NORTHVILLIANS,

Let me first start by thanking the 100+ Northvillians (including the NHS lacrosse team) who participated in the clean-up of the Northville Commons Park area that will host the Farmers’ Market May 1^st. After the City & Township closed financially on the property, the clean-up day was scheduled with partners, Papa John’s Pizza, Custard Time and Davey Tree Service. We will be paving by Good Friday as we ready for the opening Day for the Farmers’ Market.

Easter week is truly upon us … to some, this is an extremely spiritual time of the year (Holy Week), and to others with young children, it’s about the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg hunts. We will take a look at both and also see how others around the world celebrate this season.

Easter is known as the most important and oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating the Resurrection and takes place in the Western Church on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox. Ramadan is also celebrated this month, and Muslims worldwide engage in fasting, prayer, reflecting and community.

Before we look at Easter activities in Northville through time, let's see what's going on today!

• State of the Community Presentation was 4/11 (recording available soon)
• “Rise & Write Northville” – 4/16, 6pm-8pm presents a Poets & Writers Kick-Off Gathering at Genitti’s. For info/To register: Link
• Cemetery Stone Cleaning Training Session – 4/19, 10am at Oakwood. Help the Task Force restore/renew some of our oldest monuments in the cemetery on Cady St.
• Rural Hill Cemetery Lecture – 4/23, 7pm by Jen Brodzik Mill Race Village. Discover the history & points of interest of Northville’s scenic Victorian cemetery. Link
• Patriots Day – 4/26, 10am-4pm @ Mill Race Village. Reenactments of the events of the Revolutionary War, Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps, Ben Franklin, and more. Link
• Wonders of the Night Sky 2.0 – 5/3, 6pm dinner and 7pm presentation @ 1^st Presbyterian Church. Enjoy a photographic journey of the night sky. Register: Link
• Northville Chorale Movie Magic Concert – 5/3, 4pm @ Marquis Theatre. Link

INFO FOR CITIZENS
PROJECTS AROUND TOWN

• Ford Field – Phase I: Stop by and see progress on the wonderful waterfall area in the Serenity Point northern part of the park. Phase II (Spring) Vista overlook, fencing, staircase, ADA entrance, & play structure. 2026 Bathroom construction.
• Riverwalk – Riverbed work continuing to progress ... waiting for delivery of steel walk bridges that will cross the river as we ready to daylight the underground waterway by early summer at the River Street section of the pathway system.
• Downs Initiative – Construction in various stages of completion.
• Grants that Support Northville’s Community Initiatives – Link

NEW TASK FORCE MEETINGS

• Cemetery Task Force Training to Clean Stones – 4/19 @ Oakwood Cemetery on Cady Street at 10am. Be part of a Cemeterian Group that will learn how to properly clean headstones as part of the restoration process.
• Bicentennial Task Force – 4/29 @ City Hall 7:30pm. All are welcome to join work teams as we ready for our 2027 event – info write[email protected]

Easter Highlights through time in the City of Northville:

1898 –Local tailor (Freydl’s) advertised special Easte rgifts for the holiday, and another local shop (Holmes, Dancer & Co) offered Easter gloves (for 69 cents) and jeweled belts (25 cents).
1902 –The ladies of the Presby Church held an Easter charity bazaar at the Princess Rink (across from CVS) on Dunlap St. with music & entertainment. The Presby’s were also known for their evening gatherings and meals at the church (or the library) around Easter.
1909 –The Record spoke about the Methodist Church’s Easter cantata, noting, “the bright catchy music in this production was loved by all music lovers.”
1916 –The Northville Record told us about outstanding Easter choir activities at all the churches in the Village that year. “The bells and the music were abounding for all Northvillians.”
1933 –Pageantry took place from a group of actors who played out the Easter story for three protestant churches in town. A Hallelujah choral event took place at OLV in Orchard Heights.
1949 –A famous radio music host (Sergeant Legree), who had been a police officer in Flint, sang at the Northville Baptist Church. Additionally, sunrise services were common this year.
1989 –The legend of the Easter Tree was reported in the paper, describing how it symbolized the joyous season of rebirth and triumph over winter. The tradition originated in Europe with Easter ornaments hung on trees. Genitti’s had these miniature trees for $20, and they sold out!
1997 –An article on “Easters Around the World” published in The Northville Record included the following insights (among others) about various countries:

• Ukraine– Intricate designs and symbols of spring are created by applying beeswax to eggs and dipping them in dye.
• Yugoslavia (Serbia & Montenegro today) –Easter eggs dipped in dyes to color the egg were a local custom. The colors were made from huckleberry juice & other natural dyes.
• Scotland, Ireland & Great Britain– Roll their decorated eggs down hills and the last egg not broken is the winner (similar to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll event which dates back to the 1870’s).

1999 –A Record article spoke about students from Amerman & Thornton Creek elementary schools putting baskets together for St. Vincent & the Sarah Fisher children center.

Through the years– Local organizations and churches have supported many families in the community by delivering Easter dinner baskets. I have been privileged and proud to be part of a group of Masons that deliver scores of Easter baskets in the area.

The Masons, Rotary, Woman’s Club, VFW, American Legion, Civic Concern along with all of our Church institutions and others in the community have reached out in the past & continue to do so today, sharing with all during this Easter season. On a lighter note, historically these same groups have also sponsored Easter egg hunts and Easter Bunny visits, along with many youth and musical events dating back to our historic Opera House days in the 1800’s.

Keep that Northville Community Easter Faith and enjoy your Good Friday, along with a weekend with family, friends or those close to you in life. Perhaps catch some musical performances at one of our local Spiritual institutions. Remember to share your time & talents with those in need on a daily basis, especially during this Easter season.

Keep that Northville Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville