As the Heritage Village became a reality, the members of the Lake Rehabilitation Committee felt they would like to see a windmill set up in the village. Doug Longstaff made the committee aware of a windmill in the Oak River district on a farm, and it might be available. Ken Harris and Doug received permission from the owner, Mrs. Audrery Coulson to have the windmill moved to Minnedosa as a donation from the Coulson family.
The Windmill was a project funded and restored by the Minnedosa Lake Rehabilitation Committee. This group of volunteers was formed in 1989 made up of the following people: G.C. Sparrow, D.G. Pollon, K.R. Harris, R.M. Mummery, B.J. McLennan and M.A. Nagorski as chairperson and approximately 14 other interested persons. Their funding came from federal and provincial governments, individuals, Town of Minnedosa, Manitoba Hydro, Minnedosa Parks Board, etc. Their objectives were to protect and enhance the area in and around Minnedosa Lake and The Little Saskatchewan River Valley and to protect and improve the local environment for everyone’s benefit.
On November 8, 2001 the windmill arrived at the Heritage Village under the supervision of Moffat Bros. Construction and Tony Saler Construction. Some minor repairs to the windmill, and the preparation of the site meant that the windmill didn’t go up until September 2002. The windmill has a 32-foot tower topped up with a Beatty Pumper. Saler Construction came and set the windmill in place. George Wade and his helpers put together pumping equipment, a water trough was purchased, and a chain link fence was put around the site for safety reasons. We now have in place a working windmill pumping water, and by recycling the water, we have a continuous flow of water when the wind blows.
Thanks to the Lake Rehabilitation Committee and the Coulson family, we have a very attractive addition to our Heritage Village. An information plaque honoring the donors has been placed on-site.
