Molema Millwrights | Bulder Projectbureau | Havenga Construction

Building Windmill De Immigrant in Fulton, Illinois

June 7- July 14, 1999

Fulton, IL, USA - Construction of the Octagon - Phase1

First thing Eric Ufkes and Guus Zantinga of Molenmakersberdrijf (mill builders company) Molema did was to lay out the base bilinga wood ring. This ring connects the eight main vertical bilinga beams of the octagon

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il
(photo: Henry Kramer, Fulton Journal)

After this the sides of the octagon were reconstructed with the help of Brinkman Buiding Center's forklift...

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il

and physical strength.
Note that the poor guys have no tan whatsoever yet to protect them from that unusually (for Dutch circumstances) hot and soon blistering US Mid West sun...

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il
(photo: Henry Kramer, Fulton Journal)

After assembling three full sides a small crane was used to put the first of them in place on top of the lower ring...

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il
(photo: Henry Kramer, Fulton Journal)

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il
(photo: Henry Kramer, Fulton Journal)

and while supporting ropes kept this in place, the second full side was placed.

Building Windmill De Immigrant Fulton Il
(photo: Henry Kramer, Fulton Journal)

Thereupon the crane lifted the other connecting main pieces in place to complete this first phase of the construction of the octagon.