Restored Windmill Big Hit At Show

Restored Windmill Big Hit At Show ENERGY Miscellaneous We noticed an old-style windmill setting on a trailer in the antique tractor display area of the recent Husker Harvest show near Grand Island Neb Marvin Rickert who lives on a farm nearby was on hand to help visitors learn more about what he calls the “Rauert Windmill ” “This is a Baker windmill that was patented in 1918 ” says Rickert “My wife Jane’s father Art Rauert acquired the windmill in the 1960’s from a friend and I helped him get it home He had the windmill restored and put it up on his farm south of Grand Island He was very proud of the windmill and it stayed on his farm until his death in 1978 His wife Esther wanted the windmill put up on our farm after she sold their farm However years of adverse weather had almost destroyed the windmill What was left of it was taken down and put in our hog shed where it sat forgotten for 30 years “Jane’s mom moved to our area several years ago and asked if I would restore the old windmill At that time she was nearing 102 years old She is now 103 years old and we recently finished restoring it When I got overwhelmed by the restoration project my son Ron supported me and we got it done We plan on keeping the windmill inside most of the time and will take it out only on special occasions ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Marvin Rickert Wood River Neb ph 308 379-3186; mrickert@KDSI net

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.