East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-24
PendIetOn Has Splendid Civic Natatorium
Atco' ooor So 900 SuSe1&

Visitors at other Round-ups who
are here again for the sixth annual
snow Will note new Improvement al
Roundup Park, an improvement that
the city counts as a notable asset II
Is a natat0rium Of the most modern
character, built by the citizens NJ
rehdieton last spring to provide a
saIe and sanitary place for the ancl.
ent sport Of bathing.
The natatorium was built nj cost
OF $4,000, every cent OF which oamo
from the citizens OF Pendleton An
put $2OOO was contributed in am
punls ranging from so cents to 500
py private citizens and there were
more than 600 Of these individual CON
ulbutors. The $4,000 was oppronrI-
ated by the city council and was fms
uraWn from the whole body Of tax.
payers. " IA
The campaign for the natatoripr,
was Oesun year ago last July and
SI'hih year from the date the first
Siseussioh was started, the pool was
Dulit ana bathers by the hundreds
were desporting themselves in tbe
water 1t was the Pendleton wav of
doing things. -
fehuieton is so situated that there
are no natural bathing pools in ber
immediate vicinity during the sum.
l"eI' me water In the UmatilIa river
ahu creeks becomes very low during
'he not months and Is. besides no,
Sonsidered sanitary At bingham
lehman and Hidaway Springs tboro
are bathing pools but only small
pereentage Of the people can enjoy
.ne privileges they afford. Almost
every year, too there was a drownins
OF so in the mill race or river he
cause small boys will swim II tbero is
any water at all and little thew care
whether there is any supervision ar
rot. P0' 'i7ioh or
Ihese conditions led a number ~
prominent citizens TO start an ag,,o
uon Tor public swimming pooI Tho
idea was popular one and was soi,ad
upon eagerly. At that time s,,h
scripuons were taken and none,
enough pledged to build fairly rnnd
ern pool. However as the special
committee appointed by the CONNER.
c'aI association investigated the mat.
Ter II was decided that $4,000 wouId
not build a pool such as the ci,,
needed Therefore, early last spring
the campaign was taken up again ana
auditional funds secured.
j. Q. convill. superintendent ~
parks and boulevards in Portland
was secured to design the natatorIum
ana ne designed one that would give
TO Pendleton the best in the north
west. The contract was eventually
let to l. Monterastelli of this city and
the formal opening Of the new insti.
tuition was an event OF July OF the
past summer which drew out a mass
OF people.
The natatorium was constructed
Slong lines Of permanency rather than
Of beauty, and yet Is most attractive
In appearance. The pool, which is
100 feet long by so wide. is built OF
reinforced concrete and Ia surrounded
by a wide concrete platform for the
use Of the bathers. The pool. when
filled, ranges in depth from two feet
and a half TO ten feet, and two spring
boards, one with a pedestal, were in
stalled for the use of those who dive.
Al each end Of the pool are dress
ing rooms, built Of wood but having /
plastered walls and concrete floors |
The west end dressing rooms are for I
men and those at the east end for
women. There are lockers in each |
and each Is provided with shower
baths and toilets.
There is an office on the south side
of the pool and a pergola enclosing |
the whole south side on the west
side are bleachers for spectators.
The natatorium provided whole