manufacturing.  The trolleys and trains stopped in town up to 6 times daily for workers, leisure folks, and commerce.

Trains & Trolleys in the Northville area through time…

THE FIRST TRAINS – They first started running through Northville in 1871.  The depot was across the tracks from the Wagon Wheel till the late 1960’s after almost 100 years in operation.  This was mentioned in the Northville Record in their Centennial Edition. The station originally was close to where the Chamber house is today, by the Northville Well across from the Stitching Post & the Wagon Wheel Bar.  
After the turn of the century (1900), a new larger station was built on the East side of the tracks in the same vicinity. Remnants of the foundation and the bricks remain, where my father used to help put the mail bag on a hook for the train to grab.
IN THE 1969 CENTENNIAL EDITION, the Northville Record spoke about the depot’s brisk passenger train travel.  Most of its business was in freight, with large shipments to & from the Silver Springs bottling works, Stimpson Scale Company, Superior Churn Manufacturing Company, the American Bell Foundry, and the Globe Furniture Company (all in Town). The inter-urban street cars were competition for the passenger trains when they were in operation from the late 1890’s to 1928.
SILVER SPRINGS WATER – Interesting fact was that the Northville Silver Springs mineral water was served in fine dining train cars of the day.  Like Airports today, train stations were where all the action was located. Most NHS senior classes from 1900 to the 1960’s boarded the train in Northville and made their way to Washington DC for their Senior trip.
PRESIDENTIAL TRAIN – In 1992 President George Bush & First Lady Barbara Bush slowed down their campaign train as they came through Northville’s Cabbage Town, waving to those by the tracks. They toured past the Albert Kahn-designed Ford Plant, the Chamber building and Bealtown on their way South.
A SOMBER NOTE – In 1907 there was one of the worst train wrecks in this area.  It is referred to as the “Salem Train Wreck” but actually occurred in the Northville community close to 5 Mile & Napier. A passenger train from Ionia on their way to Detroit’s Belle Isle collided with a freight train. Thirty-four lost their lives, with more than a hundred injured. National newspapers including the New York Times covered the story.
TROLLEY COMPETITION HEATS UP – By the late 1890’s till 1928, the trolleys were competition for passenger train service and multiple lines ran into Northville in the middle of Main Street and stopped close to Genitti’s. These trolleys were 34 feet long and could carry 50+ people. Their route went to Plymouth and also directly to Detroit.  Another route went up through town and then headed up Griswold to Farmington, then on to Pontiac or Detroit.
AND OF COURSE, HENRY FORD – Ironically, one of the trolleys’ frequent passengers was Henry Ford. In the book, The First Hundred Years, Hoffman noted, “Ford used to drive to Farmington, park his car and climb aboard an interurban streetcar, ride into Northville where he visited his Northville plant, and then continued south visiting his plants at Waterford (Six Mile & Northville Rd.) and at Phoenix Lake (Five Mile & Northville Rd.).”  The bench & station that Henry used to sit on is on display at the Mill Race Village in Northville.

So you can see, Northville has always been on the move.  As we look to normalcy and life after the Pandemic, I encourage you to continue to have hope in a better tomorrow. Please take time to reach out & connect with all in our community. Be safe by masking up, maintaining social distance and wash up often.

Keep that Northville Faith! Let’s keep moving forward … together!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

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