Historic Motor Mill, a 155-year-old, 85-foot-tall grist mill on the edge of the Turkey River southeast of Elkader, has recently undergone the first stage of critical repairs that should help the iconic building endure periodic flooding into the next century and beyond. The Mill and four other buildings, which are a popular tourist destination, are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Steege Construction of Waverly has installed aluminum forms anchored with steel rods and filled with masonry to protect limestone support pillars in the Mill basement. The contractors also tuckpointed and did minor repairs to other pillars in the basement.
The two pillars of most concern were sitting on a fractured limestone bedrock ledge, which was eroding. There was a very real fear that further erosion would jeopardize the pillars and the massive, wooden posts that support the entire structure of the Mill.
The Clayton County Conservation Board, which owns the Mill, hired Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering to find a solution. Shive-Hattery proposed a two-phase project: initially protecting the pillars from further erosion by encasing them in flowable mortar, then ultimately installing steel micropile supports to supplement the wooden posts. The cost of the entire operation was estimated at more than $211,000.
The Conservation Board and the Motor Mill Foundation, with the help of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, began a capital fundraising campaign in November 2024. MMF board members made a combined contribution of over $40,000. Over the past 8 months, many individuals, families, businesses, and visitors to Motor Mill have made additional donations to pay for the Phase 1 stabilization effort. The Conservation Board and the Motor Mill Foundation will continue the fund drive, plus apply for grants to help pay for Phase 2, which is likely to cost considerably more than the original estimate.
The Motor Mill Foundation and Clayton County Conservation Board thank the many donors who helped complete Phase 1 and prepare to begin Phase 2:
Brian Balster, Ruth Balster, Mark and Dee Batchelder, Greg Beisker, Randi Berg, Roger Buchholz, Victoria Carolan, Scot and Jane Christiansen, Amos Christner, Clayton County Foundation for the Future, Bruce and Ellen Collins, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Marjorie C. Costigan, William and Patricia Dahlsten, Mary Damm, David and Rita Dudley, Roger and Peg Edvenson, Jay Elvers, Essers Clothing, Janelle Every Family, Robert and Sandra Fagerholm, JoAnn and Ken Fishel, Ellen Fliehler, Freedom Bank, Fred Frost, Keith and Kathy Garms, Dave and Ann Gibney, Robert Gillen, Mallory and Tim Hanson, Bud Harris, Donald and Mary Harstad, MJ Hatfield, Rita Hill, Ken Johnson, Cletus and Tonya Keppler, Deanna Krambeer, Mike and Sandy Krieg, Daryl Landsgard, Verna Lenth, Steve and Martha Lenz, Leon and Vicki Linderwell, Rod and Lori Marlatt, Howard Mayer Memorial, Steve and Ann McCorkindale, Melanie and Dennis Menken, Jane Metcalf, , Larry and Carol Minard, Gail Moorman-Behrens, Charles and Sydney Morine, C J Moyna and Sons, NE Iowa Redemption LLC, Mary Fran Nikolai, Jim and Sue Osterhaus, Milton and Linda Owen, John and Marla Peterson, Brian and Lorna Power, Mark and Pam Reinig, Brittani and Tyler Reuter, Royal Products, Edmund and Barbara Ruff, Robert Sack, Chris Schoen and Laura Elsinger, Deanne and Gene Sharp, Aaron and MarLen Slagel, Robert and Helen Slagel, Dan and Karen Slagel, Burnell Smith Family Trust, Larry and Margaret Stone, Roger and Alane Swales, Charles P Toulouse, Turkey River Recreational Corridor, Michele Von Handorf, Courtney Vorwald, Bud and Myra Voss, Craig and LeAnn Watson, Eugene and Nancy Wehrheim, Kristin West, Witt Custom Framing, Doug and Julie Wolfe, Dick Woodard, Mark and Margaret Yackel-Juleen, Dr. Kenneth & Fran Zichal, and several anonymous donors.