When you look at older cities throughout Michigan with historic downtowns and neighborhoods such as Traverse City, Rochester, Grand Rapids, Mackinac Island, and Ann Arbor, there’s a feeling of permanence, belonging, charm and a special sense of place. Northville’s Historic District neighborhoods and downtown evoke similar feelings yet they also feel more personable – perhaps because it’s a small community with a big personality.
Downtown retailers and restaurants are mostly locally owned and operated – they are not chain stores. Business owners double as community cheerleaders – they come together to make things work better for each other, their customers and the greater community.
The Historic District neighborhoods that branch off from Downtown Northville to the south, west and north provide an inviting extension to blocks of unique homes, well-kept yards, and distinctive porch and lawn decorations (especially during the month of October, when the city celebrates Halloween). An estimated 1,000 children trick-or-trick in the Historic District, which closes neighborhood streets to traffic on Halloween.
The narrow sidewalks and tree-lined streets enable people to explore the history of the city – many with babies in strollers, children in tow, and dogs on leashes. Homeowners working in their gardens or sitting on their front porches often interact with those on the sidewalks - whether friends or people they’ve never met.
Kathy Spillane, 487 Cady, said the neighborhoods of historic homes “contribute to the walkability of the city. Visual interest is a major component. Historic homes are diverse and interesting. It’s almost like a form of entertainment.”
Steve Calkins, 317 W. Dunlap, said “People drive into the neighborhood, park their car and take their dog for a walk. Northville has a reputation of having some lovely Victorian homes and lovely neighborhoods. When people visit Northville, that’s a draw.” His wife, Joan, concurs. “We want to share it.”
Having a Historic District “does a good job of giving the city some distinction. Homes and trees and neighborhoods. It’s a package,” said Mike Weyburne, 226 West.
“Outside of the fantastic neighbors and the visual appearance, it’s a well-anchored community,” said Leanie Bayly, 223 Linden. She views the historic neighborhoods as a good place to “buy a house, raise family and age in place.”
Joan Wadsworth, 317 W. Dunlap, said the connection to schools and the Victorian Heritage Festival brings history to life. “With the Victorian Parade (downtown) and the program for third graders at Mill Race Village, it’s terrific.”
Liz Carter, 536 W. Main, agrees, noting when she first experienced the parade and day at Mill Race Village with her children after moving from Chicago, she nearly pinched herself to make sure it was real. “Where do we live?” she asked herself. “This is the most magical place on earth.”
Supportive neighbors strengthen the community
“There’s something about the way we look out for each other,” said Spillane. “Whoever goes out to shovel (or operate a snowblower) usually just keeps on going. Assisting each other – that’s part of the culture.”
“Having neighbors is more important than the size of the house,” said Weyburne. “For me, it’s like location, location.” Being close to Downtown Northville is a benefit of living in the Historic District. “We’re close enough to walk to Kroger’s and the library.”
Thom Barry, 239 High, said, “We use the downtown constantly. We walk the dog there. We try to shop there as much as we can.”
“We’re preserving a point in time,” AnnaMaryLee Vollick, 116 S. Rogers, said of the Historic District. She is fascinated by the history of Downtown Northville, especially how the shop owners of the 1800s ran a business. She is curious to know how many of them lived on the historic streets of Northville.
In years past, chartered buses would go up and down the historic streets as a tour guide pointed out noteworthy houses. During past Victorian festivals, some of the houses described in this series were on the AAUW tour with owners permitting small groups of people through their yard, gardens and house. It’s fairly common for visitors to take pictures of the historic homes. The homeowners take it in stride and are pleased that people appreciate the historic nature of their homes and neighborhoods.
For those who’ve never walked the neighborhoods just beyond Downtown Northville, now is a good time to get acquainted with the historic streets and homes. Take a self-guided virtual tour of Historic Northville using the free app PocketSights. To download the app to your mobile device, scan the QR Code or visit the App Store or Google Play. The app also has a tour of Mill Race Village. These virtual tours were developed as part of a Girl Scout Gold Award Project by Jennifer Delenn Chalom (Northville Girl Scout Troop 40059) in 2019.
