In Akmena countryside, Anyksciai region of
Lithuania, an ancient windmill is being restored. It is historic Windmill of Akmena estate, This
large Dutch windmill was built approximately 140 - 150 years
ago. All the century long it
was alive and healthy, wind was blowing to its sails and the
corn was being melted, melted and melted… “It has done
as much flour, that could not come to the mill itself”, -
related one of the last millers of Akmena Vytautas Skaudas. In y.1901 known Lithuanian writer Jonas Biliunas was
charmed of its beauty and described Akmena windmill in his
novel “Vejo malunas" ("Windmill"). All this time the mill was
property of Akmena estate, a symbolic part of Akmena view, sight of Akmena
vicinity. That’s
why it is worthy to be remembered. Seemed the end had come in early
soviet years, when owners of Akmena were exiled, estate was
plundered, the mill had become strayed, fired and devastated.
Nearly the same has happened with most
other windmills in Lithuania… According to 1914 – 1921
year cartographic data there were about 1000 windmills in
Lithuania and most of them were working mills, while in 1982
there was found only about 250 windmills and almost none of
them in full working state [A.Andrejevas, E.Morkunas , "VEJO
MALUNAI", book - photo album, Vilnius, Mokslas, 1982]. And at
present most of rest are in decay… It
is a time to stop
vanishing ancient windmills in Lithuania ! Another way there
will be a little to be restored !
The Akmena Windmill has succeeded. It is being restored
since 1994. The works are in charge of the Department of
Cultural Heritage Protection; of The Municipality of
Anyksciai; and of the owners of the Mill. Windmill is being
rebuilt mainly in the same way, as it was being done a
century ago. The mill is supposed to be restored as a museum
exhibit with running windmill equipment with an ancient corn
grinding technologies. There we could see the Wind as
significant, valuable, clean and renewable energy resource. It is planed to fit out a wind powered electric generator,
which could supply electricity for local needs. From a small
platform arranged at the top of mill’s cap you will see a
vast environs of Akmena and Akmena estate.
Up to now, the stone walls of the
Windmill were restored, the new joist ceilings were made,
the new mill’s cap-roof with vane axis was constructed on
the ground, mill’s upward shaft was installed, the cap-turning
mechanism was made. All windows, doors and gates are already
made, but yet not arranged. Cap arrangement works started in
November and six weeks later the main part of 2000 y.
project was done. Finally, it happened few days before
Christmas – the new 4 ton weight mill cap turning
mechanism was arranged on mill walls and 10 ton weight cap-roof,
which was lain done on the ground for over three years, was
lifted up and put on the stone walls of the Akmena windmill
! (see NEWS).
At this time the hardest restoration work is done. It
would be very nice to finish this work, to make Akmena
windmill full working. Now the urgent thing is: 1) to put in
order all openings in mill’s stone walls and settle all 9
windows, 2 doors and 2 gates here; 2) to arrange: grindstones, brake-wheel with crown-wheel and sails.
It is believed, that all the Project of Akmena windmill
restoration, in dependence of funding, be over in several
next years.
Akmena windmill web site is under construction. More extensive
description of restoration works is given in Lithuanian version of the web site.
It is being translated to English.
Best wishes from Akmena!
If You or Your Company have decided to
render financial assistance to restoration of Akmena
windmill, we'l invite you for a rest
please pay e-gold