June 6 - Hosted a quarterly meeting with State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith and Senator Liz Brater to discuss topics of interest within the District they represent. There were only two attendees at this meeting which, in addition to discussiontopics such as the State budget, and the affect of high fuel costs, it gave us an opportunity to reflect on the state of the economy and what has gone wrong. Michigan had a strong economy for years, a lot of it due to the automobile business, but clearly something has changed.
Now here's an amazing coincidence - I guess you can file it under "it's a small world." It was about the year 1944 or '45 that Jim Craven, who owned the Morningside Horse Stable on Hubbard Rd in Livonia, bought the property on Five Mile Rd. He also worked the 80-acre farm we lived on Five Mile Rd (Livonia) since we were not into farming at that time. My Dad and Jim shared rides to the Ford Rouge Plant where they worked the afternoon shift on the assembly line. Jim, his wife who sang gospel songs in the church choir, and his daughters handled farm chores including caring for the riding stable and planting/harvesting farm crops. I can remember that we could hear Mrs. Craven signing gospel songs, her voice ringing out over the land, and above the putt-putt of the two-cylinder John Deere tractor.
Eventually Jim wanted to quit his job at Ford and go into full-time farming and bought the property owned by Alma Smith today. I remember spending one summer day helping Mr. Craven harvesting hay on the new Five Mile Rd property. When I first rode out to Salem Township with Mr. Craven, I recall being amazed that there was nothing except open space. Of course I was only about 13 or 14 years old and had always lived around some civilization.
I recall that day so vividly. I was stacking hay bales in the same barn that exists today. Several times he told me to slow down and not work so hard, but it was new to me and I was having fun. We broke for lunch and gathered around a picnic table under a tree for a delicious meal which I enjoyed because it was different than the Italian meals my mother would serve. I recall Mrs. Craven going to the well, opening a door, and pull up a gallon of milk with a rope that was cooling in the well water. I thought "what a neat idea."
Strange how I can recall events, and details sixty some years ago. Every time I see Alma, or drive by the Farm on Five Mile Rd, it brings back those memories. It also reminds me of when we first moved to Salem Township in 1979. It was like re-living the events of that day on the Craven Farm, and the farm life and open spaces we enjoyed in Livonia in the 40's and 50's. I can recall hearing the train whistle in the evening, and the cows calling for their calves in the hush of a very early summer morning.
That was 29 years ago this month. Sure, Salem Township has changed but nothing like we have witnessed or personally experienced in places like Livonia, Canton Township, Plymouth and Northville. We are still very rural with working farms we can see every day. It's no wonder so many of us want it to stay this way as long as possible, and are skeptical of those who want "change".
Comments