Elgin Area Historical Society Museum

Special Projects

Windmill Restoration Project
The Society's current project is a big one: relocating and restoring a long-forgotten urban windmill built in 1922 by the Elgin Wind, Power and Pump Co. Currently located in a back yard on Elgin's west side, the windmill pumped water into an elevated wooden tank. The windmill is located at 1310 Larkin Ave, but will be dismantled and trucked to Hampshire for restoration. The last remaining Elgin-built windmill within our city limits, the mill was deeded to the Elgin Area Historical Society by the current homeowner in November 2003. Check back here for information on the progress of the restoration in the coming months.

According to Elgin historian Mike Alft's book Days Gone By, the house at 1310 Larkin Ave. was built by George Peck in 1922-23 for his son Richard K. "Dick" Peck. The mill provided water for the residence, which was outside the city limits of the time.

Windmills were produced in Elgin for more than 60 years. George Peck was a department store owner and president of the Elgin Wind Power and Pump Co. from 1910-1935. Richard Peck was a pioneer Elgin aviator killed in 1931 near Wheaton while testing an experimental plane sponsored by the Chicago Daily News.

William D. Nichols and John M. Murphy entered a partnership to build windmills in 1883. Charles H. Geister joined them the following year, but by 1887 their company was in receivership. Nichols turned over his patents and factory to the newly organized Elgin Wind Power & Pump Company, headed by George M. Peck. By 1895, up to 50 mills and towers were being shipped weekly. The corporate name was changed to the Elgin Windmill Company in 1925. Rural electrification and the farm depression of the '20s brought a lingering death to the local windmill business. The Woodruff & Edwards foundry purchased Elgin Windmill in 1943, and windmill production ceased about 1947 or 1948.

Cannon Monument
The Civil War cannons at the Elgin Academy Civil War memorial have been put back on the monument after 25 years in storage.

Artifact Garden
The Society is planning to place oversize artifacts adjacent to the Museum near the Civil War Cannon monument. Artifacts include the Watch Factory bell, an early road marker with Elgin Auto Club on one side and Aurora Auto Club on the other, the Masonic Temple cornerstone and possibly the Elgin windmill. A lighted artifact garden with interpretation will extend Elgin history outside the walls of Old Main, making exhibits available at all hours.