Fischer Windmill Historic Site: A Dutch Touch in Elmhurst

The Fischer Windmill Historic Site, located in Elmhurst, Illinois, provides a charming look back at the area's rich agricultural heritage. Constructed in the early 1900s, the windmill was originally used for grinding grain and represents one of the few remaining structures of its kind in the region. Its traditional Dutch design transports visitors to another time.Henry Frederick Fischer began building the mill around 1865, after inheriting the land from his father. Interestingly, his brothers-in-law also constructed the Graue Mill. The Fischer Windmill was unique for the Chicago area, made with parts shipped from the Netherlands. Christian Heidemann and Henry Korthauer assisted in its construction, which took nearly three years due to design changes. The cypress beams rest on a stone and brick foundation.In 1877, Fischer sold the mill to Edward Ehlers. The Mount Emblem Cemetery Association acquired the land, including the windmill, in 1925 and converted the area into a cemetery. In 1936, the cemetery was dedicated. The windmill even broadcast music on Sundays and holidays. The DuPage County Historical Society recognized Mount Emblem in 1956 for preserving the mill. Although a storm damaged the mill in the early 1990s, it was renovated in 2015. Today, visitors can tour the grounds, though the mill itself is closed to the public.