Lidtke Mill, Historic mill complex in Lime Springs, Iowa
Lidtke Mill is a mill complex on the banks of the Upper Iowa River, covered in yellow brick and shaped like an L. The building sits on a 10-acre property and houses machinery that was used to process flour and generate electricity.
The building was constructed in 1857 by Melvin Marsh and started by processing flour and cutting lumber. It was later converted to generate electricity for surrounding communities.
The mill preserves original equipment and machinery that shows how people used water power for work in the 1800s. Visitors can see the technology in action and understand the role it played in the region's daily life.
The museum and park are open on weekends from late May through early September from 1 to 4 PM. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven floors and stairs inside the building.
Footprints remain visible in the control room of a worker who survived an electrical incident during power generation. This rare trace reminds visitors of the danger tied to early industrial work.
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