Die Windmühle in Stove
Full details
| English title | The windmill in Stove |
| Authors & editors | |
| Publisher | Traditionsstätte der sozialistischen Landwirtschaft Dorf Mecklenburg |
| Languages | German (main text) |
| Medium | Book |
| Edition | 1 |
| Topics | Wind & watermills > Other Europe (not GB) > Germany, Austria & Switzerland |
| Tags | |
| Scope & content | Summary Translation A few decades ago windmills were part of the scenery in Mecklenburg, but now only a few remain. Or those, many have been converted to other uses, such as restaurants and holiday homes. But it is important to preserve some of them in their original condition, so that the younger generation can understand how human beings harnessed the power of wind.It was the German push to the east in the 12th century that first used natural forces for milling in Mecklenburg, initially water mills. The earliest windmill in the area is documented in Wismar in 1296. The first ones were post mills; Dutch mills were introduced in the middle of the 18th century and took over completely during the 19th. The first steam mill appeared in Mecklenburg in 1842: steam and motor powered mills started to drive out windmills; the spread of electricity enabled farmers to produce their own fodder, flour production was concentrated in larger mills. Windmills enjoyed a brief upsurge after World War 2, in the face of frequent power cuts, but since then have declined.The oldest document mentioning the mill in Stove dates from the mid-18th century. The text describes in detail the changes of ownership and the rent for the mill. As a post mill, it was outdated by the mid-19th century; it was replaced by the current Dutch mill in 1889. It was modernised with i.a. an auxiliary electric motor in 1923. The mill continued to produce flour baked into bread in its bakery until 1960. The last miller retired in 1976. The mill continued to use wind as its main power source until the end.The Wismar Council bought the mill in 1978 to restore it as a historic monument. The booklet ends with detailed technical descriptions, illustrated with black-and-white photos, of the mill equipment: sails, gear wheels, transmission belts, components of the grinding mechanism, tools for sharpening the millstone, friction winch, roller mill, etc. |
Copies held
Accession no. 229726
- Shelf location: C114-(2)
- Donor: Ken Major Collection
- Advance notice required to view in person