This "ELI" Windmill

This "ELI" Windmill. . The "ELI" windmill was the brand name of windmills produced by the Kregel Windmill Factory of Nebraska City, NE, as seen across the street. Named after family friend and business mentor, Reverend "ELI" Huber, these windmills were durable, extremely desirable, and had one of the first self- braking mechanisms of the late 18th/ early 19th century during the height of windmill manufacturing in the USA. , Established in 1879, by George F. Kregel, the factory produced windmills up until World War II, and monetized other agricultural products such as beehives, tool service and repair, resulting in over seventy different income streams for the factory throughout its 112-year operating period. After the war, George's son Arther (Art) Kregel took over the business and focused heavily on water well and pump services as well. The company operated until Arthur's death in 1991., In the early 1990's, the factory was identified as the last historically intact windmill factory in the United States. It was preserved by concerned community members and lovers of history. This "ELI" windmill originally was manufactured inside the Kregel Factory, circa 1922 and was donated by the P. Edward Peterson Family from their farm, north of Nebraska City. , , Windmills have been used for irrigation pumping and for milling since the 7th century. In the early days of the United States, the development of the "water pumping windmill" was the major factor that allowed farming and ranching in vast areas that were otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. This multi bladed wind turbine atop a lattice tower made of wood or steel was, for many years, a fixture of the landscape of rural America., Restoration of this piece of Nebraska City's heritage was made possible by many partners including but not limited to the City of Nebraska City, The Kregel Windmill Factory Museum, The KROPP Foundation, the Nebraska City Utility Company, and "Double "LL" Windmills.