Novi

From a peaceful farming community to a thrivingcommercial suburb, Novi, Michigan, has undergone manyperiods of dramatic change, creating the rich history that is explored in this volume. This collection of over 200 photographs provides afascinating record of the development of Novi throughthe 19th and 20th centuries. In the early days of westward exploration, the fertile land surrounding Detroit attracted the first settlers of Novi. The town grew quickly after the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal, and by 1830, a bustling business district had emerged. The major changes came in the 1950s, with the building of freeways that cut directly throughthe heart of Novi. The sudden easy access to Detroit and Lansing ensured the town,s future as a true American suburb. Shopping centers soon followed in the tire tracks of the freeway, and the area rapidly expanded.