The Old Dutch Mill Virtual Virtual Cache
Hidden : 8/23/2002
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: virtual (virtual)

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Geocache Description:


JOHN B. SCHONHOFF, immigrant to the United States from Holland, bought a farm outside of Wamego in the 1870's. Windmills having been an important part of life in his native land, it seemed natural to Mr. Schonhoff to build and operate a windpowered mill.

While the mill Mr. Schonhoff built in the livestock production adapted, limestone hill country of Pottawatomie County was not the commercial success of which the family dreamed, they left a landmark which farsighted Wamego citizen have preserved for posterity.

All metal and wooden parts of the mill were constructed by Mr. Schonhoff at the site except the main drive shaft, hauled from Leavenworth by wagons.

Neighbor boys, stopping for swimming or fishing with the Schonhoff sons, had to take turns operating the air blast device for the homemade forge.

Jim Chadwick and Abe Rawson, Wamego stonemasons of English descent and skilled artisans, erected the stone tower from a soft, yellowish limestone quarried near the site. The structure was 40 feet high with a diameter of 25 feet at the base. Mr. Chadwick used native white limestone for the trim and for the sculptured bust of Ceres, goddess of grain.

The family-operated mill did custom grinding of feed and flour for a few years. Sometimes on windy days the entire Schonhoff family could be seen pushing on the long tail opposite the fan to revolve the entire top of the mill on its iron track atop the stone walls thus turning the big vanes away from the wind.

THERE WAS NOT enough grinding business in the mainly pasture grass country to make it a paying enterprise.


Before claiming this cache you must answer the following question:

What is the surname on the Plaque above the door to the mill?

Before posting your log, e-mail your answer to 2007@GeoManhattan.com. Logs without e-mail confirmation will be deleted. This virtual cache is placed with the understanding that we will give way in the event that an approvable physical cache is placed within .01 mile.

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