In Grabow's old town, on an island between the Elde River and the millrace, there is a collection of clinker brick buildings - the former Bolbrüggesche Mill. It is one of the largest mill complexes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and is always worth a visit for technology enthusiasts as an architectural monument.
The Grabow watermill had been owned by the Bolbrügge family since 1717. Carl Bolbrügge joined the family business in the 1870s after completing his studies in engineering. Under his technical management, the complex, which had formerly been built as a grain, oil and fulling mill, was repeatedly expanded and enlarged until 1925. Electricity was also generated here from 1923. The Bolbrügge family gained great wealth from the mill operation. Around 1880, they are said to have been the wealthiest family in Mecklenburg. In 1884, Carl Bolbrügge completely took over the management of the company and operated the mill until old age. However, during the world economic crisis in 1930, even the so successful mill business suffered economic damage. In 1951, the Bolbrügge family was expropriated and the business was declared national property. The mill continued to operate until 1998 and even today the water power is used to generate electricity. However, the mill complex has been empty for years.
