Valley City Milling Company
Inscription
In 1884 William N. Rowe, Conrad G. Swensberg, M. S. Crosby, and R. M. Lawrence founded the Valley City Milling Company in Grand Rapids. The company, which at first milled flour, expanded to include horse feed in 1893. Incorporated in 1894, it remained in Grand Rapids until 1923, when fire destroyed its facilities.
In 1924 the company moved to Portland. It began producing dog food in 1931. Company brands included Lily White Flour, Rowena Dog Diets, Rowena Quality Feeds, and Rolling Champion Self-rising Flour. Manufacture of commercial feed and dog food ceased in 1958. The company continued to make flour until it sold its flour brands to a Nebraska firm in 1970.
In 1973 the Valley City Milling Company opened a mobile home park in Portland.
Location
Sources
More markers in Kent
Ladies Literary Club
Grand Rapids, MI
In 1870 six women who had been meeting for a year to study history, organized Grand Rapids’s first Ladies Literary Association.
Cascade Township Hall
Grand Rapids, MI
Built in 1898, Cascade Township Hall is a rare example of a well-preserved nineteenth century frame town hall.
David Kinsey Home
Caledonia, MI
David Kinsey, the founder of Caledonia village, settled on this site on April 13, 1856.
First (Park) Congregational Church
Grand Rapids, MI
On September 18, 1836, twenty-two persons founded one of the first Protestant congregations in Grand Rapids.
Ada Covered Bridge
Ada, MI
An act of the legislature in 1867 authorized Ada Township to borrow up to three thousand dollars for the purpose of building or repairing...