N.O.W.-N.Y. WOMEN’S HISTORY SERIES
LYNANNE BUTCHER WESCOTT
Born in Fairmont, West Virginia in 1951 to Kathleen and
George W. Butcher, Jr., Lynanne Butcher Wescott was raised
to believe that anything was possible with hard work. determination
and the belief that if you’re going to do it, do it right. This
standard of excellence served her well through high school and college.
Lynanne, a graduate of West Virginia University in Journalism
and Chemistry, moved to North Carolina in 1972. The Wescotts
now live in Manteo, NC with
their daughter Mesia. When asked why build a windmill, Ms. Wescott notes “I’ve
never wanted to do the safe, proven thing I’ve
always liked to be original and a windmill was the most unique thing l
could think of! A hundred years ago windmills were commonplace on the Outer
Banks of North Carolina. The first is believed to have been built in 1723.”
It’s a toss-up as to which was the first coastal industry, milling
or fishing. These mills filled a local need [or cornmeal and were the
basis for trade with the mainland farmers who accepted fish and yaupon in
exchange for their corn. All of the windmills onthe Outer Banks were post
mills. A post mill is one having a body mounted and turning
on an upright post.
Lynanne’s windmill is a post’ mill, simple in design with a single
pair of millstones, The Iailpole, extending to the rear, ends in a wagon
wheel support that eases the miller’s task of turning the
mill to face the wind. Beneath the body of the mill are the heavy timbers
on which it rests, all hand cut of oak. The center post is cut from a tree
that was growing when America was born over 200 years ago. The moving
parts are few. A miller can make only three operating adjustments: in
the sail area presented to the wind, in the rate of grain fed to the stones,
and in the distance
between the stones.
"Financing and building
the Outer Banks Windmill was probebly the most difficult
thing I've ever
done,’ Lynanne said with pride. The uniquenes of
the project, even though it was the thing that guaranteed
its success,
caused many conservative banking eyebrow, to twitch. “I am thrilled
that it explains to today’s visitors another energy source—the
wind.”
The 35-foot 19th century reproduction Outer Banks Windmill
grinds several types of whole grain, into many different
products, including corn meal,
grits, unbleached flour, muffin mix, buckwheat pancake ‘mix, breakfast cereal
and more. Visitors to the windmill have the opportunity to view the milling
from start to finish with a professional miller demonstrating and interpreting
the process.
The windmill has been nominated to the National Register
of Historic Places. A barn shaped Country Store and museaum
stands nearby, where the whole
grin products of the mill can be purchased along with a selection of windmill-related
gifts and local arts and crafts.
