02/23/2026
Photo taken in 1876 as the wooden offices are being built.
Years before it was Voigt Crescent Mill, it was Hibbard & Graff, Crescent Mill (1874–1882)
Crescent Mills, (the foundation was built by William T. Powers and sat for four years), west end of Pearl street bridge, were erected in 1874–75 by Hibbard, Rose & Co. (Wellington Hibbard, Andrew J. Rose & Philip Graff, (Jr.?) The mill proper is 30 x 60 feet in size, with three stories and a basement. The warehouse attached is 36 x 50 feet and is also three stories high. These, with an office two stories in height on the front, are all brick buildings. The original cost of the mill was $65,000, which included the machinery; the mill was equipped with the best machinery available on the market at the time. Seven runs-of-burrs were put in to be used for flour only. Fifty thousand barrels per year have been the average product of these mills. In 1876, the mill passed into the hands of Hibbard & Graff, who operated it until July 1880, when John F. Graff, Jr., leased the mill and machinery and has since operated it. The machinery is driven by water power. The flour ranks among the first brands in the State of Michigan. Mr. Graff is a member of the State Miller’s Association. Sales of flour are mostly made in New England, all being sold on orders, except for 50 barrels per day for home consumption. The capacity of the mills is about 180 barrels per day. The company ships about eight carloads of flour per week; 14 men find constant employment, and the mill is under the personal charge of Milan Hibbard, an efficient miller.
Photo courtesy Grand Rapids Public Museum Voigt collection, 1987.43.1.273
Photo retouched February 2026 by James R. Winslow using Adobe Firefly Gemini AI Pro (Nano Banana Pro) and Adobe Photoshop.
