July 4th

NORTHVILLIANS,

Happy Fourth of July Weekend – we are now in full summer!  As we ready for the holiday festivities, I thought it would be interesting to look back at yester-year celebrations in our town (historically referred to as our “Hamlet in the Hills” or “Switzerland of Wayne County”). This week, we’ll look at Patriotism as we talk about our 4^th of July parades and revelries of times past.

Let’s take a look at Fourth of July Activities through the years…

Independence Day – A federal holiday in the US commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4^th, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states.

IN NORTHVILLE…

• 1876 – The City celebrated the nation’s Centennial in grand fashion with banners adorning most of the businesses along the parade route and concluded with a fabulous fireworks display that night. Even though there was a strong storm that year, the Record mentioned that folks in town decorated their houses, factories & businesses in elaborate patriotic themes.
   
• 1895 – Over 5,000 visitors enjoyed activities from dawn-to-dusk, starting off with a sunrise 21-gun salute, a parade, a three-ring circus of events and of course, fireworks! People came via train & trolley and even stagecoach to participate.
   
• 1927 – Northville’s Centennial: A grandiose 3-day event that included concerts, activities, ball games, square dancing, fireworks and the largest parade in Michigan (up to that time), with floats from Henry Ford.
   
• 1932 – Horse Races:  The races at the Downs included thoroughbreds that year. In addition to the racing, the town carried on with the traditional Fireworks, Street Dancing & Music on Center from Main to Dunlap…all this very reminiscent to the set-up today with our downtown social district and its music & festivities.
   
• 1948 – Water Hose Fire Department Battle: Northville vs. Plymouth, exciting & humorous (Northville won)!
   
• 1953 – Pony Rides and More!  Ford Motor Company provided pony rides for more than 1000 children and free “Speed Boat” rides over the course of nine hours on the Mill Pond.
   
• Street Dancing & Concerts – Traditionally on Center St., all this kicked off on July 4^th and finished on Labor Day. 
   
• Local Amusement Park & Big Band Venue – Back in the day, people would catch the trolley from Northville to head to nearby Walled Lake (especially around the 4^th of July) to enjoy the amusement park & participate in speed boat rides on the big lake. They could then walk across the street to the Casino and dance to big band sounds from Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and even Louis Armstrong, among others who performed live & in-person.

My parents would talk about dancing on the Lake platform at the Casino when they had a cottage at Walled Lake after WWII.  Sometime during my childhood years, the dance Casino was destroyed in a fire and (sad to say) the giant roller coaster was condemned.
 
Summing it up, Northville has always been a Fourth of July destination.

Enjoy the town’s beauty, stroll through Ford Field and the Mill Race Village and soak in that history. And be sure to make your way to the parade on July 4^th at 10:00 AM and watch the jets fly over to salute the town’s patriotism!

Happy Birthday, America!

Keep that Northville 4^th of July Faith!

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

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