Peotone Mill
Also known as: Peotone Steam Mill
Why it's listed
Peotone Mill is an octagonal windmill built in the early 1870s in the Holland plan, a Dutch smock mill design. Millwrights from Holland built it, and an 1871 deed and an 1873 atlas entry tie it to Frederick Rathje and Cristoph Elling. Its slanting walls rest on a limestone foundation and are covered in wood shingles, with a rotating wooden cap and five floors of hand-hewn timber frame joined with wooden pegs. Henry A. Rathje operated it for about twelve years. It was converted to steam power in the 1880s, and a brick engine house was added behind it. Grinding of local wheat and rye, and later grain brought in by rail for distribution to nearby towns, gave the mill economic importance. Grinding ceased by the late 1880s according to the amendment, though the earlier form says the early 1920s. It is listed as a rare surviving example of Dutch windmill construction in Illinois and the Midwest.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill shows true Holland smock mill construction and is one of very few of its kind in Illinois and the Midwest. It also had agricultural and economic importance, grinding local wheat and rye and later grain shipped in by rail for redistribution to nearby towns.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002605, listed March 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 433 W. Corning Ave., Peotone |
|---|---|
| County | Will County |
| Listed | March 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002605 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1872 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown Holland millwrights; built for Frederick Rathje and Cristoph Elling (Elling & Rathje), later operated by Henry A. Rathje |
| Architectural style | Holland Plan smock windmill (octagonal Dutch windmill) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1981 nomination lists the mill as unoccupied and vacant, basically sound but needing attention, with the fans and much of the interior machinery missing. A 2004 amendment lists the Village of Peotone as owner. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.33232, -87.79796 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002605.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7166168
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.