Pella Imported a Working Windmill in Pieces
Built in the Netherlands and assembled in Iowa in 2002, the Vermeer Windmill carries grain through five floors.
Before the Vermeer Windmill could turn above Pella, it had to cross the Atlantic in pieces. Dutch millwright Lukas Verbij designed and built it in Hoogmade, in the Netherlands. It was then taken apart, shipped to Iowa, and assembled again in 2002.
A New Mill Built to an Older Pattern
The mill follows the design of an 1850s Dutch koren mill, or grain mill. It is a modern construction intended to work in the traditional way, rather than an antique building relocated from a Dutch village.
Harry and Bernice Vermeer wanted a working mill in Pella, and the finished structure was named for their family. With its tallest sail reaching more than 124 feet above the ground, it became a prominent feature of the town’s Historical Village.
The base is 40 feet high and 32 feet across, faced with nearly 30,000 bricks. Concrete supports extend 27 feet below ground. Above the brickwork, the tall mill brings its sails clear of surrounding buildings.
Five Floors of Machinery
The interior follows the work of handling grain. Material enters at the base, while the milling equipment occupies the upper part of the building. Shafts and gearing connect the turning sails to the work inside.
The turning sails drive the millstones through shafts and gears. Local restaurants have used its stone-ground flour for bread and buns. Producing flour gives the equipment a continuing job beyond demonstrations for visitors.
A deck circles the mill above the brick base, close to the great sails. The museum’s tour follows the machinery through five floors, from the grain-receiving level to the stones at the top.
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Sources & photograph
Adapted from the Hidden Here story catalog. Explore the historical records behind this story.
