8-27-14: Hejsan! After leaving Coronado Heights, we went on down the road to explore Kanopolis Lake and the town of Lindsborg, KS - aka "Little Sweden". We'd been through Lindsborg in the past, but hadn't really spent time there. Today I wanted to visit the old roller mill. David added the Kanopolis Lake to the agenda and it was a nice surprise.
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| Snow on the Mountain |
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| close up |
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| this pasture was full of Snow on the Mountain plus some other perfectly round green somethings |
On the way over to the lake, we saw so many wildflowers. And I now understand why the Common Sunflower is the Kansas state flower. Wow! They are everywhere!!!!
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| Kansas state flower -- Common Sunflower |
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| they are about the size of Prairie Sunflowers except the middle is bigger and the leaves are much bigger |
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| and they are suddenly popping out everywhere in Kansas! |
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| wild turkeys at Kanopolis Lake |
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| not very sneaky is he? |
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| we spooked one of the greatest Great Blue Herons I've ever seen |
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| lakeshore at Vernango public use area |
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| even looks like a few little hills around it |
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| Mom whitetail and twins |
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| Mullen dying down |
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| the roller mill in Lindsborg |
On to Lindsborg. The roller mill was a much better attraction than we anticipated. Very glad we got to see it. Lindsborg was settled in 1869 by a group of Swedish immigrants led by Pastor Olof Olsson. After a stay at the base of Coronado Heights, they headed to Lindsborg to find farmland. The values of these Swedish pioneers remain strong today in Lindsborg.
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| built in 1898 to replace a grist mill that was destroyed by fire |
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| powered by water from Smoky Hill River until converted to electricity in 1930's |
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| we're not very good at this |
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| a museum next to the mill shows how residents lived back in the day |
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| they had all they needed......except maybe a little space |
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| original water turbines |
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| wonderful craftsmanship inside the mill |
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| the mill was in business until the 1950's, restoration finished in 1981 |
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| it took 4-6 people to operate the mill -- it is operated once a year now: the first Saturday in May |
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| roller stands |
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| they held the corrugated steel rollers that turned the wheat into flour |
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| grain passed through rollers, sifters, purifiers many times to complete the process |
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| the mill was operated by a 150 horsepower motor |
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| we were able to tour all 4 floors, the grounds, plus the museum next door |
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| holding bins |
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| this trip was a wonderful step back into history |
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| the mill could process |
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| the mill produced 30-35 bushels of wheat per hour -- about 1500 lbs |
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| so many moving parts |
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| all that remains of the Mill Dam on the Smoky Hill River |
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| view of the back from the old millrace. the one story addition housed the motors now used to operate the mill |
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| The mill was closed for a short time around 1927. It reopened in 1934 and run by the Runbeck family, thus known as the Runbeck Mill during this time. It was donated in 1959 to the McPherson Co. Fish & Game. |
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| cool doors inside the mill |
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| David taking pix along the river |
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| my man |
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| old cabin near the mill |
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| dates back to 1870 |
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| the original location was sw of town |
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| built in the traditional Swedish style as is common in Lindsborg |
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| West Kentuck School was in use southeast of Linsdborg from 1903-1952 |
The Heritage Square across the street from the mill, has several pieces of Lindsborg history. Including the first above ground frame bldg that was used as a post office and courthouse.
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| Union Pacific Depot was used from 1880-1974 in Lindsborg |
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| Old Santa Fe Engine #735, one of only 46 steam engines on display in the US |
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| The Swedish Pavillion was prefabricated in Sweden for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis |
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| appropriate that its home is now in "Little Sweden" |
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| used as an art/music classroom for awhile at Bethany College in Lindsborg |
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| some of the inside glam |
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| Maypole in the courtyard of the square |
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| historic Bethany Lutheran Church - the steeple dates back to 1880 |
Downtown Lindsborg includes the Herd of Wild Dala Horses. Early Swedish pioneers brought their own horses with them to help them feel more at home. Today the Dala horses are created to commemorate Lindsborg history and current daily living. There is a guide at their visitor center that will help you find each Dala. There is also a shop there, Hemslojd, that makes them that can be toured. The Herd of Wild Dala Horses is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs.
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| downtown Lindsborg |
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| Yankee Doodle Dala |
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| Herd it Through the Grapevine |
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| Old Gray Dala Mare (watch it!) |
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| she was poised in front of the senior center |
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| Salvador Dala |
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| supposed to have the best sandwiches in town -- but we ate at Brick House which had great burgers |
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| cool old mural in town |
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| Kroner - the Dolla Horse |
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| pretty little town to walk around |
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| Follow the Dala Brick Road |
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| Hello Dola |
Kansas has a lot of beauty. We may have to search for it from time to time, but it's there! Lots of great history and nature as well!
God Dag! (good day)
Far, Mor, and Wild Dala Hund
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