I can't believe that is Lake Erie. It definitely looked a lot cleaner back then and void of a few million zebra shells!

Despite all of the changes that have taken place since this photo was taken, there is one thing that remains the same - people of all ages love to dig in the sand.

Built 1902. Burnt ca. 1919.

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Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, 1904.

Public Baths in the United States.

The second public bath [at Cleveland, Ohio] is at Gordon Park, and consists of a large frame structure well equipped and fitted out and having an ample pavilion and refreshment room attached. It was built in 1902 and for a short time was entirely free to all persons, but in 1903 the abuse of this privilege by an undesirable class of bathers led to a charge of 5 cents being made for the use of a room and towel or 10 cents for a towel, room, and suit. During the summer of 1903 the total number of bathers at this place was 19,070, not including those who were admitted free of charge at the beginning of the season. Free instruction in swimming is provided. The building contains 450 dressing closets for the use of bathers, in addition to separate waiting rooms for males and females. There are no shower baths and no hot water is furnished. The cost of the house, with its equipment, was $18,000. The total cost of maintenance in 1903 was $2,132.16 and the income was $1,495.65.

In this scene and the many Jersey Shore scenes the beaches appear to be much cleaner than the recent (and relatively more recent) Chicago lake front beach we viewed.