The historic Vetter Windmill in Hermosa Beach was temporarily closed off Thursday following engineering assessments that revealed serious structural concerns.
An engineering report found that the support assembly holding the windmill unit is corroded, posing a serious risk that high winds or land movements could cause it to detach. Community members have been actively involved in restoring and maintaining the windmill over the years, including its relocation to Greenwood Park in the 1980s.
City crews addressed the immediate hazards on Friday by removing the remaining assembly from the wooden tower. The day before, they removed the windmill blades in preparation, according to the press release. To ensure public safety, the area at Greenwood Park was closed off and signage was posted, advising the public to stay clear.
The windmill has become a landmark of Hermosa Beach’s agriculture, originally built in the early 1900s by local farmer John Vetter.
During its heyday, the windmill would retrieve water from the well beneath the valley where Hermosa Valley School now stands and later became a defining feature of the Vetter family’s dairy farm. According to the city, a Blue Star Memorial Marker unveiling ceremony will be held on July 28 will be held at the southern end of Greenwood Park, which has been deemed safe for the public.