We own a windmill.” It still sounds unbelievable.
We are Paul and Ashley Brandich, and four years ago, we took a leap of faith and bought what would become a masterpiece of problem-solving, patience, and passion. We remember the first time we stepped inside—the air thick with dust and history—and a hundred thoughts of “wow, this is going to take a lot of work for whoever buys it” came flooding through our minds. Little did we know, that “whoever” would be us.
It was during COVID when life slowed down and priorities shifted, that we decided we needed a change of pace for our family. In the spring of 2021, we had just moved to Amherst from Lakewood, Ohio, in search of more land, more space, and a more sustainable lifestyle. Having grown up in Huron, Amherst felt like the perfect fit—closer to family, living on a wooded property, a place where our children could adventure and live outside the box.
When Paul heard about the windmill in Lorain, just down the street from our new home, curiosity quickly turned into fascination. The structure was unlike anything we had ever seen as it was a towering relic with character, history, and endless potential. The original gristmill was built in 1950 by Joseph Ule, a true Renaissance man known for his ingenuity and craftsmanship. Ule’s design was both functional and beautiful, standing 67 feet tall and once surrounded by a 47-acre homestead complete with an orchard, vineyard, compost digester, and goat barn.
When the property hit the market that summer, the wheels of change went into motion. By fall, we had made the decision to purchase it. Paul left his job to dedicate himself full-time to bringing the windmill back to life. It was a bold move, one that combined our love for restoration with our shared belief that meaningful work comes from the heart, but we did it.
Over the past four years, this project has tested every skill we’ve learned—and taught us countless new ones. We’ve tackled curved walls, sloped masonry, and steep heights, often relying on creativity, determination, and a good sense of humor to get through the toughest days. Each step has been a balance of practicality and vision, finding solutions that honor the structure’s history while adapting it for modern comfort.
Today, as we reach the finish line, we are filled with gratitude, exhaustion and excitement. The windmill stands tall once again - strong, beautiful, and ready for new stories to unfold within its walls. We are thrilled to announce that we’ll be opening for bookings this winter, marking not only the start of a new chapter for our family but also the 75th anniversary of the windmill itself.
Looking ahead, our dream doesn’t end here. We plan to expand the property into a working farm as a tribute to the Ule family’s legacy of sustainability and innovation. To us, this project is more than a renovation; it’s a celebration of history, hard work, and hope for the future.
The time has come, we can finally say with pride and a huge smile on our faces: “Welcome to Windmill in the Willows.”
We took a leap of faith and bought what would become a masterpiece of problem solving.
We are elated to be opening this winter for bookings, and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the windmill.