The Danish Mill Corporation, in Elk Horn, reports that reconstruction of the Wind Mill has seen some setbacks, but crews are planning to arrive in Mid-April to hopefully finish the project. With national news showing the massive flooding along the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky, Mill Manager Lisa Riggs became concerned because that is where the Millwright and his warehouse are located and where the parts are being crafted for the 1848 Danish Windmill. She made a quick call to B.E. Hassett Millwrights, and was assured by Ben Hassett that the lumber is safe and dry.

Fantail shutter by Tim Andersen

Fantail assembly by Tim Andersen

Complete fantail

Tim Andersen and grandson

The Mill’s restoration project met with delay after one of the two 67-foot timbers for the new sails that had been air drying for over a year, turned out to be of inferior quality and could not be properly shaped. It was determined that replacing only one of the sails with a good timber instead of the two that are really needed would not be a prudent course of action based on the existing structural deterioration of the old timber. As a result, a new 67-foot fir timber was ordered at no additional cost to the Mill. The board decided to replace a few of the spars on the fan tail.

The new lumber will be kiln-dried to speed up the drying process. The lumber is expected to arrive at the Millwright’s warehouse within about a week and it will take at least two weeks to craft it into a sail stock. After Millwright Ben Hassett and his crew complete the reconstruction, a crew will install new shingles on the old Mill cap. The Mill House and Morning Star Chapel will also get matching shingles. The shingle contract was let as a joint collaboration of Fajen Lumber and Modern Roofing both of Elk Horn and will be funded in part by an insurance reimbursement for hail damage, Mike and Lou Howard Endowed Iowa Fund and two pending grants.

Riggs says a special thanks goes to Mill Board Member Tim Andersen of The Cabinet Shop who just completed eight new shutters to fit the eight spars that lead up to the fan tail assembly to help save on time. Tim donated his labor and materials resulting in an estimated savings to the Mill project of $2,600. To find out more about the historic Danish Windmill, visit danishwindmill.com.