Obscure Oakland: The secrets of the sad little windmill on Telegraph Avenue
FacebookTwitterEmail
A record-breaking wind storm couldn t even make the old blades spin.
The decrepit ornamental windmill on Telegraph Avenue, near the Oakland/Berkeley border, is now little more than a canvas for taggers. Some digging reveals, however, that its many former guises include a 1970s Black record store hangout, a lemonade stand and possibly an entry point to a lavish early 20th century amusement park that featured an opera house, roller coaster, grizzly bears and ostriches.
Every time I ve walked past the battered landmark on Telegraph and 60th, I ve hastily Googled What s up with that weird windmill? but beyond some evidence of its life since the 60s, discovering why it was actually built in the first place has proven tougher.