San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia
San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia
San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia
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The North Windmill<br />
The first stage stabilized the ocean dunes that covered three-quarters of the park area with<br />
tree plantings. By 1875, about 60,000 trees, mostly Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Monterey pine<br />
and Monterey cypress were planted. By 1879, that figure more than doubled to 155,000<br />
trees over 1,000 acres (4 km²). Later McLaren scoured the world through his<br />
correspondents for trees. Only Bolivia escaped his net. When McLaren refused to retire at<br />
age 60, as was customary, the <strong>San</strong> <strong>Francisco</strong> city government was bombarded with<br />
letters: when he reached 70 a charter amendment was passed to exempt him from forced<br />
retirement. He lived in McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park until he died at age 90, in<br />
1943.<br />
In 1903 a pair of Dutch-style windmills were built at the extreme western end of the park.<br />
These pumped water throughout the park. The north windmill has been restored to its<br />
original appearance and is adjacent to a flower garden, a gift of Queen Wilhelmina of the<br />
Netherlands. These are planted with tulip bulbs for Winter display and other flowers in<br />
appropriate seasons. Murphy's Windmill in the south of the park is currently being<br />
restored.<br />
Most of the water used for landscape watering and for various water features is now<br />
provided by the use of highly processed and recycled effluent from the city's sewage<br />
treatment plant, located at the beach some miles away to the south near the <strong>San</strong> <strong>Francisco</strong><br />
Zoo. In the 1950s there was some consternation caused by the use of this effluent during<br />
cold weather, with the introduction of artificial detergents but before the advent of<br />
modern biodegradable products. These "hard" detergents would cause long lasting<br />
billowing piles of foam to form on the creeks connecting the artificial lakes, and could<br />
even be blown upon the roads, forming a traffic hazard.