Lidtke Mill, also known as the Lime Springs Mill Complex, is a historic building located on the

Upper Iowa River The Upper Iowa River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 13, 2011 tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest of the United States. Its headwaters rise ...

located in the "Old Town" area of

Lime Springs, Iowa Lime Springs is a city in Howard County, Iowa, United States. The population was 473 at the time of the 2020 census. History The Old Town of Lime Springs was platted in 1857. After the railroad was built into the area, the town relocated nearby ...

, United States. It is part of the Lidtke Park. The mill is an L-shaped structure is composed of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

covered with a yellow

brick veneer Masonry veneer walls consist of a single non-structural external layer of masonry, typically made of brick, stone or manufactured stone. Masonry veneer can have an air space behind it and is technically called "anchored veneer". A masonry veneer ...

. The main section was completed in 1857 and rebuilt after a fire in 1894. At one time, it not only milled grains but also provided

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

power to surrounding communities. with The footprints of a worker nearly electrocuted there can still be seen in the floor of the control room. The miller's house is a frame structure that follows a rectangular plan. The original section of the building was built in 1857. Wings on the west and east sides were added around 1880. The cement block section on the north side was added in 1927. The mill complex is now open as a museum. From time to time, events such as the Buckwheat Festival are held at the site. The mill and the miller's house were listed together on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1977.

References

External links

Howard County: Lidtke Park - Lime Springs, IA

- museum information at Iowa Beautiful Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa Houses in Howard County, Iowa Museums in Howard County, Iowa Mill museums in the United States National Register of Historic Places in Howard County, Iowa {{Iowa-museum-stub