NORTHVILLIANS,
We continue our “Fall Series” today, talking about local cider mills in the area through time. Last week we wrote about our Victorian Festival with its festivities, music, and heritage events. Next week, we will feature our Homecoming activities, followed by coverage of the inductees into our Athletic Hall of Fame. We’ll wrap up the month with Autumn Colors, concluding with our Norman Rockwell Halloween extravaganza in town.
This past weekend, Parmenter’s Cider Mill celebrated 150 years in business, and I was honored and privileged to read a proclamation. Following are highlights …
“We recognize the 150th anniversary of Parmenter’s Cider Mill, making it one of the oldest businesses in the community. The mill at 714 Baseline Road was started by Benijah Aldrich Parmenter after he returned home after serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Current owners Rob and Carina Nelson have continued the tradition of offering a unique place for friends to gather to enjoy live music and fellowship…”
So, with concurrence from the Governor, I declared September 22, 2023, as Parmenter’s Cider Mill Day in Northville.
Now let’s look back at some of the ways Northvillians have experienced our cider mills over the years…
1873 – Northville’s Parmenter’s Cider Mill (Baseline Road) was established by two Civil War vets and has been going strong ever since. It’s the oldest cider mill in the area, and its cider press was originally powered by a team of horses walking in circles.
1898 – The Northville area by this time was known for its apples, and this week in 1898, The Record noted that at the Northville train station, scores of rail cars were loaded with barrels of local apples that were shipped ALL OVER the country.
1909 – The apple crop in & around Northville proved to be one of the best in history. Thousands of barrels of apples were shipped out this year, mostly via train.
1918 – The 2nd annual Wayne County Fair (the State’s largest fair at the time) at Northville Downs hosted citizens from southeastern Michigan who sampled local apples & cider.
1919 – Northville’s newly established Orchard Heights housing development was publicized in The Record. Geographically, it was the old Eaton Family Orchard that ran from Rogers to Clement, and 7 Mile to Main.
1998 – Foreman’s Orchards (7 Mile & Ridge Area) transitioned from being an orchard to the subdivision known as Maybury Crossing (similar to Orchard Heights).
We’ve had MANY orchards in the area, including Parmenter’s, Eaton’s, Foreman’s, Obstbaum, Three Cedars Farm (still in operation today) and Apple Crest Orchard located at Haggerty/8 Mile, close to Meijer. I grew up in Orchard Heights and still live there today. I can attest there are still some of the original trees from the orchard days in the vicinity (apple, cherry, pear).
You can see that Northville and surrounding areas (including Novi and South Lyon) were quite a hot spot for apples and cider in years past. Take a trip down to Parmenter’s Cider Mill and celebrate their sesquicentennial. Think of the apple press being turned by a team of horses and farmers from the area bringing in their apples to sell. And then refresh with some local cider & doughnuts.
Enjoy Fall to its fullest!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
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