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The Plunge, circa 1906. Note the showers
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GONZAGA'S SWIMMING POOL
In April 1906, approximately 25 of Gonzaga’s 483 students became ill with typhoid fever. At first, the campus well was blamed. Upon advice of health officials, Gonzaga President Father Herman Goller, S.J., closed the school six weeks early and sent the boys home. In all, two students and one priest died from the illness. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the illness was caused by water not circulating adequately in the Plunge, the swimming pool, in the basement of the Administration Building. The swimming pool was part of the east end addition of 1905. Lined with marble, the 50-by-20-foot pool included 16 showers. After the problem was fixed, the Plunge reopened and remained a swimming pool for at least another decade. Eventually, the University built over the top of the pool, which was recently removed to make room for office space.
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