Novi in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Grand River Avenue
Life Along Novi's "Main Street"
Photographed by Joel Seewald, July 30, 2021
1. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker
Novi has grown with major transportation,
and Grand River Avenue has been the community's corridor of history. The route's first segment was cut through the landscape in the 1830s from Detroit to Brighton, and many of Novi's earliest settlers were merchants along Grand River Avenue pursuing commerce with farmers and travelers. In the 1870s, the Pere Marquette Railroad built a storage depot where the rails crossed Grand River Avenue, giving local farmers unequaled access to markets. In the early 20th Century, the first automobiles carried city dwellers along this route to Walled Lake's booming resort attractions.
You Auto Know
The name "Novi" was chosen in the 1830s as a shorter alternative to the community's original name of "West Farmington."
This exhibit is sponsored by the Novi Historical Commission.
Erected 2014 by MotorCities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the MotorCities National Heritage Area series list.
Location. 42° 28.778′ N, 83° 28.182′ W. Marker is in Novi, Michigan,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan and in Greater Detroit. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Approaching "Novi Corners" (approx. 0.3 miles away); Novi Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Grand River Bridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Novi's Crucial Crossing (approx. 0.6 miles away); High Performance Legend (approx. 1½ miles away); Sharing the Bounty (approx. 1.6 miles away); Novi Township Hall (approx. 1.6 miles away); A Piece of Novi's History / The Fuerst Farmstead (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Novi.
Photo courtesy of Novi Historical Commission.
2. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker far left image
Looking southeast along Grand River Avenue where it crosses Novi Road, late 1970s.
Photo courtesy of Novi Historical Commission.
3. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker near left image
A rural view of Novi in the early 1900s, looking west on Grand River Avenue, called "Main Street," from east of Novi Road.
Photo courtesy of City of Novi.
4. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker bottom image
Novi Garage was one of the businesses serving automobile drivers along Grand River Avenue in the early 1900s.
Photo courtesy of City of Novi.
5. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker near right image
Memorial Day parade along Grand River Avenue in Novi, 1952.
Photos courtesy of Novi Historical Commission (top) and City of Novi (bottom).
6. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker far right top images
Top: Saratoga Farms, on Grand River Avenue just west of Meadowbrook, was advertised as having a "dining room, coffee shop, cocktail lounge, dancing weekends."
Bottom: Grand View Orchards was typical of Grand River Avenue roadside markets selling local seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Bottom: Grand View Orchards was typical of Grand River Avenue roadside markets selling local seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Photos courtesy of the City of Novi.
7. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker far right bottom images
Top: Jansen's Buttermilk, along Grand River near Novi's eastern border. Advertised as "the best you ever tasted," the secret buttermilk formula was sold in 1979 to Guernsey Farms Dairy when Frank and Erma Jensen sold their popular buttermilk stand on Grand River in Novi.
Bottom: Novi Auto Parts has served Novi since 1925. The original store burned down in the 1970s and was replaced with the store that exists today.
Bottom: Novi Auto Parts has served Novi since 1925. The original store burned down in the 1970s and was replaced with the store that exists today.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, January 14, 2021
8. Grand River Avenue: Life Along Novi's "Main Street" Marker
View looking toward the north across Grand River Avenue.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,387 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on July 31, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
