NORTHVILLIANS,
Another great week in Northville:
- Our first-of-the-year Northville Cars & Coffee gathering, where over 180 classics were on display along with City fire trucks, our Roush support vehicle, Jags, Ferrari’s, Aston Martins, Lamborghini’s, Muscle cars and classic pickups. Jack Roush even made an appearance and autographed hats and whatever else Northvillians asked him to. It was a great chance to enjoy some fellowship, cars and coffee (2nd Saturday each month, 8-10 AM).
- Additionally, I saw many of you last week at the Farmers’ Market, which was outstanding with music playing, the sun coming out to adorn the flowers and the variety of aromas from the food trucks in the new picnic corral.
- Add to that, special events brought many dignitaries to Northville, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Debbie Dingell from Washington, Matt Koleszar and our Attorney General Dana Nessel.
In this week’s letter I will write about our musical gatherings over time, dating back to the 1800’s. Today our musical concerts range from Tunes on Tuesday for the kids, Thursday Music on Center Street, Friday small groups in Town Square and Saturday Big Bands. Downtown has been the focal point for music for the past 150 years, and other entertainment venues include the Northville Winery (which was rocking this weekend), NOMI’s, Great White Buffalo Brewing, Genitti’s, Marquis Theatre and the Northville Gallery who had live music on Saturday along with many other locations.
Our Community’s Music Highlights through time:
1877 – There was an article in the Northville Record about “Grand” concerts at our expansive Opera House in town. Northville has a long history of being a summer destination, especially for music.
1800’s – Many stories from the 1800’s spoke about the Northville Community Band and its summer concerts in the crow’s nest at Main & Center. Sometimes concerts were right on the streets, (Center St. by the Dancing Eye Gallery, by Rebecca’s, or on Main Street by Starbucks across from The Early Bird Diner). Occasionally, on the lawn of the American Legion.
Street dances on Center & Main occurred from the 4th of July weekend to Labor Day for the past 150 years. Cornmeal would be spread on the pavement to assist the dancers’ footwork.
1900’s – In the early 1900’s, the City Council supported the street dances, which led to the completion of a section of brand-new downtown pavement in 1919.
1940’s – My parents and grandparents spoke about the Big Band Era and the headliners they would see around town that performed at the Casino in Walled Lake. Groups such as Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and others.
1948 – Northville Recreation even got into the act by sponsoring square dances, and today “Tunes on Tuesday” for our youth is still part of their curriculum. Bealtown down by Northville Downs sponsored their own community street dance on Yerkes St. between Johnson & Gardner. All this was to celebrate brand new streets in that section of the Village in 1948.
1950’s – Every area in town seemed to participate in Music concerts and dancing. In 1951, Orchards Heights on Eaton Dr. & Grandview had a street dance to honor the new graduates of Northville High School. All in the community were invited.
Similar to what’s happening today, an article in 1950 featured the summer concerts in downtown Northville, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church.
Northville at one time was blessed to have both a Northville community band and a strong high school band that at times combined for concerts in town. This included guest performances at the State Fair & other events in the area. A 1951 article spoke about the 65-member combined orchestra. Music has always been important to Northvillians!
1960’s – The Mothers Club sponsored musical performances on the weekends at the Community Center which they rebranded as the Cavern. On the weekends, they would have headliners such as Bob Seger from Ann Arbor and others from the area for our high school crowd. Over at the Walled Lake Casino, big name Motown bands performed.
1997 – A Record article wrote that Northville had the reputation as the folk music capital of the metro area, in part due to the efforts of a local music store called the “Gitfiddler,” who sponsored an annual musical festival at Ford Field for more than twenty years.
As we take note of our past musical history and as we gear up for our 40 concerts this summer, we will once again listen to the tunes of the season in this town we love.
Embrace summer, listen to all kinds of music and dance to the rhythm of warm evening breezes. And remember, it’s not the destination that’s important, it’s the journey itself. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the musical events in our downtown social district. Invite your friends and family to experience what we all appreciate in our special town.
Keep that Northville Musical 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.)
Click the following link to subscribe to this weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/5a31f2ec1a6e/turnbullformayor
Northvillian 
Leave a comment