Novi was settled about 1825 as Novi Corners. It was located on the Plank Road and stage line which ran between Detroit and Lansing (along what is now Grand River Avenue). Novi became a village in 1958 and a city in 1969. [MPN]
One misconception is that Novi was named after the 6th toll gate (No. VI) on the Grand River toll road. However, the township was named in 1832 and the toll road was not constructed until the 1850s. A similar claim is made about the township being stop number 6 on the railroad. However, the Holly, Wayne & Monroe Railway (now CSX) was not constructed through the township until 1870–71, almost 40 years after the township was named. A third popular misconception is that Novi was the sixth stagecoach stop outside of Detroit. [Wiki]
Image Info: Top, the PM depot in Novi with the local elevator in the background. [UML]. 2nd Image, the same depot in an overhead view. [Alan Loftis collection]. 3rd image, a 2003 view of a railroad building at Novi, possibly the same structure but modified. [Alan Loftis]
1898: Novi was a regular station stop on the F&PM and had a daytime agent at the station. At that time, there was a 50-car passing track here.
1977. August 12. Twenty three freight cars derailed at the Novi Road crossing of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad in Novi, causing 2,000 people to be evacuated from their homes. Nine tank cars containing various forms of chemicals were involved. Toxic fumes formed a smoky white cloud and some of the chemicals poured into a stream that parallels the tracks. Chessie officials do not know what caused the derailment, but said the situation was under control. The train was coming from Saginaw to Toledo. The first car derailed was the 31st of the 62 car train. Dow officials were also on the scene. [DFP-1977-0813]
1978. Quite a few changes took place on the C&O in 1978. Novi received power switches and signals for their passing track. [DH]
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
