Van Harlingen Historical Society Asks to Acquire and Relocate a Forgotten Historic Windmill

By Barbara A. Preston | Posted December 29, 2025

In a wooded area off Dead Tree Run on the former Terhune Farm in Montgomery Township is an old, squeaky but well-engineered, self-governing windmill, about some 40 feet in height, that is visible from the road.

It rises above the tree tops like a giant sunflower with a red rusty hue, spinning like a pinwheel and changing direction as if it has a mind of its own. As if, it were the keeper of the winds.

The windmill is located on preserved land along Dead Tree Run Road in Belle Mead.

Photo by Barbara A. Preston.

It was once crucial to the farm’s operation, pumping water for use on the property — just as windmills did on early farms across the country. When drought threatened crops and livestock, the windmill provided sustenance.

The farmland and windmill are now owned by the township as part of a 67-acre tract of dedicated open space.

Van Harlingen Historical Society President Jim Irish attended the Montgomery Township Committee meeting on Dec. 18 to discuss the windmill.

“The historical society would like to acquire it,” Irish said.

“The abandoned windmill is a circa 1920 Aermotor. Windmills were common in New Jersey and their silhouette could be seen across the landscape.”

The township committee will have to make the final decision, he said. And, Township Administrator Lori Savon had advised that it would be prudent for VHHS to have the Landmarks and Open Space committees weigh in on the matter and to endorse the VHHS acquisition of the windmill.

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The landmarks committee voted to endorse the transfer at its meeting in September, and the open space committee voted to endorse the transfer in October, Irish said.

VHHS is a nonprofit volunteer organization established in 1965 in Montgomery to serve the community. It collects historical records, develops educational programs, and seeks to raise awareness of the past. It also advocates for preservation of meaningful sites.

VHHS is headquartered in the Gulick House on Route 601 in the Dutch Town section of Montgomery. The society owns several acres of land. It also owns a farm museum off Montgomery Road by the Stonebridge senior living community.

VHHS has a long-range plan to develop the grounds of the Gulick House to include several historic farm structures. These include an 1830 timber frame wagon house, a timber frame barn, a corn crib, outhouse, a chicken coop, and also this windmill.

“We think it’s important to save the windmill because these were part of the landscape when the main industry in Montgomery was farming.

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“This Terhune Farm windmill on township-owned land is the last opportunity to save a relic of our agrarian past,” Irish said.

“As it stands now, it is arguably a liability. The structure is unstable and is a destination for thrill seekers to climb.”

VHHS is willing to take responsibility of the acquisition, to dismantle the windmill and restore or preserve it at the society’s own property.

Irish asked for township committee’s unanimous approval to do this. “It will send a message that there is support ... for the heritage and soul of our town in the face of relentless development and population increase, and provide a link between old Montgomery and new Montgomery.”

Mayor Neena Singh said officials will talk to the township attorney and maybe vote at the next meeting. “It seems like a good venture,” she said.

The historic windmill as viewed from a field owned by Montgomery Township as preserved open space.

Photo by Barbara A. Preston