Novi (Images of America: Michigan)

From a peaceful farming community to a thriving commercial suburb, Novi, Michigan, has undergone many periods of dramatic change, creating a rich history.

This collection of over 200 photographs provides a fascinating record of the development of Novi through the 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 through the 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.

The changing face and character of Novi is captured in this unique collection of photographs, including the architecture of buildings that have long been lost and others that are waiting to be rediscovered. Novi provides a visual journey through time, depicting the contrasts between the city's rural beginnings and its suburban present. Barbara G. Louie has created a fascinating and comprehensive visual record that explores the history of Novi through a vivid combination of images and words.