Unlucky Seppman

I have made 3 visits to Minneopa State Park. On my second visit I didn't see any bison but a fellow hiker told me they were opening up the road through the bison prairie probably the next day. So today was warm weather so I went out there again. I drove over the cattle grate to get in. I saw the bison near the Seppman Mill. Louis Seppman decided a mill was necessary. He was a stone mason. He started building the mill in 1862. Construction was finished in 1864. On a favorable windy day he could mill 150 bushels of wheat into flour. In 1872 lightening struck the mill and broke off 2  the arms of the 4 armed wind mill. He repaired the mill. In 1880 a tornado came and tore off 2 arms. In 1890 another storm came and damaged the mill beyond repair. 1890 was the last time the mill ever produced flour. The mill was repaired in 1970 but no wind mill arms were ever attached. The doors on the mill were all locked but there were gaps to look inside. The inside is empty but I could smell the dank, musty air that flowed coolly out of the gaps in the wood. After a quick lunch I drove out of the bison prairie, parked my car, and walked around the perimeter again. Lots of people had the same idea today. The picture below shows the bison on the prairie and in the background you can see a truck driving down the gravel prairie road.