New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-07-26
PURCHASE PROVIDES
CITY PLAYGROUND
BUSINESS MEN OF NEW ULM BUY
BATHING SITE FOR USE
..1z@ OF. PUBLIC j ~...
LOOK; TO MUNICIPALITY TO
FURNISH BATH HOUSES
AND EQUIPMENT

Since the hot wave struck New Ulm
the crying need has been for some
place where members of both sexes
could find place to divest themselves
of all superAuous clothing without in
curing the wrath Of the authorities
whose duty it is to conserve the morals
of the citizenry. 1t is considered per
fectly modest and decent to appear in mix
ed company clad in the briefest OF skirts
and skantiest of waists provided only there
is reason other than the heat for the
disrobing process. When one wants to
cool off, therefore, it is absolutely es-
sential that one find proper excuse.
Bathing furnishes perfectly proper
and sufficient excuse for behavior that
would secure free lodging place for
the "behaver" under other circumstances.
Hence the throngs that have frequented
the banks of the Cottonwood between
the Bentzin Mill and the Poor Farm
bridge.
However, the dressing rooms pro-
vided at this place were even more alb
breviated in their extent than the cos
tunes donned in their seclusion. In
other words, the leafy woods which
constitute the sole screen for the would
be bathers do not offer the privacy that
strict observance of the customs of
Society demands and it took rather a
daring spirit to complete the disrobing
process without many quakes and
qualms as to what observers might be
at hand. These matters were all care
fully considered by some of the
public spirited men of the city and the
result was announced last Thursday
when it was made known that a piece OF
property along the Cottonwood had
been secured for the purpose of locating
a bathhouse for the convenience OF those
who found the heat of the city quite
unbearable.
The public spirited citizens in this
instances are G. A. Ottomeyer, Henry
N. Somsen and j. A. Ochs. These
gentlemen had been trying for some
time to make deal with the Bentzin
Milling Company to lease piece of
land near the mill but the Bentzin
people said that it was necessary for
them to retain control Of all land lying
near the mill in order to have the priv
lege of Kidding themselves of people
who might make themselves obnoxious
about the mill, as certain persons I'M
every community will do. It being
impossible to lease site for the bathing
house, the gentlemen decided to pur-
chase four acre piece on the opposite
side of the river from the mill, below
the dam and above the Poor Farm.
The owner, John P. Drexler of Cotton
wood, was approached and signifed his
willingness to part with the property
for a consideration, $435.00, which was
agreed upon with the added stipulation
that the buyers pay for certain amount
Of timber which Mr.. Drexler desired to
take off the land and which the buyers
preferred to have left standing.
Plans for the use of the land have not
yet been completed. It is expected
that in time the City will be given the
the tract with the stipulation that it be
maintained as a public bathing place,
with proper bathhouse facilities. Later
events will shape the course to be pur-
sued by the men who have secured the
ownership of the tract but it is hoped by
them that their purchase will lead to the
establishment of a big out-of-doors
playground for young and old. The
location is favorable one for community
outings, the scenery is beautiful, the
river is safe and New Ulm must fall
into line soon with other cities of its
size in providing for healthful and happy
anusements for its citizens.