Bela Hubbard (1814-1896) was Michigan's Assistant State Geologist from 1837 to 1841. He lived in Detroit. He was also a farmer and one of the persons who helped start the agricultural college that is now Michigan State University. His estate, Vinewood, had once been the Knaggs Farm. The farm had a windmill on it from 1814 to 1858.

Mr. Hubbard, who was interested in the history of Michigan's pioneer days, helped establish the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan in 1874. He wrote this paper about the history of Detroit for the Detroit Pioneer Society's meeting in 1872. In this part of the paper he tells about early Detroit windmills.

"Another feature of the old [French] settlements has disappeared,—the wind-mills which once marked every few miles of river shore, and were an animating part of its picturesque scenery.

"These institutions of primitive times were in full operation down to the stirring period of Yankee improvements, 1836-7. Until then there were no flouring mills of any other description within many miles, though we have the authority of Judge Campbell for stating that a water-mill was built as early as 1734 on May's creek, below the city, and one on Mill or Conner's creek, above, and that, as late as 1830, one was standing in ruins upon Bloody Run, where it is crossed by Jefferson avenue.

"The wind-mills served sufficiently well all the needs of the French era; but with the advent of larger wants more capable structures were demanded. The neglected wind-mills fell to decay, and at the present time [1877] a few only survive in ruins."

This excerpt is from "The Early Colonization of Detroit" by Bela Hubbard, printed in the Collections of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan, Vol. 1, 1874-76 (Second Edition, Reprint 1900), pp. 347-368. It was first read at a meeting of the Detroit Pioneer Society, May 2, 1872.

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
Use and Reproduction Information [PDF]
Send comments about this page to webspinners@michigan.gov.