Going Underground - Pendleton

Many years ago we stopped in Pendleton, OR. We visited the wool mills and a mustard manufacturer, but we were unable to take the famous "Underground Tour". This time, Adventure Caravans had taken care of getting tickets for the tour, so we had the opportunity to go underground and learn what it was all about.

Pendleton, like many cities, is riddled with underground tunnels and underground spaces. These steps lead down to a speak-easy, a popular "watering spot" during prohibition. Notice the spikes welded onto the railing of the stairway. Those were put in to discourage men from sitting on the rail while waiting to visit a nearby brothel. 

There is a bar downstairs that is still used for special occasions now.

There was also an ice cream parlor downstairs. 

A serving of ice cream was sliced from the small carton in the picture. 

The ice cream was a luxury, and the ladies from the brothels were often their best customers.

We stumbled on a tribute to Lewis & Clark in one of the tunnels!

Many of the tunnels were lit by way of glass blocks in the sidewalk above.

Windows and doorways lead off the tunnels to various rooms.

Chinese laborers were prohibited from being on the streets after dark. Many of the Chinese residents lived underground, and many had businesses there as well. 

This was a Chinese laundry.

The Chinese also had a bathing business. Customers could choose to have a bath or a half-bath.

Men had to bathe before visiting the local brothels. 

The Chinese laborers may have had sleeping areas with bunks in rooms underground.

Some artifacts were discovered in the tunnels and underground rooms that show how the Chinese laborers lived and worked. There were several Mahjong sets found below ground, as well as evidence of opium usage. 

A butcher had his shop in the elaborate underground spaces. 

It was a great place to store and sell meat!

Madame Stella Darby ran one of the brothels  boarding houses in Pendleton. 

She had two rooms that she rented to men to keep her status as as "rooming house".

Each woman had her own private bedroom separate from the "cozy rooms". The ladies had a shared kitchen area and laundry. The men were interviewed by Stella and she maintained high standards.

The women she hired were well taken care of and she contributed generously to her community. 

A statue of Stella graces the sidewalk near her brothel.