Danish Windmill – This authentic working windmill was brought over in pieces from Denmark and reassembled in Elk Horn, Iowa.
This Danish windmill on this page was built in 1848. A farmer from Elk Horn - Harvey Sornson came up with the idea to bring a Danish windmill to this area when he was visiting his ancestral homeland in 1975.
Elk Horn was a town with around 750 residents – many with Danish ancestry and the idea apparently caught on with the locals. According to the information at the windmill – a man named Harry Pedersen was visiting his relative Milo Andersen and said that he would try to locate a windmill that could be bought in Denmark when he returned home there.
The Norre Snede windmill was being used to generate electricity. Owners Julius and Kirsten Hansen agreed to let it be taken apart and sent to Elk Horn.
The local people in this small Iowa town and surrounding area raised the money to buy and ship the windmill.
The information on site lists the purchase price at 11,000 USD.
Danish carpenters were hired to dismantle the mill at a cost of 14,000 USD
Shipping costs were 8,000 USD (year 1975)
The total amount raised for the project between 1975 and 1977 was over 100,000 USD according to the info at the site
The carpenters in Denmark made a scale model 10 : 1 with numbered pieces corresponding to the parts they shipped. This model was referenced many times by the Elk Horn carpenters upon reassembly. Apparently the metric system used by the Danish was new to the Iowa guys and took some getting used to.
The relocation project seemed to go pretty well. Elk Horn is now the largest rural Danish community in the USA. The town’s first European settlers came in 1864 and the Danish arrived in 1868 when Christian Jensen’s family and friends from Denmark settled in the area.
Apparently the town got it’s name from the many elk antlers that were spread out over the prairie. About 300 volunteers from the area were credited with helping out on this project.
Well done – good job !
Danish windmill relocated to Elk Horn, Iowa with help from volunteers from Elk Horn, Kimballton, Audubon, Harlan, Atlantic, Hamlin, Brayton, and Jacksonville and a bunch of Danish carpenters.
Sorry I didn’t get many good pictures from the front because this truck was in the way. The crews were doing a bit more work on the mill at this time – year 2012
Bison on the grasslands – completely unrelated to the story but kinda cool :)
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
Hi DP,
I was sent to your blog by an expat living on Siquijor. I have read most of your blog and have been most impressed. I am married to a Filipina from Digos, and have spent a lot of time in that area on Mindanao. You have balls enough to fill a bath tub to have made the run across Magindanao not once but twice. I was reading in another forum that you got shot at and run off of the road. Too bad that you ran into the Jeepney right by your home and got injured. I see that you are in the US, and travelling around. If you are ever in GA, there is a plate of Pinoy food with your name on it. You can always get in touch with me at the above email.
Cheers,
Doug
Cheers jetdoctor
Thanks for your comment ! I am super busy working in the Bakken oilfields right now but would love to join you for a few plates of Pinoy food !
Everything is going well and I am on top of my game at this time.
thanks for the invite
dp
Hi DP,
Glad that you are doing well. Your site continues to be an inspiration.
I am sitting in Digos on Mindanao with my son in the hospital. I am glad I read your postings about Philippine hospitals. They let me know what to expect, and to carry a bunch of cash in case of an accident.
Cheers,
Doug
Hello jetdoctor,
I wish your son a speedy recovery .
Thanks for your post
dp
Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy,
hows things dp. I would love to live in a windmill . Loved the idea eversince watching Chittychitty bangbang eheheheheh. Got ur message this morning mate. Would be great if u get over in the new year. Johnny n Melody doing great but we missing U n Beths visits. Rick left the other day for Koto-Kinabalu for a visa run and will be back in a week as things got compicated ( AS THEY DO) and he has to spend time in Angeles, hehehehh, before his flight. We are planning to go to Tagum in a few weeks to see Banban and have a chat with Ma about him going off to Sacremento to live with his mom. Would be ok if only his mom was asking if it was ok and not telling me it was happening and NOT asking. Typical hahahahah. O well i am just pleased to be home. I hope u are well and healthwise things are good mate. I would love to come over there some day and get some mileage done with u. I have some cleaning up to do on my little old bike as its been standing bare for 5 months and the cover has disintegrated so its out with the solvo-autosol. chat soon mate and keep the stories coming .
…miss those road trips with you mate !
dp