05/13/2023
Little history on our beloved Wind Mill
Happy National Windmill Day!
Outside of our Harrisonville location we have a windmill that has become an iconic symbol for our business. Here is the story behind it!
When the young Mr. Mills used to take trips to Minnesota on the old 71 Highway, there was a restaurant along the highway that had a similar windmill. He was always fascinated by it and how they used it in their billboard advertising to draw customer's attention telling them to "look for the windmill". He then happened to see one like it in an old Hallmark movie called "Sarah, Plain and Tall". Hallmark was located in Kansas City, so he decided to call them and see if they would sell it. He was told they had it stored in a warehouse but they might use it somewhere in the future so it wasn't for sale. However, he did get the name of the gentleman it was purchased from. Mr. Mills then contacted Loren Gerdes of Gerdes Windmill and Repair in McLean, Nebraska and was able to work out a deal to purchase one. The windmill is made by Aeromotor and is unique in that it is a foldable design which allows it to fold if the winds become too strong. John Foster Construction built the wooden base for the windmill when Mill-Walk Mall was built in the mid 80's.
Our beloved windmill is a staple in the Harrisonville community and we are so proud of the history it carries!
