Lindsborg Del Två

So continuing the account of our trip to Lindsborg!

Saturday morning, after the lovely breakfast at the Inn, we proceeded to the Smoky Valley Roller Mill.  This mill was built in 1881 and then updated in 1898 to the newest technology of the time, steel rollers (rather than stone disks).  It was one of the reasons Kansas became a top producer of wheat and flour! (Well, not this mill by itself, but it and other mills like it.  According to the local newspaper of the time, "everything from basement to garret has been overhauled, making it one of the best equipped roller mills in Central Kansas.  No one can scarce believe that such wonderful improvements have been made, they must see for themselves in order to realize the wonderful change."
(Source: http://www.oldmillmuseum.org/millhistory.html)

 The mill museum included a brief video of the history of the mill, along with a general museum of the area including wildlife, art by a local carver, and information on the journey of Swedish immigrants to the midwest. There were even some dioramas of common rooms in a traditional Swedish home. I just love history!  Especially when it's laid out to see as it might have been hundreds of years ago. And old buildings...?  Oh, I tell ya what, walking into the mill itself... well remind me to do a monologue some time on how the odor in these dusty old relics can take me back a few hundred years... I love it!!

Anyway, we toured the museum and the mill itself.  There were three stories, plus the basement, full of machinery.  In some areas you could barely squeeze through, I can't believe that grown men were able to work in that environment!  And the heat... it was 9 in the morning, probably about low 80's outside, but already climbing to the upper 90's indoors.  But it was still educational and fun, a great combination!

Across the street from the mill is Heritage Park, a collection of historical buildings and antiques.   Many of the buildings were in need of repair, but they were still interesting.  There was a room full of antique tractors and farming supplies, an 1800's bank, store, and barn.  There was also the "Swedish Pavilion", built for the 1904 World's Fair in St. Lewis.  It was built in Sweden, dismantled, reconstructed in St. Lewis, then moved again to Lindsborg.  Inside were displays of traditional Swedish clothing, the Swedish royalty, and other Swedish-themed displays.

All in all, Lindsborg was a quaint, friendly little town, with good food, interesting historical locations, and a touch of Sweden in the heartland! I highly recommend it!