Windmill - Unique one of a kind historical collectable Garden Botanical Floral Conservatory Yard Exceptional Start Price USD 198,900.00 Current Price USD 198,900.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, May 07, 2008 End Time Saturday, May 17, 2008 Location St. Louis, MO See more about 'Windmill - Unique one of a kind historical collectable' Description A unique and truly “one-of-a-kind” opportunity to own a piece of St. Louis, Forest Park, and horticulture history.  Current owner wished to sell the Waterfall ‘Windmill’ originally from the Jewel Box Greenhouse and Floral Conservatory in Forest Park.   The Windmill sat in the Jewel Box on top of the indoor waterfall for many years until it was auctioned with all the other contents for a $3.5 Million rehabilitation project.   The windmill has been stored in a smoke free / pet free indoor area for the entire time since it left the Jewel Box.  The windmill is in the condition it was in when it was removed from the Jewel Box and has been protected and preserved.  It has not been painted or altered in any way except we did need to build a new cooper dome top for it.  The original dome top was made just of fragile cardboard and would not have sustained long term usage or the outdoor elements.  The new copper top was completely molded to the specs of the cardboard top it is replacing.  In fact, the cardboard top is inside the new cooper dome, a testimony to its accurate shape of the original.    The windmill was never used for the seller’s original intention and now wishes to put the item to better long-term use as a funding mechanism for another venture with a more altruistic focus and direction.  This venture can not be described here in the listing because of “charity status” restrictions but the seller is more than happy to sit down with the prospective buyer and discuss how the proceeds from the auction will be used.   Winning bidder must arrange pickup of Windmill and transportation unless arrangements are agreed to with seller before auction closes.  Winning bidder must either (1) present a Cashiers Check for the full amount within 14 business days of the end of the auction or (2) present a Cashiers Check deposit of $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand USD) or 10% of the sell price (whichever is greater) within 7 business days and a notarized letter of promise to pay the balance within 30 days, or forfeit the deposit.  Seller will consider other terms but they must be submitted in writing and approved by seller before auction has ended.  Once the complete and total payment(s) has been made, then the Windmill can be released to the winning bidder and pickup/transportation arrangements can be made.   Seller will consider paying a commission to agents/representatives wishing to participate in the finding, negotiating, and closing of the sale of this windmill.  A commission will only be paid if the item is sold and the contract fulfilled.  Any person wishing to function in this manner must be approved by the seller with pre-agreed terms and conditions.   Seller has the right to alter these terms at any time without notice if it is felt that the terms do not work in the best interest of the seller and the auction’s intended purpose.    The price was determined after careful consideration of many variables and in relation to other similar unique, one-of-a-kind items that have been sold and auctioned in the past.  All reasonable offers will be considered.  You will truly be the only person in the world who can claim they have this piece of St. Louis, Forest Park, and horticulture history.  A possession that will give you years of enjoyment and pride of ownership.  The ultimate conversation starter for your home or business!!!   The Windmill is almost 11 feet tall including the copper top (which is about 2' 3").  It is 5 1/2 - 6 feet wide.  The blade span is 8 feet long giving it an additional 4 foot radius height from the top of the windmill wooden structure (not the top of the dome), for a total reachable height of approximately 12 ½+ feet.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  History of the Jewel Box: The Jewel Box, located on a 17-acre site in Forest Park, was built by the City of St. Louis in 1936.   It is listed on the National Historic Register. The Jewel Box was dedicated Nov. 14, 1936 and cost about $117,000. With its unconventional, cantilevered, vertical glass walls rising majestically 50 feet high, the Jewel Box opened in 1936 to national acclaim. The Post-Dispatch called the Art Deco-style structure, "the latest word in display greenhouses." It was an instant success, attracting more than 400,000 visitors a year in its heyday.  The design was the result of a year of testing by City Engineer William C. E. Becker who used several miniature models. It was intended to admit the greatest amount of light, to reduce damage from hail and to reduce maintenance costs. Only the walls are glass, all of the horizontal surfaces are metal. Rolled awnings regulated the amount of light instead of the usual lime and cement mixture painted on greenhouse glass. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch called it, "the latest word in display greenhouses." It received national acclaim and was successful in reducing hail damage, demonstrated by a hail storm in 1938 that broke more than a thousand panes of glass in the greenhouses, but left the Jewel Box undamaged. The Jewel Box was an immediate popular success. The first show contained more than 3,000 chrysanthemums in a formal, Chinese-style design. After being open less than three months, electric lighting was added so it could remain open until 9 p.m. to accommodate the large crowds. More than 416,000 visitors saw the Jewel Box in 1939. (For comparison, the Art Museum had an attendance of 390,000 for the same period.) Through the mid-1970s, a thousand people a day were still visiting the conservatory.  The pinch for park funds continued. During the period of 1945-1976 only a Magna-harp and chimes were added to the Jewel Box, both with private donations. In 1970, an admission fee of twenty-five cents was added to help maintain the site. Also that decade, the Jewel Box and surrounding gardens were opened to weddings and parties for a fee. In early 2002, the contents were auctioned off and the Jewel Box was completely renovated at a cost of $3.5 Million.  In December of 2002 it was reopened to the public to reveal a stunning transformation. The restoration of the Jewel Box included new specially cleaned glass, modern heating and cooling systems, lead paint and asbestos abatement, new floral displays and a reconfiguration of the layout.   History of Forest Park: Forest Park is one of St. Louis' most treasured resources. Located in the heart of the city, it is the heart of our city. Owned and operated by the City of St. Louis, Forest Park is one of 105 city parks under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. Forest Park, officially opened to the public on June 24, 1876, is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 1,293 acres, it is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York. In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, The St. Louis World’s Fair, drew more than 20 million visitors from around the world to Forest Park. Today it attracts more than 12 million visitors a year. It is more than a scenic backdrop to our city. It is an active participant and catalyst in the St. Louis community. Monuments, historic buildings, wildlife, waterways and landscapes combine to form a unique cultural institution that is vitally important to the entire St. Louis region. The park is recognized as an important gathering place where people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds can gather and mix in a positive way. It is the home to the region’s major cultural institutions—the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center, Jewel Box, and the Muny Opera. It also serves as a sports center for golf, tennis, baseball, bicycling, boating, fishing, handball, ice skating, roller blading, jogging, rugby and more. Forest Park is equally significant from a naturalistic perspective. In a city where 80% of the land has been developed for business, industry or residential uses, the park serves as a natural oasis for the city, an important source of green space, a respite for migrating birds, and an integrated ecosystem where humans and nature interact. Forest Park is the soul of the city and its survival is essential to the future of the St. Louis region. The park has undergone a $100 million face-lift under the Forest Park Master Plan that has restored the glory to the park in time for us to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1904 World’s Fair.                           Place a Bid!