A note from from Mayor Brian Turnbull...


** NORTHVILLIANS,
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In Northville, in the midst of the Great Depression, Mary Gilbert built a 1930’s Log Cabin in the Bealtown area on River Street, and that is the subject of this week’s newsletter.

Seen today as a cultural gem, this log cabin is a potential historic public showcase. It would also make for an ideal Welcome Center on the River Walk. The plan is to move this home from its present location (near Griswold) to a new location just south, closer to Seven Mile. The move is required due to the daylighting of the river currently entombed under the Downs property, which will be bordered by a bioswale park on both banks. All this will create a beautiful River Park but in the process, Mary Gilbert’s Log Cabin will need a new home site.

I plan to uncover the rich history of this innovative log cabin and explore the inspiring story of the person who built it … Mary Gilbert.

This particular cabin, located on one of the three waterways that run through town, personifies the perseverance of pioneers who built and developed small towns in America. We all can imagine the countless stories this home has witnessed as it closes in on 100 years. We will explore the history of what it was, what is happening with it today and its potential future. Your support would help make this historic landmark a centerpiece within the River Park area, giving residents and visitors alike a glimpse into our rich history.

Before learning the story of Mary Gilbert's cabin, lets see what's happening TODAY ...
* Northville: The Ideal Suburban Village History talk (1/24, 7PM, Mill Race Village) – Excerpts taken from the 1890 book Northville: The Ideal Suburban Village. I’ll present our town’s unique history through stories and photos. Link ([link removed])

* “Breaking the Canvas Ceiling” Art History Lecture (1/27, 1PM, Northville Art House) – View works by the Birmingham Society of Women Painters and hear about 10 women artists like Frida Kahlo and Mary Cassatt, who broke boundaries. Link ([link removed])

* Save Mary Gilbert’s Historic Northville Log Cabin! The Northville River Task Force needs your help to move this innovative cabin built on the river by a very remarkable woman. Link ([link removed])

* February Tea at Mill Race Village: Lincoln’s Visit to Michigan, Shocking New Findings (2/3, Saturday, 1PM) – Dr. Tom George will share his insights about Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Michigan in 1857. Tickets for sale at the Historical Society’s office at Mill Race or by calling 734.968.7338.

* Valentine Day Tunes with Harpist Chanah Ambuter (2/11, Sunday, 3PM, Mill Race Village) – Come feel the love with an afternoon of romantic tunes played on a gorgeous harp in Mill Race Village’s New School Church. See link for details and registration (sponsored by the Northville District Library). Link ([link removed])

Now let's take a look at the remarkable history of the Cabin...
Mary Gilbert was a teacher during the turn of the last century (1899), living in pioneer towns around the country.

With your support, the Northville River Restoration Task Force will save and transform Mary Gilbert's 1930s Log Cabin into a welcome center at the heart of the Downs River Park, honoring and preserving a piece of heartwarming history for generations to come.

The cabin must be relocated due to the required excavation to daylight the Rouge River that was buried underground long ago. The proposed new location of the cabin is at the intersection of the Rouge River and Johnson Creek on the southern end of the Downs Property, just off 7 Mile (close to Custard Time), allowing the cabin to also serve as a trail head for the proposed riverwalk.

About MARY GILBERT:
* She taught in remote areas of the US and transitioned into nurse and seamstress roles in compassionate care facilities. She later retired in Northville and immersed herself as an active member of the community.

* She was a single woman who funded and built a state-of-the-art log cabin nearly 100 years ago. She was a member of the Northville Presbyterian Church and the Women’s National Farm and Garden Club (known today as the Northville Garden Club).

About THE CABIN:
* The cabin itself is a historical artifact. Built in 1936 at 318 River Street, it was constructed of hollow, Air-Lock logs which were produced by a Grayling, Michigan company that patented the technology. This Air-Lock creation revolutionized the log cabin building industry whose products and techniques are still used today.

* Once renovated, the cabin will have a photo collection of the “Open River” and grassland that once surrounded the structure before the river was entombed. It will also display pictures of Mary, highlighting her contributions to Northville. Ideally, the Log Cabin would become a meeting place for “historic-centric” Northvillians and others in the community.

* On the River Walk, there will be designated trail markers, including one that explains the history of this log cabin and the gardens Ms. Gilbert planted around the cabin. Despite her hearing disability, she found purpose in life through hard work, community service and harmony with nature.

* As mentioned previously, the renovated structure could become a Welcoming Center on the River Walk for those approaching from the south into Northville. The facility could also function as a Mini-Museum showcasing the history of the Log Cabin, Mary Gilbert and the history it has seen in town.

The River Restoration Task Force, in partnership with the Northville Historical Society and other organizations, are working to save this original log cabin structure and restore it. The Northville Parks and Recreation Department would maintain and operate the cabin as part of the River Park.

Together, let’s breathe new life into Mary Gilbert’s Cabin – just imagine the countless stories this cabin has witnessed during nearly a century on this planet! Repurposing it into a cultural asset for the benefit of all in the community ensures her legacy lives on.

For more info on Mary Gilbert’s Historic Northville Log Cabin, Click here ... Link ([link removed])

Keep that Northville Pioneering Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
[email protected] / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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