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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1906)
SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 1906. 2, ROCK ISLAND CLUB'S PICTURESQUE HOME D8pSJi :r - . ill f -' . - 11 i- (3 i fl 1 'i -Sri? if m2- s . &.Jtjxw.:'r: '-Sis--: - ,::?V-A . lift- -r 3 I - - -4 r Ik few , J 3 'TT 3r fW 542? c62:? U7si fyAzy? LsVZZS- 77 MARION MAC RAE. HAVE you visited the Rock Island Club this Summer? Well, if oyu haven't,. don't waste anoth er day, for you are missing the best thins .of the season. There is no excuse for the complaint of "no place to go," for within 30 minutes of the city is one of the most beautiful spots in the Northwest, with the very best of accommodations and entertainment, and if there are any of the 650 members who have not ac quired the habit of visiting the club, fhey should get It before the Bummer season closes. Rock Island has long been con sidered one of the prettiest points up or down the river, and since the erection of the commodtous clubhouse this Spring its scenic features seem to be enhanced and livened up by this bright spot against the dark green of the large trees and un dergrowth. The club is reached either by launch from the city or by rail to Milwaukie. where every car is met by the club's pri vate launch. Next year a foot bridge will be completed before the opening of the season, which will be more convenient for the transportation of large crowds than the present method of using launches, but as the island is today, out to itself In the J? Si It" way mmmm will be kept open all Winter or not. but It is to be hoped that it will not be closed at any season of the year. Wednesday night there is always an orchestra on hand, and after dinner there is informal dancing, much enjoyed by the young dancing fet. There is no more appropriate or ideal place in Oregon for private entertaining, and lucky the mmi or woman who is a member and nas the privilege of using the club for this pur pose. If one hasn't room enough at home to give a hop, he only has to take them to the club, and there is the ballroom 4 which opens to the breeze on all sides. the wide porches for promenades and the opportunity of providing any kind of refreshments desired. i Many launching and canoeing parties' have made the Rock Island Club their Mecca this Summer, going up ror lunchecn or dinner or for the eveninz dance. It is a fact, however, that the club has not been utilized by the majority of its large membership, and this is hard to understand. The very hest people in Portland are members and have paid their annual dues to the number of 6'W. and yet probably half of these members have never seen the place. Some of them viHlt other suburban resorts at times and complain bitterly about the lack of ac commodations, the mixed crowd and other 'I i'V i 1 -3- 'V. 7 V V ' -ill ,-vt to ..4' driver with no land connection, It has an .air of enchantment and excluslveness " " which will be taken away when a bridge 1t. holds U in Its grasp. But the convenience and accommodation of members Is the first consideration of Manager A. Reftllng, and the bridge will be placed accordingly. Clubhouse Is Commodious. , . The . building and equipment of Rock Island Clubhouse represents an expendi ture of J11.000, and more will be spent on . improvements and extensions next sea son. It Is not elaborate, but decidedly commodious and comfortable, with plenty . of space for dancing inside and spacious verandas outside. The verandas may, in faot, be mentioned- as the predominating ' feature of the place, the one across the front of the club being 132 feet long and '16 feet wide. Next year this will be ' widened to 32 feet, as there seems to be ""more demand for porch room than any ' thing else. Around the east side and ' across the back of the building this wid veranda looks out upon beautiful spots of woodland on the southern end of the : island, and across the water to the high, picturesque bluffs beyond Milwaukie, while to the west Elk Rock, that famil i : iar sentinel above the old White House site, looks down upon this elfin spot. The arrangement of the clubhouse i3 simple, but is peculiarly adapted to the needs of such an organization. A broad hall, open at either end, rung through the ' middle and serves as a music-room, living ' room and office. The open piano Invites ' musicians inside and many easy chairs - are provided for loungers. The grill opens to one side, but as every one pre fers dining outside It is little used, except , for dancing. It has a fine floor and is large enough to accommodate many ' couples. On the other side of the hall the - billiard-room invites those who are adept " In the use of the cue, and at the eastern : extremity of the building Is a large sit- ting-room for ladies. - The green oak finish which is so popu- Wsi.fr,.vi;.... mum ii v 4 V i t'ti;i!); Witt - v. It 4 - - v I! I , (f jfJZv TS&zr&mr .rwv-v lar with country clubs, has been used throughout the building, and there is an air of wholesome outdoor cleanliness about the place in strong contrast with the city. No dust here only the cooling and never failing breezes off the water. During the recent hot spells Rock Island Clubhouse was the coolest spot in Oregon, eo its members declare, for the island is so situated that there is always a current of air passing about it. And how the members enjoyed the bathing during that July weather! Underneath the verandas are cleverly constructed bathhouses and bathing suits are kept for Ihe accommo dation of members. One' of the finest house boats on the river is anchored at the island this Summer and Its occupants corroborate the statement about it being the coolest spot on the Willamette. Mr. and Mrs. B. V. Tremaine are in immediate charge of the clubhouse, as stewardand stewardess, and this in itself Is a guarantee of excellent service. Mr. Tremaine was steward of the Waverly Golf Club until resigning that position, to take charge of Rock Island, and it is said that his wife has no equal as a fine cook in the Northwest. A number of the members were active in organizing the club, but the business manageent falls principally upon Mr. Reffling, who owns the Island and who has a Summer home there. The quiet exclusiveness of the place Is the feature which appeals to the members who frequent the club, and the fact that it is secluded, yet within such easy reach of the city, makes it an ideal resort for both Summer and Winter. It has not yet been determined whether it distasteful features, while right at thelf deors is a beautiful up-to-date country club open to them at all times. A group of visitors from Puget Sound was lunching at Rock Island Thursday, and going into ecstacies over the fine lo cation and the unequaled views to be had from the veranda. "If we had a place like this on Lake Washington," said the Seattle girl, "it would be so crowded that It would be un comfortable." Why don't all the members of this fine club wake up? Ballade of Tempted Authors. Denver Republican. Winston Churchill may run for Governor of New Hampshire; Upton Sinclair and Mere dith Nicholson may run for Congress. Dally Papers. Scribes, what meaneth this fevered haste To enter the realm of politics? Why would the novelist fain taste The bubbling spring of election tricks. And drink with Harrys and Toms and Dicks? Please tell me this, nor say me "nope" When our novelists In the campaigns mix Who will grind out our Action dope? The "best selling novels" we long for, all New books form the country's crying need; But.. If writers are running a race each Fall, What is the reader to do. Indeed? For he who writes can't make much speed If he would with politicians cope; So. If our writers this new fad heed. Who will grind out fiction dope? To be sure 'twould Improv the atr.io-phere. If our capital city were filled with men Who could tackle ten thousand words, sans fear, And write of reforms with a ready pen. But what would the book reader turn to then At the bookstalls all helpless he'd paw . and grope; There'd be naught but old books within his ken. For who will grind out our fiction dope? IENVOI. We have statesmen In plenty, such as they No need to rob literature, we hope; Oh. politics, take not each scribbling star For who will grind out our fiction dope? 1
