First we checked out the windmill.From the mid 1800's, most farmers had windmills to generate the power needed to pump the water needed for their livestock. The wind turned the blades...
which moved a rod up and down. This rod was connected to a pump at the windmill's base. This method was used until electricity became available in the 1930's-40's.
Once a week the farmers would climb up the windmill to grease the motor's gears. Once the 'oil bath' model was invented, a self-lubricating enclosed motor, the farmers only needed to make that climb once a year to change the oil.
The J.H.Hawes Elevator Museum is open for tours June,July, and August on Sundays from 1:00-3:00. Also, tours by appointment may be arranged.
Besides having an information pamphlet, there are also self-guided tour stations.
The stations had fun/interesting quizes. |
Geoffrey standing on the scale, alongside the scale house. The elevator can be seen in the background. |
This period scale mechanism was donated by Eugene Craft.
I like all the computations on the wall behind it |
More computations seen thu the window :-) |
The elevator driveway is where the grain was removed from the wagon. The wagon would be driven onto 12' long 'dump logs'. Once a lever was released the logs would be like a teeter-totter and tip the wagon.
By using gravity, the grain would empty from the wagon into a receiving bin, called the 'boot', at the bottom of the 'grainleg'.
The grain was transported from the 'boot' to the storage bins (60' high) by a vertical conveyor belt.
This 'elevator' mechanism is how the elevator building got its name. |
A bin selector wheel was used to determine which vertical storage bin the grain would be transported to.
By moving the handle, the spout would be moved to the corresponding bin opening.
There is no access for tourists to actually see this area, but a photo is provided. |
A simple sketch of the grain elevator. |
A brick building was necessary to house the gasoline engine (gasoline replaced the steam engine in the 1920's) to prevent fires. The movement of grains stirred up a lot of highly flammable dust and the engine caused sparks; the fireproof brick building separated the two.
Fire extinguisher used by the Crackerjack Company. |
A 1920 Fairbanks Morse gasoline engine |
the set up of belts attaching the engine to the shaft |
Pretty skinny shaft to do so much work!!!! |
The grain was sold to wholesalers and processors and needed to be transported to them. Wooden boxcars were used for transporting the grain.
A wooden Wabash boxcar built in 1927. |
The sliding doors of the boxcar were opened and a 2' high long board was placed/nailed across the bottom to keep the grain in . As the grain filled the boxcar, more boards were nailed into place until the boxcar was filled.
The ingenuity displayed and the tranquil setting made for an excellent day trip!!