06.13.2023

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Today’s Forecast

49º | Showers | 84% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:50 a.m. | Sunset 4:40 p.m.

Dive into the Willamette’s swimming history

Dive into the history of swimming on Portland’s Willamette River

A historic photo shows the Willamette River and Ross Island.

Plans to reopen Windemuth on the northern point of Ross Island (center) died with owner John A. Jennings in 1927. | Photo via Portland City Archives

Long before the Human Access Project began its campaign to revitalize the Willamette River, one Portlander made quite a splash by advocating for swimming in the city’s waterway.

Thomas Bundy was in the twilight of his life when he came to the Pacific Northwest, bringing with him a hazy past. One thing was certain — as a boat builder and sailor, he loved the water. In the spring of 1898, he established Bundy’s Baths on the east bank of the Willamette River, just downstream from where the Ross Island Bridge is now located.

The bathhouse, AKA Neptune’s Baths, became the focal point of aquatic recreation at the time. People would ride the Brooklyn streetcar to Woodward Street and spend long hours playing and sunbathing on the shoreline.

It was a particularly popular place for girls and women to swim and dive, and competitions were often held there. By the summer of 1915, the business was renting out approx. 1,300 swimsuits a day. A long line of houseboats and the Portland Yacht Club had laid anchor nearby.

Alternating photos show the former locations of Bundy's Baths and Windemuth swimming resort on the Willamette River near Portland's Ross Island. — Historic photos provide insight into the locations of Ross Island’s swimming facilities in a modern context.
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Photos via Portland City Archives + Google Maps

Windemuth, another swimming resort that doubled as a floating dance platform, was built in the center of the river just off the northern tip of Ross Island. Farther locations, like Oaks Park, Swan Island, and Elk Rock Island, enjoyed a swimming heyday as well.

It wasn’t long before industrialization and sewage fouled the fun. By 1919, Bundy’s Baths had been dismantled and replaced with a dockyard for transporting lumber, and in 1924, city officials banned all swimming in the Willamette River due to concerns over bacterial contamination.

Nevertheless, the spirit of those halcyon days still resonates today. Plans for the Portland of the future — like those outlined by Albina Vision Trust and the OMSI District — look to renew a healthy and equitable relationship with the river.

Events

Tuesday, June 13

Portland Pickles vs. Ridgefield Raptors | Tuesday, Jun. 13 | 7:05 p.m. | Walker Stadium, 4727 SE 92nd Ave, Portland | $6-$90 | Celebrate World Softball Day by enjoying a game with your team.
Piano Bar with Courtney Freed and David Saffert | Tuesday, Jun. 13 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Alan J. Beard Mezzanine at The Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland | Free | Sing your favorite tune open-mic style — don’t forget to bring sheet music — or sit back and enjoy the talent and a delightful glass of wine with friends.
Eels | Tuesday, Jun. 13 | 8 p.m. | Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St. Ste. 110, Portland | $38-$69 | Nothing like a little “Novocaine for the Soul” from this Los Angeles-based band to give you a “Fresh Feeling.”

Wednesday, June 14

Victory Boyd with Trulah | Wednesday, Jun. 14 | 8 p.m. | Alberta Abbey, 126 NE Alberta St., Portland | $15-$20 | The stirring sounds of this soul and folk artist from Detroit and the gospel singer/songwriter will move you.

Thursday, June 15

Bangers Comedy | Thursday, Jun. 15 | 8 p.m. | Neighbors Taproom, 1306 E. Burnside St., Portland | Free | Laugh it up with this curated lineup of local and national stand-up talent.

Friday, June 16

Rose City Book & Paper Fair | Friday, Jun. 16-Saturday, Jun. 17 | Times vary | DoubleTree Hotel Portland, 1000 NE Multnomah St., Portland | $5 | Peruse everything from underground ‘zines and quirky vintage photo albums to antiquarian tomes and signed first editions by today’s hottest authors.

Saturday, June 17

Parallax Art Center Summer Solstice Festival | Saturday, Jun. 17 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Parallax Art Center, 516 NW 14th Ave., Portland | $100 | Pop-up tattoo artist, raffle tickets, craft vendors, face painting, and a fantastic drag show make for a full day of fun.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Plan Ahead

Hold on tight. The inaugural Eight Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo is coming to the Portland Expo Center this Saturday, June 17, from 3 to 10 p.m. The event is inspired by Portland-based photojournalist Ivan McClellan’s exploration of Black rodeo culture and will feature bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and more Western excitement. (Portland Tribune)

Active

Seven outdoor pools operated by Portland Parks & Recreation will open for the season, Wednesday, June 21 until Sunday, Aug. 27. Play swims and free swim sessions will be offered there, as well as at the four year-round indoor locations.

Development

Block216, the 35-story skyscraper that contains the Ritz-Carlton, has set an opening date: Tuesday, Aug. 15. Developers have also committed to paying the $7.76 million inclusionary-housing payment — a penalty assessed for not including affordable housing in the tower — by Dec. 31, 2025. (Portland Business Journal)

Portlander

Never doubt the power of a mother’s love. After Cheryle Cerezo-Gardiner’s son, Martin Cerezo, died from liver cancer in 2021, she followed through on her promise to get his discharge from the Navy upgraded to honorable. In 1990, Martin and fellow sailors were pushed out of the military for being gay. (KGW)

Opening

To sip what Division Winemaking Company is selling, head to its new urban tasting room when it opens this Saturday, June 10. Reservations are required at the new Southeast Portland space, which also encompasses a production facility and events hub that will host pop-ups showcasing local food and winemakers. (Eater Portland)

Gallery

What’s bright red, has eight tentacles, and took a wrong turn at Cannon Beach? Over the weekend, a giant Pacific octopus got stranded on the shore and received assistance from staff with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program, who were able to successfully usher the cephalopod back to sea. (KOIN)

Outdoors

🚫 We don’t want the smoke

What you need to know about Multnomah County’s summer burn ban

A boat approaches Portland's Marquam Bridge amid extreme wildfire smoke.

It’s impossible to forget the smoky summer of 2020. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday

Smoky skies that cast an apocalyptic orange hue over daily life — it’s a scene that Portlanders are sadly all too familiar with. With wildfires becoming more of a threat to our air quality, Multnomah County will phase in a summer burn ban to reduce any avoidable air pollution.

The first step is a backyard burn ban beginning Friday, June 16; use this map to check the restriction’s boundaries. Secondly, fire officials will introduce an agricultural burn ban on Friday, June 30. Finally, a complete ban — which includes campfires, fire pits, and other open burning — goes into effect Thursday, July 6. Weather could change these dates at any time.

Although barbecues and other outdoor cooking will be allowed, Portland Fire & Rescue strongly encourages keeping ashes wet for several days before discarding them in a covered metal container. Also, make sure that any grill is also at least 10 feet away from combustible materials like bushes or fencing.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

BuzzCutt, the app that makes it easier to find non-alcoholic drinks when you’re out, will celebrate its national launch with a summer fest event this Saturday, June 17. For Bitter For Worse and eight other N/A brands will be on site — all the proof you need of a good time.

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