In the early 1930s a little bit of Holland came to Galesburg in the form of a windmill. It was a gas station, owned by William and Albert Peterson and located at the west entrance to Lincoln Park. The brothers thought of the novel idea to lure motorists off the highway. They could view this unique structure and fill up their gas tanks as well. The windmill was a four-story building measuring 60 feet from top to bottom, and each windmill wing was 30 feet from end to end. The top floor of the windmill was used as an observation tower for the amusement of the filling station customers, and the first floor of the building was for the actual filling station with “rooms deluxe for the comfort of patrons.” It was reported that tourists from all over the U.S. stopped there to “fill ’er up” (a gallon of gasoline cost 5 cents), maybe have lunch, and “enjoy the cool, and beauty of the spot.”
Information from Patty Mosher, archivist for the Galesburg Public Library.