NORTHVILLIANS,
This week, we celebrate April Fools’ Day as the spring season is finally beginning. It seems in the last week or so we have had ALL FOUR seasons, including thunderstorms in March. As they say, wait 24 hours in Michigan and the weather changes. I will talk about some historical happenings this time of year as the trees and flowers begin to blossom, welcoming the season of Car Shows, weddings and planned outdoor events.
A quick side note on April Fools’ Day:
The exact origins of April Fools’ Day are unknown, but theories include:
That religious leaders in the 16th century refuted the re-establishment of the New Year’s date of January 1st, preferring it begin during the Christian Holy Week in April. Some called these religious fanatics “April Fools.”
Also, around that time, in 1592, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar… thus some were fooled by which calendar to follow.
Other theories regarding April Fools’ Day date back to origins in ancient Rome and a festival called Hilaria held at the end of March. To celebrate, people would dress up in disguises and fool each other on who was behind the masks.
Let’s look at highlights from The Northville Record around April Fools’ Day …
1870 – A column in The Northville Record by J. D. Yerkes (Yerkes St.) highlighted spring weather in town with flowers starting to bloom and songs of Grosbeak birds in the air.
1893 – Charles L. Dubuar (Dubuar St.) was elected as Northville’s new president (e.g., Mayor) around this time of year. He graduated from NHS & U of M, worked for the war department in Washington DC and then the US Postal Service before serving the Village of Northville.
1896 – On April 1st,The Record spoke about the growing & overflowing Northville Schools … some teachers had 70 students in a class, leading to discussions of additional facilities.
1917 – Around April Fools’ Day the Northville Spring Barn Dance was announced, 500+ Northvillians enjoyed a full orchestra, luncheon and decorations. Ford sponsored a special D.U.R. (Detroit United Railway) streetcar to transport 60 young men and their dates to Town.
1927 – April 1st of this year, the Federal Government announced the purchase of a modern single-wing Northville-built Stinson plane to be used to enforce new air regulations in Detroit Area skies … (Stinson’s displayed @ Smithsonian & Henry Ford Museum).
1946 – The State of Michigan purchased 290 acres on Seven Mile for a State Hospital. Today, this acreage is part of the Legacy Park trails and recreational site being planned by Northville Parks & Rec under the leadership of Northville Township.
1956 –The Record on April 1st, wrote about our old ancient 1927 Firetruck, which was being retired with a replacement being contemplated. At the time, there was a slightly newer firetruck owned jointly by the City and the Township. The original old pumper truck was purchased before our 1927 Centennial Parade. Today, it has been fully restored and is sitting at a museum in Ohio, ready to be on display at our Bicentennial celebrations in 2027.
Some Northvillians thought that some of the news items above were just April Fools’ jokes… but they ALL happened.
Other newsworthy Spring events around April Fools’ Day included:
- On March 30, 1934, a foot of “Spring snow” fell … historically, we have had tremendous ice and snowstorms around April Fool’s Day.
- Spring concerts just after April 1st, in 1967-68 included a young upstart from Ann Arbor called Bob Seger, who performed at the “CAVERN” at the Northville Community Center.
- Northville Business Association “Spring Special Events” started for many years on April 1st … the festivities included shopping, dining & music on the first Fridays in April.
- In 2016, shortly after April Fools’ Day, a Spring Music concert was scheduled that showcased NINE Northville High School musical groups.
As you can see, through the years a lot of activity has happened around April Fools’ Day in our “Hamlet in the Hills” or “Switzerland of Wayne County” we call Northville. We even got into a little basketball March Madness this past weekend – both MSU and UofM Women’s Teams made it into the tourney. And in the Men’s event, congrats go out to the Wolverines for making it to the Sweet 16 round, and a BIG shout out to the Spartans, who made it to the Elite Eight.
Keep that Northville Spring 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.)
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