The Ford Barn

Tom Wesenberg · 10-14-2012, 09:20 PM

I just got home from Whitewater state park and 4 days of fun and tours that Shirley and Denny Lind had arranged. The tours were well planned and went like clockwork. Friday morning the temps dipped into the 20's and a few radiators with no antifreeze were frozen. A few gallons of hot water thrown onto the front of the core soon had the water circulating again, and by noon the weather had warmed up nicely.

This was my first time attending this event, and we had people from Iowa, and Wisconsin as well as all those from Minnesota. Many thanks to Shirley and Denny and the cooks who made this a great event. I can't imagine all the time that went into planning such an event with the great tours through the most beautiful part of Minnesota. I'll have more after I download my pictures, but now is the time to plan for the next one in another 2 years.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-15-2012, 09:19 PM

The first two pictures show most of my homemade tools I was asked to bring for a display.

On the way to the mill on Thursday we passed this beautiful small church or school. I didn't have time to look inside and there was no sign telling about it, so I'm not sure which it was.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-15-2012, 09:59 PM

Here are some pictures of the outside of Pickwick Mill in Pickwick, Minnesota. The mill was built from 1856 through 1858 and was built as a gristmill and sawmill. The water wheel is 20 feet in diameter and 4 feet wide, and this is the first time I've seen a gear on the diameter of the water wheel. The metal stars are on the ends of stay rods running from one end of the building to the other end. Inside the building are heavy timbers to absorb the vibration of the machinery in operation. Including the basement, the mill is 6 stories tall.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-15-2012, 10:13 PM

Here you can see the stay rod, which helps hold the building together. The last picture shows wooden molds used to cast the gear sections on the water wheel and the mold used to cast the support for the stones used to grind the grain. Very little of the creek water was needed to run the mill, and most of it created a waterfall.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-15-2012, 10:38 PM

Here is some of the gears, shafts and belts inside the Pickwick mill. Many of the gears were made with wood teeth and in the third picture you can see replacement wood teeth.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-15-2012, 10:54 PM

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For at least a few years the mill used a water turbine and that is in the first picture. Later they used a diesel engine for a number of years. Here you can see the Buda diesel rusting away in it's room in the basement. You can also see spare heads, manifolds, and gaskets laying around the engine.

After the tour of the mill we had a great buffet lunch at the restaurant next door.

ctlikon0712 · 10-16-2012, 01:56 AM

Great pics, I especially liked the molds for the wheel gear sections.
Thanks Tom

Tom Wesenberg · 10-16-2012, 09:02 AM

On Friday we had a nice long drive through the countryside to visit a hazelnut farm and research operation, then on to a great lunch at a restaurant on the Mississippi river. After lunch it was on to visit a large century old barn, which has been converted to a harp factory, store, and playhouse. My camera batteries were dead, but here is a link to the harp barn.

http://www.hobgoblin-usa.com/local/shops/index.html

On Saturday we went for another nice long drive through the countryside to visit the Hormel Cencer Research Center in Austin, MN. Each day's directions for the route included several things to look for along the way. Saturday night we had great entertainment by the folk singers Curtis & Loretta and got to hear harp music played on one of the harps built in the barn we visited on Thursday.

http://www.hi.umn.edu/

Tom Wesenberg · 10-20-2012, 04:35 AM

The Whitewater stay lasted from Wednesday noon until Sunday Morning, with planned tours for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I wasn't aware of any breakdowns while on tour, other than one car had to be push started a couple times, until the battery posts and cables were cleaned. I started another post about the broken clutch arm, but that happened before the tour started.

If anyone from the southeastern part of Minnesota knows what the building in the third picture of post #2 is, I'd be interested in hearing about it. To me it looks like a small fancy Scandinavian church, but I'm not sure.

Also on the way back from the Hormel Cancer Research Center on Saturday, we drove past a radio tower and building that appeared to be abandoned. I should have noted the call letters, so I could tune the radio to see if they are still broadcasting. If anyone knows about this tower and building I'd be interested in learning about it also.

10-14-2012, 09:20 PM	#1
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. I just got home from Whitewater state park and 4 days of fun and tours that Shirley and Denny Lind had arranged. The tours were well planned and went like clockwork. Friday morning the temps dipped into the 20's and a few radiators with no antifreeze were frozen. A few gallons of hot water thrown onto the front of the core soon had the water circulating again, and by noon the weather had warmed up nicely. This was my first time attending this event, and we had people from Iowa, and Wisconsin as well as all those from Minnesota. Many thanks to Shirley and Denny and the cooks who made this a great event. I can't imagine all the time that went into planning such an event with the great tours through the most beautiful part of Minnesota. I'll have more after I download my pictures, but now is the time to plan for the next one in another 2 years. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 10-15-2012 at 10:22 PM.

10-15-2012, 09:59 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. Here are some pictures of the outside of Pickwick Mill in Pickwick, Minnesota. The mill was built from 1856 through 1858 and was built as a gristmill and sawmill. The water wheel is 20 feet in diameter and 4 feet wide, and this is the first time I've seen a gear on the diameter of the water wheel. The metal stars are on the ends of stay rods running from one end of the building to the other end. Inside the building are heavy timbers to absorb the vibration of the machinery in operation. Including the basement, the mill is 6 stories tall.

10-15-2012, 10:13 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. Here you can see the stay rod, which helps hold the building together. The last picture shows wooden molds used to cast the gear sections on the water wheel and the mold used to cast the support for the stones used to grind the grain. Very little of the creek water was needed to run the mill, and most of it created a waterfall.

10-15-2012, 10:38 PM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. Here is some of the gears, shafts and belts inside the Pickwick mill. Many of the gears were made with wood teeth and in the third picture you can see replacement wood teeth.

10-15-2012, 10:54 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) For at least a few years the mill used a water turbine and that is in the first picture. Later they used a diesel engine for a number of years. Here you can see the Buda diesel rusting away in it's room in the basement. You can also see spare heads, manifolds, and gaskets laying around the engine. After the tour of the mill we had a great buffet lunch at the restaurant next door. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 10-15-2012 at 10:59 PM.

10-15-2012, 09:19 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. The first two pictures show most of my homemade tools I was asked to bring for a display. On the way to the mill on Thursday we passed this beautiful small church or school. I didn't have time to look inside and there was no sign telling about it, so I'm not sure which it was.

10-16-2012, 01:56 AM	#7
ctlikon0712 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 1,609	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. Great pics, I especially liked the molds for the wheel gear sections. Thanks Tom __________________ Wanted: Simmons Super Power Head Craig Likon 1931 150B

10-16-2012, 09:02 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. On Friday we had a nice long drive through the countryside to visit a hazelnut farm and research operation, then on to a great lunch at a restaurant on the Mississippi river. After lunch it was on to visit a large century old barn, which has been converted to a harp factory, store, and playhouse. My camera batteries were dead, but here is a link to the harp barn. http://www.hobgoblin-usa.com/local/shops/index.html On Saturday we went for another nice long drive through the countryside to visit the Hormel Cencer Research Center in Austin, MN. Each day's directions for the route included several things to look for along the way. Saturday night we had great entertainment by the folk singers Curtis & Loretta and got to hear harp music played on one of the harps built in the barn we visited on Thursday. http://www.hi.umn.edu/ Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 10-17-2012 at 02:44 AM.

10-20-2012, 04:35 AM	#9
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Whitewater Tour, 4 Days of Fun. The Whitewater stay lasted from Wednesday noon until Sunday Morning, with planned tours for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I wasn't aware of any breakdowns while on tour, other than one car had to be push started a couple times, until the battery posts and cables were cleaned. I started another post about the broken clutch arm, but that happened before the tour started. If anyone from the southeastern part of Minnesota knows what the building in the third picture of post #2 is, I'd be interested in hearing about it. To me it looks like a small fancy Scandinavian church, but I'm not sure. Also on the way back from the Hormel Cancer Research Center on Saturday, we drove past a radio tower and building that appeared to be abandoned. I should have noted the call letters, so I could tune the radio to see if they are still broadcasting. If anyone knows about this tower and building I'd be interested in learning about it also.