Detroit suburb is about to celebrate its bicentennial

Once covered with large forests populated by Native Americans, 200 years has changed nearly everything about the city of Farmington. In honor of its bicentennial, the Oakland County suburb is reflecting on its historical legacy this year. A local brewery is even releasing an honorary beer this week to mark the occasion. Downtown Farmington’s Historic District was established in 1980 to preserve the history of city during the rise in the development of nearby Farmington Hills — and patrons will be invited to walk its streets on March 8. In honor of the city’s bicentennial, Farmington Brewing Co. is releasing a new 1824 Farmhouse Ale and Cider during the celebratory event.

The town was settled by Quakers. In 1824, Arthur Power loaded his family and farmhands into a horse-drawn sleigh, setting out on the precarious adventure of settling land.

The town that is now Farmington was purchased for $1.25 an acre and was established within six months. The Power family is buried at the Quaker Cemetery, standing today along Cortland Street.

Worth noting: Before 1820, the land around the Shiawasee River was inhabited by the Kechewondaugoning of the Shigemasking Reservation.

These reservations were entirely abandoned by 1831, their owners displaced and land resold to early English settlers.

Greek Revival architecture

The popular style of a farmhouse built in Michigan’s first settled land featured tall white columns mimicking the style of Greece, almost all of which are demolished today, Farmington has 18 preserved Greek revival homes registered with the Michigan Historical Registry.

The city is also home to two structures built by Michigan’s first female architect, Emily Butterfield — the homes still stand today and feature an English Tudor-style design.

An important stop along the Underground Railroad

Arthur Power’s son, Nathan, grew up to be the president of the Oakland County Antislavery Society and he frequently invited abolitionists Sojourner Truth and

J.S.T. Milligan to speak to Farmington’s Quaker community.

During the periods when Detroit was too dangerous for escaping slaves, Farmington opened its pathway through Port Huron

without question. Nathan Power was posthumously honored by the National Underground Railroad Network in 2012 for his efforts.

The precursor to the Farmington Observer, the Farmington Enterprise dates to 1888 and the Farmington Community Library has nearly all of its copies available for reading. Common articles featured local businesses and town gossip, while investigative journalists of the time tracked the town’s growing popularity and changing socioeconomic scene.

The town’s first theater is still open.

Built in 1939, and broadcasting Hollywood favorites by the next year, the Farmington Civic Theater, at 33332 Grand River Ave., will be the backdrop to a musical performance during the bicentennial. The theater is designed by C. Howard Crane, who designed Detroit’s Fox Theatre, and its second-floor balcony was remodeled into a second theater in 1989.

The city acquired the building in 1999 and has maintained its movie lineup ever since.

PROVIDED BY THE FARMINGTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY HERITAGE ROOM In this undated photo, three modes of transportation face west on Grand River in Farmington: a streetcar, an automobile, and a horse and buggy.

PROVIDED BY NICHOLAS MASTON Nathan Power was the son of Farmington’s first settler Arthur Power and grew up to hold strong standing in the Farmington community as an abolitionist.

COMMUNITY LIBRARY HERITAGE ROOM PROVIDED BY THE FARMINGTON Early downtown Farmington in 1870. The stone building belonged to Oliver Smith and housed Mrs. Pierman’s Millinery and Dr. Woodmans’ Drug Store. The second floor was the first meeting spot of the Masons. J.N. Power’s General Store was to the left and Selby’s Jewelry Shop’s easily identified by the hanging timepiece.