SASKATOON – The Mourre’s windmill had been standing at their abandoned farm near Sovereign, Sask. for about 50 years.
It was a local landmark and a family keepsake.
That is, until last month, when somebody stole it.
“It’s open season,” said Paul Mourre. “If you want something just go over to the farms and load up.”
The 250 kilogram windmill, valued at more than $3,000, was perched on a tower about 12 metres high.
Mourre said several people have inquired about buying the windmill, but he refused because he had planned to move it this fall to the family’s new farmyard less than two kilometres away.
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“We were reluctant to sell it because it’s kind of a keepsake and we wanted to set it up in our yard,” he said.
The generator supplied power to the old Mourre farm for about 30 years. Mourre planned to heat his workshop with it at the new place.
“Somebody beat us to it,” he said.
The thief toppled the tower and used a welding torch to cut it away.
Police have no leads, no suspects, and no idea who took the windmill but they’re certain it was someone from out of town.
“An abandoned farm in rural Saskatchewan is a victim to anyone’s wishes,” remarked Cst. Brian Haley, of the Rosetown RCMP detachment.
“It shows the extremes people will go to when they want something badly enough.”
