Windmill placed on Carson restaurant's water tower

A vintage Halladay Standard windmill from Yerington, a 130-year-old device that was the model for water-pumping windmills across the American West, was replaced Saturday atop its original 60-foot water tower at its new Carson City home.

Red Metcalf, who spent much of his "spare" time the past year rebuilding the Halladay while supervising construction of Red's Old 395 Grill, climbed the tower in front of the new restaurant to secure the mill.

Joining him on the tower were Bob "the Windmill Man" Popeck, who sent along plans and drawings of the Halladay design from "City of Windmills" Batavia, Ill., and Greg Sawin, owner of Industrial Fabrication of Gardnerville who made replacement parts from those plans.

The 10-foot-diameter mill was suspended from straps and lifted by a Connolly Crane Service crane as a gusty wind blew from the west.

As the mill settled into its cradle on the tower, Metcalf used hand signals to talk to the crane operator: A clockwise twirl of a forefinger meant a bit more to the right. A clenched fist stopped the crane. Then a beckoning motion brought the mill a bit closer.

The men went to work and after a bit of hammering, sawing and ratcheting, Metcalf released the harness and the crane drew back, leaving the red, white and blue windmill facing the breeze and the sun.

Popeck and Metcalf checked clearances and movements while Sawin dropped down a level to secure the mill's underpinnings. Down below, spectators had begun enjoying a barbecue picnic provided by restaurant owners Jack and Kimo Sterling, Al Ehringer and Tom Metcalf.

Though the six-vaned mill was allowed to spin a bit during the tests, the installers found out they needed to do some trimming on the support structure to have enough clearance for the blades in all directions.

"We left the mill 'out of sail,' meaning its blades won't spin but it can turn in the wind like a weather vane," Popeck explained. "They'll probably get the trimming for clearance done Sunday."

Popeck said the windmill, which was made in Batavia, is one of only 10 of the pioneering designs known to be in operation. He said he has been involved with or connected to all 10 restoration efforts and Metcalf's appears to be the premiere restoration.

Popeck's wife, Francine, said the folks from Red's Old 395 Grill had paid for her and "the Windmill Man" to come out for the installation.

Popeck presented Carson City Mayor Ray Masayko a plaque with a proclamation from Batavia Mayor Jeffrey Shelke thanking the people of Carson City for preserving and displaying the windmill. Masayko gave the plaque to Metcalf for display in the restaurant.

With construction of the restaurant all but complete and the windmill out of his shop, what's Metcalf going to do with his time?

"I'll still be building buildings," he said.

The new restaurant is scheduled to open June 12.