The Kregel Wind Mill Company produced water pumping windmills in Nebraska City, Nebraska starting in 1879. It is now the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum.
History The brand of windmills that the Kregel Windmill Company produced was called "ELI" — as an homage to one of George Kregel's friends, a deceased preacher named Eli Huber. Kregel windmills were used to pump water from wells at farms and homes in the region of southeastern Nebraska surrounding Nebraska City. Managed by George F. Kregel, the company moved to the current Central Avenue building in 1903, continuing to operate there for 88 years.
The Central Avenue factory has been preserved with all of its manufacturing equipment. The machinery in the factory is powered by a central transverse line shaft and leather belts coming down to pulleys on each machine. The line shaft itself was originally powered by a single cylinder engine, but was converted to electricity in the 1920s. After manufacturing more than 2000 windmills, the company stopped production in the 1940s, and the Kregels worked instead in pump repair and well maintenance until 1991 in the same location.
The factory is a one-story wood-frame building. The flat-roofed building has two small roof monitors for light and ventilation. The front facade is clad with pressed sheet metal in a brick pattern, with four bays. The interior is a large open space with two structural bays, and a small office space. All of the company's tools (including "ledger books on shelves, telephone, pencils and pens on the desk, even an overcoat on a hook") and records have been preserved.
Since September 2019, the executive director has been Isaiah Yott.
Machinery Featured machinery in the factory includes:
Turret Lathe, 1920 Power shear, punch and riveting machine, 1875 Metal-turning lathe, 1865 Drill presses, 1900 Broaching machine, 1910 Four-spindle production drill press, 1900 Pedestal grinder, 1910 Internal grinder, 1910 Drop hammer, 1900 Snag grinder, 1900 Cross-cutoff circular saw, 1900 Table saw, 1900 Thickness planer, 1900 Joiner, 1900 Sheet metal bench with tools, 1910 Sheet metal rolls, 1900 Beading machine, 1900 Sheet metal brake, 1900 Sheet metal shear, 1900 Power transmission system, 1900 Power hacksaw, 1900
See also
List of museums in Nebraska National Register of Historic Places listings in Otoe County, Nebraska
References
External links Kregel Windmill Factory Museum