Fabyan Windmill: A Dutch Treasure in Illinois

Nestled within the scenic Fabyan Forest Preserve along the Fox River, the Fabyan Windmill is a majestic and well-preserved Dutch-style windmill. This 68-foot, five-story structure dates back to the 1850s, when it was constructed by German craftsman Louis Blackhaus in what is now Lombard, Illinois. The mill was built from a prefabricated kit, shipped from the Netherlands, and assembled on site.In 1914, Colonel George Fabyan, a wealthy businessman, purchased the disused windmill for approximately $8,000 and had it moved to his estate, Riverbank, in Geneva. Fabyan invested a significant amount to move, reconstruct, and restore the mill,tasking the Edgar E. Belding Company with carefully dismantling it piece by piece, marking each beam with Roman numerals to ensure accurate reassembly. The restored mill became a unique feature of Fabyan's estate, which also included a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed villa and a Japanese garden.After falling into disrepair, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County undertook a major restoration project in the 1990s, contracting Dutch millwright Lucas Verbij to bring the windmill back to its original grandeur. The Fabyan Windmill is one of the finest examples of a working Dutch windmill in the United States. Although the windmill's grinding mechanisms have been restored, it no longer grinds grain, except during occasional demonstrations. Visitors can explore the windmill's interior and learn about its history and operation during guided tours. The windmill is open for tours on Sundays from June through September.