kansas_flag.gif (8061 bytes)                                              Windmill Photos

 

Photos Copyright H. Schuster.  Please do not use without permission.

 

 

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The dramatic light following some typical Kansas thundershowers provides the backdrop for these twin windmills, Washington County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A windmill spins in the relentless Kansas wind, Mitchell County. 

Windmills harness the very wind itself, and use the energy to pump water.  The rotary motion is converted to up and down strokes by a gear box located at the top of the tower.  Windmills today are used mainly to pump water from wells for cattle, but in the days before electricity was available in rural areas, they were used to pump water for houses, too.  The pump itself is located at the bottom of the well and is operated by a rod which runs inside the water pipe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A windmill casts a reflection into a nearby farm pond, Nemaha County.

This can be seen from the county road, but I had to walk through the pasture to get the photo, so I figured I'd better look up the owner to make sure it was OK .  He looked at me like I'd just fallen out of a tree when I told him I wanted to photograph his windmill, but it was all right anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wooden windmill, Jackson County.

These wooden windmills are old and rare--not too many survivors.  The owner of this one has had several offers from museums and collectors, but he likes the looks of the thing right where it is, thank you!  The original tower was wooden, too, but was damaged by a fire started by a steam tractor running a threshing machine many years ago.  The fan opens up like the petals of a giant flower when the windmill is in use, then they are folded back up to prevent damage to them when not in use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

kswindmills111.jpg (23424 bytes)Windmill Lane, Brown County Ag Museum.  The dramatic sky at first light one chilly morning made a nice background for a portion this half-mile long collection of windmills.  Image shot without filters or computer enhancement.

As windmills rapidly disappear from the rural Kansas landscape, a few individuals have recognized the need of preserving at least a few examples of the many types once available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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