Star of the West Milling Co.

Star of the West is one of the oldest remaining businesses in Frankenmuth. The flour mill began operations in 1870, however, at that time it was located near the current Main St. bridge across the Cass River. The building in the current location was built in 1911. The company continued to expand its operations as farming practices and technologies improved, and that included the building of the silo which can be seen from across the city. Today Star of the West has expanded from one mill in Frankenmuth to 5 flour mills in four states. It is the 11th largest miller in the United States.

The story of the Star of the West mill begins with the arrival of brothers Johann Matthias (1820-1903) and Johann Georg (1823-1909) Hubinger in 1846 who were drawn to the early colony in Frankenmuth from Germany. Their family had been in the milling business for two centuries, and the brothers continued that tradition in their new home.

The brothers soon got to work building a wooden dam and waterwheel to operate a new flour mill. Shortly after construction of that mill was complete, the Hubingers built a sawmill upstream. These two businesses are credited with a shift in Frankenmuth from a missionary focus to a commercial one. The brothers soon became interested in other businesses.

The steam-powered Star of the West Mill began in 1870 by Johann M. Hubinger, and he took the name from a paddle steamer of that name. The boat "Star of the West" attempted to resupply soldiers at Fort Sumter, SC, in January 1861 before the official outbreak of the U.S. Civil War. Confederates in Charleston fired on the "Star of the West." After taking a hit, the ship turned back to northern controlled waters for fear it would sink. Although there is no record of why Hubinger chose the same name for his new mill, it is believed that he chose the name in honor of that steamer.

In 1876, Johann's son Lorenz took over the mill, and made improvements to modernize the technology. A group of farmers approached Lorenz in 1903 wanting to buy Star of the West. Lorenz's son had no interest in the mill, so Lorenz decided to sell to the farmers. Recognizing the need for continued modernization and expansion, the new owners moved the mill to its current location in 1911, where it has operated ever since.

Carl R. Hansen, "Star of the West Milling Company and the Hubinger Family in Frankenmuth," (Frankenmuth, MI: Frankenmuth Historical Association and Museum, 1977).