Mill De Helper

In 1863 this mill was built by millwright P. Medendorp in Zuidlaren. The Helpman water board, founded in 1862, was the owner.
On the old site on the east side of the Noord-Willemskanaal, the mill had a 16 HP Bronze crude oil engine as an auxiliary power in an adjacent building since 1926. The mill was already so bad that the rods were ironed. Until 1956, the auger, powered by the engine, drained a 356-hectare polder.
In 1969 the mill was demolished and temporarily stored on the Hoornsediep. The Meerschap Paterswolde, now owner of the mill, had the mill rebuilt in 1970-1971 on the east bank of the Paterswoldse Meer by millwright J.D. Medendorp in Zuidlaren (grandson of P. Medendorp). The foundation and the watercourses were carried out by the company Dunning in Paterswolde under the supervision of Rijkswaterstaat.
The ongoing work including the top wheel, the bangers and the auger were made by millwrights Roemeling and Molema in Scheemda. The rods were supplied by the Bremer company in Adorp. The grand opening took place on 9 September 1971. Incidentally, the mill could not put water on the bosom at that time: pumping was done in circuit.

In 1996-1997 the mill was restored by his own miller, Leen Duijm. The windy, short sprout with braces were the first to be renewed. On National Mill Day in May 1997, the new auger drained its first water. In the summer of 1997, the roof and the mill hull were reupholstered.
Kruirad and piles were replaced in the spring of 1998, after the pavement around the mill was laid. This completed the restoration.
The mayor of Haren is also chairman of the Meerschap Paterswolde, Mrs. N.E. Gerritsma, lifted the catch on June 24, 1998 and reopened the mill.

In the summer of 2001 new rods were installed as well as new fencing and new breeding. Fencing and breeding made by miller Duijm himself.
The brake valves in the jib system can only be adjusted manually per end, by means of an iron strip with a row of holes, hinged connected to the valve. Depending on the wind strength, the miller chooses one of the holes that he can secure with a bolt and nut at a fixed point with a hole near the rod.

Miller Leen Duijm died on 30 December 2010. In the meantime, a new miller has been appointed.
The mill grinds regularly on Sunday afternoons.

Nick Smit