Old Timers

NORTHVILLIANS,

First, I would like to begin this week by congratulating the Mustangs Football TEAM that remains undefeated after battling Plymouth Salem, resulting in a 37-23 win at home Friday night. Also, a parent called and mentioned that the Boys Cross Country TEAM is Ranked 1^st in the State and the Girls 4^th, and congrats go out to many other sports TEAMS that are highly ranked at Northville High School who are battling across the board. 

Last week, many of these sports TEAMS helped at our Victorian Fall Festival Days, where the weather was outstanding for all the third graders to visit before the Friday Parade. I also saw many of you in town listening to music at the American Legion Tent, Town Square or the Marquis Theatre. Additionally, the traditional Duck race took place on Sunday at the epicenter of our walkable history museum we call Mill Race Village.  Bottom Line, Northville was truly alive with activities, music and festivities throughout the weekend.

This week, we are transitioning to the topic of our esteemed seniors who will be gathering for our annual Old Timers history luncheon, where the Senior of the Year is honored.

Let’s look back at our Seniors Old Timers History luncheon over the years…

This coming week the Old Timers will gather to break bread, tell stories, and to catch up on local events… I will share some of the organization’s history here.

• The Old Timers (History) luncheon has occurred for decades and has kept the community connected to our colorful past, its characters, and its storytellers. 
• The luncheon is an opportunity for friends, acquaintances & newcomers to listen to or swap stories about families & activities and our 200-year history. 
• Folks attending over the decades included members from families like Ambler, Yerkes, Atchison, Allen, Casterline, Wright, Stevens, Miller, Allen, McGuire, Folino, Lapham, Long, Genitti, Ely, Turnbull, and many others whom our streets are named after.
• This gathering rekindles old memories when trains, trolleys and stagecoaches stopped on the hour in our Village… First timers and old timers sit together.
• Some of the Seniors speak about the different phases of our community:
  • Milling days on the Rivers – our early beginnings and first uses of “river power.”
  • The industrial phase, with production facilities along our waterways when Northville ranked just behind Detroit in economics.
  • To today, using our rivers as a platform for a connecting pathway system for southeastern Michigan along our waterway’s scenic banks… connecting City, Township, County & State Parks.
• During this year’s history update at the Old Timers gathering, we will remind everyone that Northville had the largest School & Church furniture factory in the world. Further, our foundries were second to none, with their metal works providing scales & bells shipped worldwide. In those early years, our four historic residential areas were the Historic District, Bealtown, Cabbagetown, and Orchard Heights.
• Some folks recall our ski jump platform that launched world record holders into the air, or attending the largest annual summer fair in the State at Northville Downs, where harness racing was first run under the lights. 
• We have been reminded by our old timers that Northville hosted Henry Ford on his honeymoon and was the site of a Ford Village Industry factory, and the first federal Fish Hatchery on 7 Mile was the source of millions of Trout. Others have spoken about how Joe Louis trained and fought matches here and was considered a true Northvillian.
• This year’s Senior of the Year recipient will be announced in next week’s newsletter.

I personally believe we must know our history to plan our future. The Old Timers (History) luncheon has been a central historical link for Northville, keeping the community connected to our colorful past, its characters, and its storytellers.

Again, we are very fortunate to have an annual Old Timers History gathering where generational citizens help keep Northville’s history alive in our hearts and our minds. As I’ve said often, the future of our town rests on the shoulders of those that have come before us.

Keep that Northville History 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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