Pella, Iowa

I was excited to  do a little walk-about around Pella; to explore!  Pella is a Dutch village, 40 miles southeast of Des Moines.  It was settled in 1847 by 800 Dutch immigrants seeking religious freedom.  Some people ask what Pella means. I was told that it was named after Pella, the city of refuge where Christians fled to when the Roman army came to quiet a Jewish revolution in the 1st century.  Pella means "city of refuge" and "Marvel of God".  

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  Psalm 46:1

Pella is the home of Pella Corporation that makes windows and also Vermeer Maufacturing Company.

Pella is designed like a dutch village, complete with a little canal.

As I was walking along, I met an elderly gentleman who asked me where I was from.  He told me he and his wife retired here as they felt this town was so very charming.  

He told me the history of the area. He used to be a tour guide for the windmill and he encouraged me to be sure to get a ticket to see the windmill earlier in the day, rather than later as it would get crowded.

So, my first stop was to see the Vermeer Windmill, an actual working grain mill.  In Holland, windmills sit close to the ground, with the blades nearly touching the ground.  But because of the tall buildings around Pella, they had to build it up.  The top windmill part was made in Holland and transported here.

The gift shop inside.

I got in on the 1st tour group.  Up a flight, there was a little model of a Dutch village.

This reminded me of the visit to Madurodam when we went to Holland.  I would love for our city to build a similar "little village" of the old west along the walking path by the railroad tracks!

The flag at the top of the windmill shows which way the wind is blowing.

A worker will turn this wheel that turns the blades in the direction the wind blows so that they rotate.  As he did that, the blades began to go around and around.  Rather cool to watch!

The view from the top.

Our tour guide showed us the workings of the mill.  She is married to a guy from the Netherlands.  His parents and all his relatives still live there.

Below is where the windmill worker and his family would all sleep.  They would sleep in a sitting position because the dust of the grain would settle in the lungs. On very cold nights, the children were said to have been placed in the drawer below.

After seeing the windmill, I took the self-guided tour of the historical village beside the windmill.  It was included in the price.

There was going to be a wedding later that day right here in this village so a few of the buildings were closed as they were preparing for that.

Found out that Wyatt Earp used to live in this town and in the row house pictured below.  

Wyatt Earp once was a sheriff in Wichita, Ks, 30 miles from where I'm from.  He was said to have cleaned up the town and made law and order function there.

I began walking downtown. 

 This is the Klokkenspel, a moving puppet clock.  

The show can be viewed from the street first and then from the courtyard behind.  Performances are held at 11, 1, 3, 5 and 9.  So, not every hour.

I stopped at a nice dress shop and the clerk came up to me and asked me where I was from.  I must have the word "Visitor" stamped on my forehead.  I guess, with a camera in hand...  She asked me about the crops in Kansas.  She is a farmer's wife and was curious what we grew there.  

I told her my friend, Mary Ellen, who is a children's author, grew up in nearby Sully, so she asked me her name.  She knew her!  Small world.

I was told I would HAVE to visit the bakery.

It was 1/2 hour wait, but oh, my.  

On the drive out of town, I saw such pretty houses.   

This town is worth coming back to!  I will have to bring Allen and spend more than just one day!