...went to a local DIY store...and.... found that they were selling wind turbines. I was fascinated - it had a huge propeller, looked ridiculous and the sign suggested one could assemble it at home.
... No thank you. I'm not going to besmirch an 18th century house with one of these. I can't imagine anyone else looking at it and not thinking it would be an eyesore.
LOL! In the late 19th century, my forefathers in the Texas panhandle plains had what was called a "windcharger" that sounds similar in function to what you were describing (see that little two-bladed thing on top at this museum pic).
It created 12V during the dusk and early morning winds enough to avoid burning the house down with candles.
Those folks thought it was the height of beautiful 'DIY' additions to their house!!!! LOL.
Let me just add...I can assure you that, having heard both, the old stock tank windmills that made cattle ranching posible here were much creakier and more obnoxious than these new 125ft monsters going "woosh-woosh."
My mom used to tell us stories about her father's farm in rural NJ that had an ancient, old-style windmill that pumped water from his well into a cistern that they used for their potable water supply. He was always running out of water and was continuously worried that the wind would not blow enough to keep his tank full enough for his household to use. When rural electrification came through the first thing he did was hook up to the power line, put in an electric pump, and knock down his windmill. Sure, he had a monthly electric bill to pay, but it was a helluva lot better than running out of water at just the wrong time.