photo by: Richard Gwin

A part of an old windmill showing the manufacturer's name, Currie of Topeka. Currie was just one of the many windmill manufacturers in the late 1800s that kept water flowing in Kansas.

photo by: Richard Gwin

A tag on Russell Smelser's truck displays his passion for restoring old windmills.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Russell Smelser of McLouth has had a passion for windmills since he was young, and now he salvages old windmills for parts to keep windmills running.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Russell Smelser checks out the gearbox on a salvaged windmill. Smelser stores parts of old windmills on his farm to be used later to restore other windmills.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Windmill parts fill Russell Smelser's property near McLouth. Smelser is one of the few windmill repairmen in the county.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Windmill pumps lie in a stack on Russell Smelser's property near McLouth.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Russell Smelser walks through his property looking through salvaged windmills for the right part.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Windmills were often marked with ink instead of paint because the ink bonds itself into the galvanized metal.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Russell Smelser looks over some old windmills' fan parts hanging on an outbuilding on his property near McLouth. Smelser keeps old windmills running with parts he has salvaged through the years.