San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia

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