Bathhouses
CLUB CONTINENTAL BATHS
should not be confused with
The Club Baths
Per the GLAPN - A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: A Century of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Historic Sites June 1999: “1978-1985 A popular bathhouse that opened in the mid-1970’s, it featured erotic black-light drawings on the wall, an orgy room, Jacuzzi, and a number of individual rooms for private assignations. In the late 1970’s and early 80’s this bathhouse was considered one of the cleanest in the city, and it became a popular location for community fundraisers, and all-male socials. The rise of the AIDS epidemic and the fear surrounding the disease helped to bring about its closure due to lack of business. The entrance was off of Park and very clean. After being greeted, you would be given a towel and you could find your own private room or go to the orgy room, jacuzzi. It featured erotic black-light drawings on the walls. Many considered this bathhouse to be one of the cleanest in the city.”
Located in the Cornelius Hotel building, 531 S.W. Park
Years: 1978 - 1985
According to this website: “Two buildings joined together now are called The Woodlark House of Welcome Hotel, opened in December 2018. The hotel is composed of two buildings that were constructed more than a century earlier and were extensively renovated for the hotel project: The 1912 Woodlark Building (at left, in the background) and the 1908 Cornelius Hotel. By Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 4.0.”
• Not verified but it is said to have been a popular location for community fundraisers and all-male socials.
Historical note: The hotel is part of Portland’s gay history as well. In 1912 one of the people arrested in the Vice Clique Scandal was Herman Smith. PER GLPAN website: “Smith got word of a police sweep for involved men and hurriedly fled his room, leaving behind a number of photos and letters that helped the police identify and arrest a number of other men in the city.” Also, see The Vice Clique: Portland’s Great Sex Scandal by George Painter see page 56 – second to last paragraph.
• Per Wikipedia: The Cornelius housed a gay bathhouse in the 1960s and 1970s, while still being used mostly as a residential hotel. [Cornelius Hotel - Wikipedia]
It is believed to have closed due to the AIDS crises and public health concerns. Also stated in the book A Curious and Peculiar People by David Grant Kohl, pages 254 and 255, “The Continental Baths closed despite its 10-year history and friendly staff. Owner Dick Lawson soon opened a replacement location in the Majestic.”
It’s been stated that this bathhouse opened in 1978, however, per ad in Northwest Gay Review June 1977 issue, it states, “Grand opening Mid-July”. Per Curious People, “Dick Lawson opened the Continental Baths under the Cornelius Hotel, the classiest bathhouse in the city.” Page 110
Ad in Northwest Gay Review July-Aug 1977
Above calendar listing in Gay Rights Report newspaper, February 1978.
Ad above in Cascade Voice newspaper September 1982 – UPDATE – New Club Portland – A Continental Club Bath – Grand 5-year reopening (BUSINESS NEWS page 38).
Below Left, ad in Cascade Voice newspaper, January 28, 1983 and Below Right ad with photos in September 9, 1983.
Announcement in NW Fountain October 1980 that Club Continental Baths was going to open a Seattle location. The Seattle location as stated in ad on back of NW Fountain February 1982 was 1520 Summit.
The Cornelius Hotel has been placed on the National Register and renovated into “business class housing”. This 2008 Portland Tribune article cites the intention of the renovation: “Though the bathhouse days of the downtown Cornelius Hotel are at an end, it isn't a renovation of the tiled bathing tubs that once served Portland's gay scene that architects had in mind during talks about the hotel's historic preservation. The roughly 40-year-old tubs are still there, anchored in the now-vacant building's basement like an indoor version of Portland's Ira Keller Fountain. A nearby wall has at least one mural intended for a bathing audience.”
It should be noted, that in the National Register application there is no mention of the place ever being used as a bathhouse. 86000286_text (nps.gov)
CITED IN TRAVEL GUIDES:
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1979 under Baths with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1980 with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon)
Cited in Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities Referral and Resources Book Revised April 1, 1980, under Men’s Baths with notations: 24 hours, disco music, stage shows, lockers, TV lounge, many ‘extra’ features, steam room and whirlpool – YOUNGER MEN
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1981 Club Continental with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon) – with a full-page ad
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1982 with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon)
1982 Cascade Voice newspaper cites Set for a splashy grand opening Labor Day weekend, the Continental Club Baths in Portland seems determined to set the town on its ear…Wes Wilson (CCB spokesman) calls a new “sleek, modern, macho” decor in browns, tans, and greys, the local bathhouse will also entertain customers with adult video, special mirror effects, and doubling of present locker space. Wes also promises other treats that will require a visit to appreciate. [Owned by Dick Lawson]
And in the same newspaper under The PURSUED LEATHER FILES #4, The Old Club Continental Baths is changing. And do I mean changing? For the first time, Portland is going to have a real Men’s bathhouse. The installation of slings and cells is almost as important as the new DOUCHE facilities. Wes promises…
Ad in Cascade Voice newspaper September 1982 – UPDATE – New Club Portland – A Continental Club Bath – Grand 5-year reopening.
Cited in handout Majestic Hotel and Club Baths of Portland presents PORTLAND 1983 with connotations B & M – bathhouse, Men Only
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1983 with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon)
Cascade Voice, May 1984 issue cites “on Friday, April 6th, bathhouse owner Richard of Club Portland and manager Ken of the Majestic…”
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1984 with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1985 with connotations * - Very popular, P – Private, YC – Young/Collegiate and note: (Baths for men – ‘tops’ in Oregon) also (Club Portland)
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1986 with connotations * - Very popular, YC – Young/Collegiate, (IGHC) and name listed: Continental Club Baths
Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1987 with connotations, YC – Young/Collegiate, (IGHC) and name listed: Club Portland
Not listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1987-89
