Fabyan Windmill

After years of planning and effort to restore the historic Fabyan Windmill to its original grandeur, including a trip to the Netherlands for authentic timber and gear work, the Windmill will make its public debut June 3 and 4, 2005 with a Grand Opening Celebration. The 68-foot, 5-story Fabyan Windmill is located on the west side of Route 25 in the Fabyan Forest Preserve. It was originally built by Louis Blackhaus, a German craftsman, between 1850-1860 on a site along York Road near Oak Brook. It was purchased by Colonel George Fabyan from Luis Reinke's widow for about $8,000 and moved to his estate known as Riverbank (now Fabyan Forest Preserve), in 1914.

Third-generation Dutch Windmill Maker Lucas Verbij was contracted by the Forest Preserve District to tackle the tough job of restoring the Windmill. He was discovered by Preservation Partners of Fox Valley (the non-profit group that oversees care and provides tours of the historic Fabyan area). Mill Wrights are difficult to find these days, along with the materials needed to restore such a unique structure.

"The Fabyan Windmill is the best example of an authentic Dutch windmill in the United States, actually it's a treasure and would be the most popular windmill in the Netherlands (we currently have 1000 windmills)," states Verbij. "Restoring Fabyan Windmill was as much honor as it was duty. The timing of the restoration project was critical as the main beams of the tower were strongly rotting. When you hardly have old original US windmills left, preserving what you have is so important."

"Each time we turned the windmill people passing by honked their horns and waved to us," continues Verbij. "So, you can feel that restoring the windmill makes so many people happy now and for generations in the future. Few had seen the windmill turning before. Now all can see how unique this piece of craftsmanship is and how skilled people were in the past."

The Forest Preserve District's investment of $916,020 in this project is further evidence of a commitment to maintain historical structures at Fabyan Forest Preserve. Forest Preserve Utilization Committee Chair and Commissioner Jan Carlson is seeking grant opportunities and sponsorship to offset the cost of restoration.

Roman numeral markings carved into the beams used in original reconstruction are still visible. It took 33 workers mixing concrete by hand to build the foundation. The foundation is 42 inches deep and 26 inches thick. Inside the mill, the beams and shafts are of cypress wood and trimmed with black walnut. New wooden gears were made. At the top, or cap, of the mill is a huge cogged wheel turned by wind blowing against the vanes (blades). The vanes are covered with canvas sails to help catch the wind. The moving cog rotates a shaft running the height of the mill. You can also learn how the windmill operates.

"There is German, Swedish and Dutch mill wright work on this Windmill," states Verbij. "It is one of the few in the world that is restored to operate by natural wind energy."

There once was a bakery in the basement, something rare for mills. The grinding mechanisms to make flour are restored and the Forest Preserve hopes to make it available to the public via its volunteer millers.

Several honors have been accorded Fabyan Windmill. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it was also honored in 1980 by its selection to be on a US Postal stamp. This fifteen-cent stamp was part of a series of five American windmills included in a stamp booklet called WINDMILLS USA.

Indeed, even the Windmill can tell some of its own tale. A time capsule was discovered in the walls of the mill by construction engineers from Walter Daniels. Documents included the names of persons who proudly worked on the mill in the 1930's as well as the 1960's. Some still live in the area. A few citizens describe parents and grandparents who were on the lists. The Forest Preserve added another list, information from the year 2004 and placed the time capsule back in its original spot.

Volunteer millers began training and running the mill over the last year. Volunteer tour guides or docents are being trained now. If you'd like become a volunteer docent - please call 232-5980. The Fabyan Windmill is now open for tours on Saturday and Sunday from 1 - 4 p.m., May 15 - October 15, and by group appointment.

For more information, please call 630-232-5980 or visit the Forest Preserve District website at: www.KaneForest.com.

Hours:
May 15 – October 15: Saturdays & Sundays: 1-4 p.m.