You don't have to go to Holland to see a windmill.

They have one of their very own in Dwight, IL.  In 1879 Dr. Leslie Keeley in association with John Oughton announced that they had found a cure for alcoholism, dubbed the 'Gold Cure'. This led to the founding of the Keeley Institute located in Dwight but eventually had over 200 branches throughout the United States and Europe.

Oughton, an Irish chemist, Remodeled the house in 1894 which had originally been a club house for the Institute and located on the grounds of the Keeley estate. Upon completion his wife nicknamed it 'The Manse'.

Behind the house sits a 110 foot high windmill. Originally called the Pumping Tower it was constructed in 1896 by U.S. Wind, Engine, and Pump Co. of Batavia, IL. and at the time was one of the largest structures of its kind in the country. It remained in the Oughton family until 1996 before eventually being donated to the city.

Were it not for the presence of Dr. Keeley and his Institute, Dwight might never have become more than just a sleepy farming town. As it is, Dwight attained World wide recognition for a time as THE place to go for a cure to an insidious affliction.

Thanks to my sidekick Lil' Nick for some of these shots.