A Long and Wind-ing Road

I wrote this article for the Noblesville Daily Times in 2004.

A Long and Wind-ing Road
Restoration gives new life to old windmill
By Jaime Heacock

On the grounds of the Noblesville Airport, all eyes were on the blades of the newly-restored windmill. The restraints were removed, and the Star Zephyr, Star Model 37, prepared for its second first spin. Maybe it wouldn’t be as useful as it once was in its glory days, but the spinning of its blades in the wind would bring about a whole new era for this mill.

Manufactured by the Flint and Walling Manufacturing Company in Kendallville, Ind., the Star Model 37 windmill was the crème de la crème of windmill technology in its day. The model was produced from its inception until the early 1950s. It was one of the most easily-identified and frequently-seen mills in the field, its rudder proudly bearing the words “F&W, Kendallville, Ind. USA.”

This particular windmill was built in March 1937. It was used on a farm to pump water for the farm’s cattle, a very important responsibility.

As the years passed, however, it became outdated, as things tend to do. Battered and bruised by Mother Nature over the years, the windmill all but fell apart. Many of its blades could be found lying on the ground next to the rotting body of the mill.

That is how Don Roberts of Noblesville found it – in pieces in the thick woods of Kendallville, Ind. Mere days from being destroyed for the purpose of building a new housing addition, the mill was loaded up and taken to “Grandpa’s Workshop” at Roberts’ home on the ground of the Noblesville Airport for some tender loving care.

Roberts and his crew from Don Roberts Construction worked at restoring and rebuilding the mill. At times, Roberts said, he just wanted to give up and scrap the whole project because the task seemed so daunting. He often couldn’t remember why in the world he thought restoring an old windmill was a good idea.

But he persevered. The mill had endured many years of unwanted changes due to disregard and the elements, but these three long years of transformation were different. In the loving hands of Roberts and his crew, there was hope for the old mill.

As the restraints were removed, the windmill immediately sprang back to life, rotating and turning in the wind. “It doesn’t pump water anymore,” Roberts said, “but to see it turn makes me feel good.”

And although it is a little shorter than it used to be – about 10 feet shorter, due to rotting – the windmill once again whirls in the wind, proudly boasting its re-created decals to all who pass the Noblesville Airport, reminding us that a little extra care often can make a big difference.