… and it’s spinning again!

After ten years of “retirement,” the stone mill wheel was set in motion again

After decades of constant, round-the-clock rotation, the millwheel of the stone mill could no longer hide the signs of wear and tear: Both the left and right bearings had practically disintegrated; they had “worn out.” The worst part of this situation was the terrible squeaking that constantly echoed through the neighborhood. Ten years ago, a decision was finally made: We’ll block the millwheel; we’ll shut it down.

No matter how bustling the activity on the Steinmühle grounds became from then on, its millwheel—the actual symbol featured in the school and boarding school’s logo—stood still. Every now and then, voices were raised calling for the millwheel to be brought back to life. At first, to no avail.

A few months ago, a change began to take shape. At that time, Principal Björn Gemmer also suggested that people please take care of the traditional millwheel. With the upcoming anniversary, the time seemed right to take this step: “Steinmühle Moves” and “Steinmühle Runs” were the slogans used in recent promotional campaigns. — But the millwheel—was that supposed to stay put?

“We got to work on it,” recalls Till Buurman, referring to the challenging undertaking that could only be accomplished as a team. The mill wheel had to be lifted out using a hydraulic tool from the auto body repair trade, the kind normally used to straighten dented cars. Once it was jacked up, the old bearings were removed and new ones installed. The wheel was then put back in place—a meticulous process that required strength, patience, and skill.

That makes the excitement over the revitalized landmark all the greater across the entire Steinmühlen campus. And it’s not just the school administration and management who are thrilled to see things in motion everywhere—in the school and the boarding school—and even when looking at the mill building.