The Whitley County Agricultural Museum and 4-H Learning Center has received a donation of a Flint and Walling Windmill from the Tom Drew Family. This windmill now resides at the front of the Museum near the new driveway. The proceeds of the 2018 barn painting auction were used to help pay the costs of installing and restoring the windmill. The costs included: moving the windmill to the Museum, pouring a strong foundation (Windmill is almost 50 ft. in height) and repairing the head and fan. The Museum set up a pump and horse tank with recirculating water at the base of the windmill to show how the windmill provided water for the farm and family. Many people have never seen a windmill in action and it is hoped that this exhibit will provide a learning experience for all our visitors.

Tom and Marilyn Drew purchased their farm from the Daniel Brothers on Old Trail road in 1963. This model 24 Flint and Walling windmill was used to water the cattle that the Daniel Brothers raised and processed to provide the people of Whitley County and Northern Indiana with a supply of food from their meat market.

In 1888 Leopold Daniel opened a meat market at 119 South Main Street in Columbia City. In 1903 the business was turned over to sons Harry and Lee Daniel and in 1910 the business was know as Daniel Bros., Inc. In 1934 the business had grown so that the average meat tonnage was 8,000,000 pounds per year. The business continued to grow with an employment of 211 people and a fleet of 34 trucks that delivered meat to Northern Indiana. In May of 1948 the plant was riddled with fire and a new more modern plant was opened in September of that year. The plant continued to do business in Columbia City and Northern Indiana until the death of the Daniel brothers, Harry and Lee in the 1950’s.

    
Pictured above: The raising of the Ag Museum windmill at its new home on July 7, 2018.