The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-05-18, Page 72\anSpengen makes wheels go round
By Rod Huts
"Without windmills Holland wouldn't be what it is
today," says John VanSpengen, a Clinton area man who
takes pleasure in building small replicas of the symbolic
structures.
Mr. VanSpengen has been building windmills for the
last five years. He says the demand for them isn't very
high but he still builds -them simply for the enjoyment.
"I've only sold one in the last five years. People say they
are too expensive to buy," said Mr. VanSpengen.
The price tag for one of his beautiful creations is about
$400 for a four -foot windmill, and the larger ones are,
"quite a bit more to buy". ,
The intricate detail involved in his windmills make
them worth every penny of the final price.
Mr. VanSpengen estimates that over 100 hours of labor
goes into building the smaller windmills. They are built on
a scale of 1:6, which means they are six times smaller
than a normal size windmill. The larger ones are about
eight feet high and the last one Mr. van Spengen built took
him a little over two years. Inside the larger mills are a
scaled-down version of an actual wind mill. Miniature
people and staircases inside the structure make it a truly
incredible creation.
"If I worked it out I would only be making ill an hour for
my labor. I make them because it's fun not for the
money," said Mr. VanSpengen.
The windmills are constructed from spruce and other
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Windmills have been around since their appearance in
Europe at the end of the 12th century. In Holland they
were used mainly to crush grain and provide power, to
pump the water from the land. They have become an
emblem to Dutch -Canadians, a symbol of the beautiful
country of Holland
According to Mr. Van Spengen most of the 950 windmills
that remain in Holl today have a span up to 90 feet in
length. His windmills have only 16 foot spans. About 100
mills out of the 950 in Holland can be termed as in
workable condition.
Mr. VanSpengen came to Canada in 1952 when he was
32 years old. He settled in Belleville for two years where
he worked for a farmer. He says that the transition to
Canada from Holland was a difficult one.
"When I came here my family in Utrecht thought I was
crazy. It was hard,I couldn't speak any English. I had to
come to Canada in Holland," said Mr. VanSpengen.
From Belleville he moved to Hamilton were he worked
in construction for eight years. He came to Clinton in 1961
where he farmed at RR 4, near Highway 8. Now Mr.
VanSpengen resides at RR 1 Clinton on Highway 4, where
he is retired.
He says he has visited his family several times in
Holland and enjoys his homeland very much.
When driving down highway 4 this summer be sure to
stop and take a look at these wonderful windmills he
creates. Their stunning colors and sharp designs are
certainly worth seeing.
John VanSpengen at work on a windmill.