Fabyan windmill cranks up for the season

Earl Johnson of St. Charles, a volunteer docent with the Kane County Forest Preserve District, was at the grand opening of the restored Fabyan Windmill in 2005, and he was there Saturday to lead the first tour of the season.

The 68-foot tall windmill made by German immigrants around 1875 will be open again from 1 to 4 p.m. today and every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 11.

Johnson has become an expert on the shingled structure that stands in the Fabyan Forest Preserve on Route 25 south of Route 38 in Geneva.

"Col. George Fabyan bought it for $8,000 and had it torn apart and brought to Geneva around 1914," Johnson told members of his first tour of the spring. "It took 19 months and cost about $75,000."

The windmill was once used as a mill to grind corn and grain, but it was "more of a toy" for George Fabyan, Johnson said.

The forest preserve uses the windmill to produce a small amount of grain every year, but surrounding trees offset much of the needed wind. The windmill is on the grounds of the former Fabyan estate on the Fox River, where the eccentric George lived with his wife, Nelle.

"During World War I when food was scarce, the farmers used it full-time," Johnson said. "They came from Route 25 in their wagons."

Johnson explained that Fabyan had a lower level basement built when he moved the windmill to his estate. The basement, one of five levels and unusual for a windmill, houses hopper bins, grinders, grain separators, a corn sheller and a sharpening stone. Fabyan even had a coal-fired oven built in the windmill's basement because he loved fresh bread, but the oven is no longer functioning.

Forest preserve officials had the windmill restored by Dutch windmill maker Lucas Verbij. It was dedicated in June, 2005.

The windmill is maintained by volunteer millers like Mark Rivecco of North Aurora, who works year-round to keep it in operating condition.

"It's just like a car that has to be driven once in a while," Rivecco said.

Appointments may be made for tours for groups of ten or more.

Call (630) 232-5980.