State Bathing Beach

The oldest bathing beach on Indian Lake was the State Bathing Beach on Orchard Island, at the end of Elm Street. This beach opened in 1912 and featured a slide or sliding board launching swimmers into the water. A lifeguard was on duty whenever the beach was open to the public. It was not unusual to have more spectators watching the swimmers than there were swimmers.

The postcards below of the swimming beach on Orchard Island shows the great number of spectators sitting and watching the swimmers who actually ventured into the water. Both men and women wore bathing suits that covered most of their body, leaving only the head and limbs exposed to the sun.

The bath house did not offer bathing or showering facilities, but was a place where men and women could change into clothing more suitable for lounging on the beach and going into the water. The sand was brought in from elsewhere to provide a more realistic beach experience.