BIG MILL
The Windmill
In July of 1863, John Wilder and Andrew Palm started construction on a windmill at Warren Street (now 9th St) and Emery Road. It was the first wind-powered mill in Kansas and quickly became a Lawrence landmark.
On August 21st, 1863 the mill’s completion was set back due to damages from Quantrill’s Raid. The damages totaled $9,700 but Wilder & Palm still managed to complete it by June of 1864.
The primary use of the mill was to grind corn and wheat, but Wilder and Palm had other business ventures. They owned a carriage, plow, and wagon manufacturing business as well as their own flour brand. Unfortunately, due to larger businesses taking over Lawrence, they went bankrupt in 1885.
From 1885 to 1905 the windmill was unused but gained popularity by the public. Lawrencians picnicked, travelers visited, and artists created at the grounds of the mill. On April 30th, 1905 it met its match and was destroyed by a fire. Legend has it, the fire was started by a visitor’s cigarette.