After a lifetime repairing machinery and moving houses, Simpson found
himself at age 65 with spare time and many, many spare parts. Rather than "sit
around and watch TV," Simpson eyed his collection, remembered a windmill he
constructed during World War II, and began to build. Using some of the same rigs
he'd developed for moving houses, Simpson began constructing enormous
windmills in his yard. They did not resemble the working windmills of grinding or
irrigation use, but referenced the concepts of weather vanes and handcrafted
whirlgigs that are still seen locally on houses, fence posts and barns.