NORTHVILLIANS,
“The Happenings in the Ville” theme continues this week as we touch on our Community’s historical economic depth in the 1800’s, powered by our Rivers’ hydraulics when we were a community before Michigan was even a State. Rivers cut through Northville from four counties, making their way to the Detroit River feeding the Great Lakes.
This week we will talk about some of the businesses on our waterways that put Northville on the map in the 1800’s, before electricity powered our businesses. Next week, we will transition to the modern era of electricity and see what industries evolved during that transformation.
This is truly the time of year to explore and experience all that the Northville area has to offer. I encourage you to enjoy the topography, including our riverways in our “Hamlet in the Hills” or “Switzerland of Wayne County.”
Before looking at the Historic businesses along our rivers, let’s see today’s happenings:
- Mill Race Village is now open Sundays, 1-4 PM – Stroll the bricked lane, visit the blooming gardens and historic buildings.
- Upcoming Music/Concerts/Events – Chamber/DDA Link, Maybury Link, Marquis Link, Northville Winery Link, NOMI Link, Genitti’s Link, Tipping Point Theatre Link
TASK FORCE MEETINGS
- Bicentennial Task Force Mtg - 8/21, 7:00 PM City Hall (Rick Sharpe – Chair)
- Cemetery Restoration Mtg – 9/8, 7:00 PM City Hall (David Marold – Chair)
INFO FOR CITIZENS …
Projects Around Town
- Ford Field – Phase I: At the serenity point northern area of the park, experience the new Waterfall system. Phase II: New DTE poles in place on the upper new vista location where work has started on the new placemaking area to watch the sunrise daily over the park. New playscape plans finalized and bathrooms planned in 2026.
- Riverwalk – The River will be flowing above ground this week at the Downs. Trees placed, bridge abutments built, rocks and timbers placed in riverbanks for erosion.
- Downs Initiative – Curbing & pouring of streets continues / infrastructure is in.
- Farmers’ Market Area – This City & Township gathering place (7 Mile/Northville Rd) hosted a 5K Run/walk this weekend for Steps Against Suicide & a Car show.
- Grants that Support Northville’s Community Initiatives – Link
Let’s take a look at the Industry formulated around our placemaking rivers in the 1800’s in our Community!
Early on, many industries started up around our riverbanks that today we use for placemaking and recreation use. Northville was once ranked in the TOP THREE economically in the state, with Detroit & Wyandotte battling it out with us. We have even spoken in the past about the many patents that originated in the Ville.
Today, I will highlight Northville’s manufacturing might using our river power. According to The Northville Record, our town was Michigan’s hub for production in the post-Civil War decades through the first quarter of the 20th century. Let’s take a look at some of the companies responsible for items made here in Northville.
Northville Mills (Yerkes Family)
- This gristmill was one of the first in the Michigan territory and the catalyst for much of the community’s early growth. It produced the celebrated Gold Lace flour. The Yerkes were original pioneers, starting as mill owners and then transitioned to their family business known as Northville Lumber.
Globe Furniture
- The Globe Furniture Company was a global leader in manufacturing school furniture in the 1800’s. The company also made church pews and materials for trolleys and later manufactured trucks.
The American Bell & Foundry
- A portion of bells in North America were cast in Northville. Next time you see a bell from a school, church or private residence, take notice if it was from Northville. Bells similar in size of the “Liberty Bell” were formed in the Ville. Recently, while fishing on the AuSable, I noticed a large bell, and sure enough, “Northville Michigan” was embedded in the casting.
Dubuar Manufacturing
- Dubuar made pulley blocks, wheelbarrows, screen doors and air rifles in the Cabbage Town area along the River. Plymouth was the capital of Daisy Air Rifles, and Northville was close behind at one time.
Clover Condensed Milk (Rogers Family)
- The company originated in the Orchard Heights section of town and then migrated to Cabbage Town. It was known for its “Porcelain” condensed milk brand and had patents on the product. You may know the Rogers’ stately home today as Shiro Restaurant.
Parmenter’s Cider Mill (On the Riverbank)
- Originated after the Civil War through the work of two vets garnering apples from local orchards. Parmenter’s is one of the oldest continuously running businesses in the state.
Stimpson Scale
- They manufactured & sold their products through Montgomery Ward (1872) catalogs, along with Sears Roebuck (1892), and were located in the Bealtown area near Foundry Flask on the Rouge River.
Sparkling Silver Springs Water
- With the abundance of natural bubbling springs in our area, Silver Springs Bottling Company (a forerunner of Absopure) not only provided water for the passenger trains, fine stores & eateries, but also bottled Grape and Orange pop with their naturally effervescent mineral spring waters.
Other items made in Northville in the 1800’s were pipe organs and carriages. Additional industries included the Northville Fish Hatchery (one of the first National Fish Hatcheries where all Brown Trout in North America can be traced to this location on the Johnson Creek) and medical treatment facilities, including the Gold Cure House (still on Main St today), among many other businesses.
As you can see, the town’s history transitioned during the Victorian era in the 1800’s from a pioneering-area village to a milling town, to an industrial power and ultimately, to a special place to live in Southeastern Michigan with all its rolling topography & waterways. As summer winds down, I encourage you to experience all the placemaking areas in town. We have to know where we’ve been to project where we want to go in the future.
Get out and enjoy our greenspaces and touchpoints around our river systems before the end of summer!
Brian Turnbull
Motorsport Mayor – Northville