WILLAMALANE PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT

This silent color film from the early 1950’s features the expansive and historic Willamalane Park and Recreation District of Springfield, Oregon (located at 1270/1323 7th Street). Willamalane covers 1,500 acres with five recreational facilities, forty-six parks, ten waterfront areas, twenty-nine miles of hiking and biking trails, nine sports fields and twenty-seven playgrounds. In 1944, voters organized to pass a park and recreation district measure. It is it’s own special tax district. Willamalane provides programs for patrons of various age ranging from after school care for kids, swimming lessons to dog obedience, pottery, computing, water fitness and adaptive recreation for adults with disabilities. The 1950s was the earliest era of the district, and saw the addition of an outdoor pool facility and the formation of the Willamalane Golden Age Club geared at senior programs. Footage opens with the 1951 opening of the outdoor pool and continues to explore other portions of the district’s programs highlighting the park’s vital role in the community. Instructors guide youth through swimming, baseball, basketball and art lessons. Later portions feature a church group, a local school play and cyclists pushing for Armitage County Park.

Credits (00:00) open the film. It was photographed by Claude T. Gerlach (:21). Claude was associated with Gerlach’s Out West Photo Shop of Boulder, Colorado. Much of his works documenting the American West are found in archival collections. Employees of Willamalane gather (:21-1:04) as youth rim the fence around the facility prior to the pool’s opening. Images capture maintenance workers (1:13), the empty pool (2:10) and the pool’s filling (2:36). The photographer snaps photographs (4:46). Speakers make addresses (5:19). Youth approach the counter for baskets for their clothing prior to changing into swimsuits (7:15). They fill the perimeter occasionally dipping toes in brimming with anticipation for the first swim (7:41). An employee tosses in a beach ball (8:51) and kids dive in (8:55). Happy scenes feature youth at play in the water (9:17). The pool was initially crafted as an outdoor facility. A dome would be installed later. Slow motion footage captures a dive (10:33). Scenes transition to a medals or awards ceremony with various speakers taking to a microphone (11:16-15:30). The Springfield state flag hangs on the bottom screen (15:43). Footage of the interior shows employees meeting with patrons (17:56), members in the halls (18:21) and an art show (19:05). Aerial shots sweep residential homes (19:45) and the outdoor pool facility (19:50). Instructors work with youth in (21:17) and out of the water (22:09). Kids learn to dive (22:36) and swim under water (24:06). Boys practice the slide into home base (27:20). Youth run bases on the field (28:23). Basketball players leap for the jump off (28:50) in an indoor gymnasium. Younger patrons paint wooden blocks (30:17). Others learn the bunny hop in the dance hall (30:57). A 1951 Buick Special drives under a car wash (31:51). Patrons dress up in hand painted cardboard box costumes (32:35-35:23) for “Men from Mars Week”. At a church gathering, the cinematographer focuses on hands (36:44); gripping hymn books over worshiper’s laps, applauding (37:00), the pianist’s fingers on keys (38:26), hands passing out plates of chocolate cake (38:37), the violinist handling strings (39:46) and a man covering his face as he lights a smoke (40:40). Youth learn welding (42:47) and baton techniques (43:06). A 1956 Oldsmobile 88 sits outside Deadwood Cafe (44:10). An instructor notes the action on a rifle (44:40). Costumed performers take to a local school stage (45:28-47:29). A baseball diamond (49:12) and grounded biplanes follow (51:57). A stream of cyclists (52:53) pedal for Armitage Park along the Mackenzie River (53:41). It concludes with kids on a trampoline (54:21) and playing ball on the blacktop (54:35).