Tree Champions

NORTHVILLIANS,

This week I will again talk about some activities that are part of our Victorian Festival days (9/20-9/22), specifically the dedication of the Tree Champions project known as the History Tree. The Tree Champion Team’s roots stem from the Sustainability Group that we started 5 years ago. They have accomplished amazing things, including assisting Northville in becoming a Tree City USA again, spearheading a concerted effort to preserve our legacy trees and giving history walks around town that include this Elm (behind City Hall).

We will dedicate the History Tree sculpture this Saturday at 1:00pm at City Hall Park (Cady/Wing). I will talk more about the Tree Champions, this sculpture, and its artist later in the letter.

Victorian Festival weekend begins Friday 9/20, with students gathering at the Mill Race Historic Village and culminating that night with the Victorian parade at 6:30 PM. The weekend’s activities include Concerts, the American Legion Beer Tent, Dedications, Car shows, vendors, festival events and even nostalgic horse and buggy rides around the Ville. Link

Let’s see how this majestic award-winning Elm will continue to look over the town…

Northville Tree Champions

This group started as a sub-TEAM under the Sustainability Committee and now has blossomed and grown into a group of nearly 100 individuals. Their mission as a nonprofit citizen-led organization is to promote tree appreciation, protection, preservation and new tree plantings in the Community. The group does so through education in the care of trees, supporting tree planting and safeguarding legacy trees in our community.

Champion Elm Tree

Great history surrounds this historic Elm which was an award-winning Michigan tree in its heyday. Northville was fortunate to have many State and National Champions at various times in our 200-year history… this tree was one of them. This stately elm was struck by disease and was slated to be removed because of its condition. Through the Tree Champions Group working with the City, this legacy tree has been transformed into an informative work of art with images from Northville’s history for all to appreciate.

The commemorative art project celebrates the history, art, and the tree canopy of Northville. It is a collaboration coordinated by the Northville Tree Champions with partners such as the Northville Art House, District Library, Historical Society, community leaders, and the Garden Club.

Sculpture Designer

The designer of this tremendous undertaking was none other than Stacy K. Pearson of Stacy Kathryn Art. She has been a professional artist for over 23 years. Her work hangs in both public and private venues around the world as well as being featured in print. She began her career in our city with the Northville Art House and works as the Assistant Director of the DDA.  Ms. Pearson’s drawings brought to life key historical markers from our almost 200-year history. She is to be commended for her dedication to the piece, adding more detail and scenes as the project progressed.  We owe her a great debt of appreciation.

WOOD CARVER

All this couldn’t be done without the expert talents of an award-winning carver. That brings us to the journey of Thomas Fink as a carving artist who followed in the footsteps of his Swedish grandfather whose work can be found in churches and schools around the greater Detroit area.

Mr. Fink’s background includes experience as a designer working with metal and especially wood, where he has participated in numerous carving competitions including 15 years at the Plymouth Ice Fest. Mr. Fink, working with Ms. Pearson, has transformed Stacy’s inspirational artwork into a lasting sculptural tribute to the history of our “Hamlet in the Hills” or “Switzerland of Wayne County” we call Northville. Because of the TREEmendous dedication of his time and talents towards this project over the past 6 months, Mr. Fink will be our Grand Marshal for the Victorian Parade.

I believe knowing our past is crucial to planning our future together. This Heritage Elm is a reminder of our past as we ready for transformational initiatives at the Downs, Ford Field, Foundry Flask, the River Walk, The Farmers’ Market, and the bricking of the Mill Race Village Lane. Each one of these would be the biggest thing we have ever done in the History of Northville. Because of the unbelievable sharing of time and talents in the community, all of these activities and others such as the cemetery renovation and the bicentennial initiative will be accomplished … only together can we move forward.

Keep that Northville Faith!

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

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