30 NEBRASKAland • DECEMBER 2014
I
n the period of settlement on the
Great Plains, those who moved
across and occupied the vast
expanses of open prairie during
the early-1800s were required to
live near rivers and streams in order
to easily access water. That is, until
the development of the modern
windmill.
In 1854, the self-regulating farm
windpump was invented by Daniel
Halladay. Better known now as
the windmill, it made its debut
at the time when farm and ranch
operations were widely developing
throughout the country.
The Kregel Windmill Company
was one of more than 1,000 windmill
factories that soon developed in the
United States. Named for owner
and operator George F. Kregel, the
factory was run continuously at the
same location in downtown Nebraska
City from 1903 to 1991. There,
Kregel would produce water pumping
windmills, as well as provide water
supply equipment, and the services
of installation, windmill and well
maintenance and repair. The "ELI"
brand he created was named in memory
of a departed friend.
His gearless design was unique. A
direct-stroke machine – one revolution
of the wheel produced one stroke of
the pump – it was made with both an
8½- and 10-foot fan. The ELI was
designed to pull itself out of the wind
and, in the case of a stiff gust which
may blow other windmills apart, to
engage the self-locking mechanism,
preventing damage to the equipment.
A rare, all-wood mill was designed but
few were manufactured. The second
design included a wood and steel blade,
and the final design was made entirely
of steel.
T
HE
K
REGEL
W
INDMILL
F
ACTORY
M
USEUM
Art Kregel took over the company from
his father George in the 1940s.
Story and photos by Amy Kucera
A
T
URN
T
HROUGH
T
IME
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