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October 3, 2019 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

NORTHVILLE - PLYMOUTH

All aboard

Historic train depot to become

new sweet shop in Old Village

Don Howard the old depot and his wife started a spe-
Staff Writer cially candy business in the nearby small-
er building about two years ago. Craig
The historic Plymouth railroad station David Butler Studios has now been moved
built in 1870 will soon see yet another to the smaller building and will continue
incarnation, this time as an ice-cream and to remain open for business, the couple
sweets shop in Old Village. said.
Craig and Bonnie Butler had been “I've always been interested in baking--
operating a formal photography studio in things like, cupcakes and candy, but now ment the seating area where the Butlers down the planned opening date, now set
the original and only train depot in the we're taking the business to a new era,” plan to have high-top tables. The couple for late October, Butler said.
city until they recently began a major said Bonnie Craig. also plans to close the alleyway for cus- “The first thing we did was to paint the
remodeling effort at the building. The Butlers have not yet named their tomer parking and have an outside seating station a bright red--called original red,”
Five years ago, the Northville couple new venture that will feature ice cream, area in the summer season. said Bonnie Butler.
purchased the 150-year-old depot building coffee and candy in a rustic, family-friend- Construction is coming along as car- Chesapeake and Ohio passenger train
with the adjoining lots and a smaller ly railroad motif. penters have finished restoring the foun- service out of the Plymouth station ended
building, and a narrow paved back street “In addition we're going to offer spe- dation which is built on a combination of in the 1960s. Plymouth is still a busy main
which is now used as an alley, and moved cially shakes, vegan and non-dairy prod- brick, fieldstones and trusses. After surviv- line crossing for freight traffic and is
their photo business from Northville to ucts,” said Bonnie Butler. ing 150 years of vibration and stresses known as the Plymouth “Y” or Plymouth
Plymouth. Craig Butler, a professional The original ticket counter is in from the constant trains, the foundation “Diamond,” where the tracks run north,
wedding photographer, ran the studio in remarkable condition and will comple- needed a lot of work, which has slowed south, east and west.
Added grants bring $808,000 in funding to fire department

The Northville City Fire Northville and Plymouth, both expressed his appreciation for power-lift technology, which 22,000 feet, and distributing the
Department (NCFD), which cities and townships. the grant funding. reduces stress on EMTs when balance to other fire depart-
serves the cities of Northville The Assistance to Firefighters “I want to thank our Fire moving patients into and out of ments in the grant. The project
and Plymouth, has been awarded Grants (AFG) “provide funding Chief Steve Ott, and everyone the vehicle. The vehicle will be amount is $257,118, with the fed-
$808,146 in three separate FEMA for critically needed resources to else who was instrumental in housed at Station 1 (215 W. Main eral share at $233,743.63, and the
Assistance to Firefighters Grant equip and train emergency per- pursuing these grants. A grant of St.). The project amount is grantee's share at $23,374.37.
(AFG) requests, which will be sonnel to recognized standards, this dollar amount will dramati- $250,000. The federal share is The radio grant will enable
used to purchase a new ambu- enhance operations efficiencies, cally assist in updating our $238,095, and the grantee share (5 the NCFD to replace its entire
lance, new hoses and new radios. foster interoperability, and sup- department's equipment, and percent of federal share) is supply of radios (mobile,
The latter two grants are regional port community resilience,” save taxpayer dollars. This is a $11,905. The ambulance will portable and base stations) with
grants. The new hoses will be according to the FEMA website. great example of our department replace an 18-year-old unit, and newer, more reliable radios
purchased for three fire depart- “The AFG program is vitally leveraging resources to improve will handle an estimated 500 made specifically for fire depart-
ments (NCFD, Northville important to the health and wel- our operations,” Roth said. runs annually. ment use. The NCFD is currently
Township and Plymouth fare of the fire service in this The grants require the For the hoses, approximately using radios that are between 8-
Township.) The radio grant was country,” said Fire Chief Steve grantees to pay a small percent- 44,600 feet will be purchased and 10 years old (end of their life
submitted by the Dearborn Ott. “Without these funds, we age of the cost of the item being much of it will replace older hose cycle) and are no longer made.
Heights Fire Department on would not have been able to purchased. that has been in use for 20 years The NCFD share of the radio
behalf of 16 departments within obtain the needed equipment or For the new rescue ambu- or more, Ott said. As the host grant is for $369,936 of which
the Western Wayne Fire would have had to divert lance, the funds will cover the agency for this grant application, $336,309 will come from the fed-
Department Mutual Aid resources from other areas.” cost of the vehicle and special- the NCFD will purchase the new eral government and $33,627 will
Association, which includes Northville Mayor Ken Roth ized equipment, including hoses, keeping approximately be paid by the city.