Snapshot of History on the Colorado Prairie: Windmills

A local modern windmill is a great reminder of the fascinating rural history of the plains of eastern Colorado.

"A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine." - Anne Bronte

There is such a rich history of this prairie-covered area and the eastern plains of Colorado. And much of it seems to get blown away with the winds of time always marching on. However, there is a unique reminder right on the outskirts of Elizabeth, Colorado.

Along Black Saddle Parkway just west of town stands a proud windmill. Granted, it is a recently-built replica, but it gallantly stands there, reminding us of a bygone way of life in which getting water wasn't as easy as turning on your tap. It reminds us of an era not that far in the past, a time when the plains were being settled and when there were dreams of making the prairie a home to raise families and build communities on.

Windmills came into being on the Great Plains in the latter part of the 1800's. They made inhabiting this often-dry area a possibility since the water that was deep underground could be brought to the surface through the power of windmills harnessing the wind. They made it possible to get clean water for drinking and cooking and bathing, growing crops, watering livestock. They were the homesteader's most prized possession.

Railroads depended on windmills too. Steam locomotives had to be watered at regular intervals, so windmills were placed about every twenty miles to pump water for them. So not only did windmills open up the West for homesteaders and ranchers, they helped make it possible to bring people and goods to the West also.

Symbols of our local history, such as windmills, are good reminders of the can-do attitude and innovativeness that made our country what it is. It took courage and vision to settle the plains and prairie and to make dreams a reality. These water-pumping sentinels were the powerhouses of making life much better for so many people.

So may the windmills that are scattered across the prairie remind us of the hard work and bravery of those who came before us to this amazing area!

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My source for this blog:

National Park Service website, www.nps.gov, Windmills on the American Plains, May 10, 2019