Difference between revisions of "The Village Swimming Pool"

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"The Village Swimming Pool and How it Began" is an historical record and compilation of photos taken during the 1930s while construction of the swimming pool in St Helena Park was in progress. The record was donated to the Canal Fulton Public Library in 1968 by the writer, C.E. Gainey. Below is the story of how the village swimming pool of Canal Fulton came to be in the words of C.E. Gainey.
+
[[File:(0) Cover.jpeg|thumb|Cover of "The Village Swimming Pool and How it Began".]]
  
== Original Text ==
+
"The Village Swimming Pool and How it Began" is a historical record and compilation of photos taken during the 1930s while construction of the swimming pool in St Helena Park was in progress. The record was donated to the [[Canal Fulton Public Library]] in 1968 by the writer, [[C.E. Gainey]].
  
<p class="western" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
== Original Text, as written by C.E. Gainey ==
“THE VILLAGE SWIMMING POOL”</p>
 
<p class="western" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<u>*And How It Began</u></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> The
 
following story relates to the origin of the Village Swimming Pool:-</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Fear
 
of the loss of the origin and construction history of the Village
 
Swimming Pool causes the writer, who was instrumental in its planning
 
and construction, to attempt to relate some of the Pool’s
 
background for historical purposes.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
 +
<center><b>“THE VILLAGE SWIMMING POOL”</b></center>
 +
<center><b>*And How It Began</b></center>
 +
<p>
 +
The following story relates to the origin of the Village Swimming Pool:-
 +
<br><br>
 +
Fear of the loss of the origin and construction history of the Village Swimming Pool causes the writer, who was instrumental in its planning and construction, to attempt to relate some of the Pool’s background for historical purposes.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Back in 1933-1934, times were tough and many men were out of work, our country’s economy at a low ebb. The Government, realizing the unrest and seriousness of world conditions, enacted the E.R.A., a federal program whereby Federal Funds could be spend on worth-while projects, and as a direct result of this program, millions of the nation’s idle men would be put to work to earn a meager day’s wages whereby he could support himself and his family.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Throughout the Nation, Political Sub-divisions were requested to make known to their County Authorities (in this case the Stark County Commissioners) worth while projects that would reflect a general benefit to its community, and the employment of a Multitude of un-employed men.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Requests for projects were submitted to the Stark County Commissioners, and they in turn would submit them to the Stark County Engineer’s Office for review to determine their eligibility, acceptance or rejection as a project worthy of general benefit to the community.
 +
<br><br>
 +
The writer, who was a Deputy in the Stark County Engineer’s Office was very close to this program, and fully convinced that any worth-while project submitted by the Village of Canal Fulton would receive its due consideration.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Mr. John Dugan was Mayor of the Village at this time, and the writer the Village Clerk. Upon receipt of a formal request from the Stark County Commissioner’s Office asking the Village Council to prepare and submit proposed projects for this program, the Village Council appointed the Mayor, Mr. Dugan and C.E.Gainey, Clerk to act in behalf of the Village, and to submit for approval such projects as they deemed beneficial to the community, and that would warrant with-out question the expenditure of Federal Funds under the Governments E.R.A. Program.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Much thought, and the burning of midnight oil was given by Mr. Dugan and the writer in searching out acceptable projects that would not exceed the amount of money allotted to the village under this program.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Among the several projects proposed, Mr. Dugan the Mayor, suggested we construct a dam in the Ohio-Erie Canal within the Village to provide a place for swimming for the people of Canal Fulton. This proposal did not meet the approval of the Village Council, as the canal was at low ebb and pretty much of a mosquito hole and swampy, due to a break in the banks of the Nimishila Feeder, from which water was fed into the canal.
 +
<br><br>
 +
In the course of our search for a more desirable location for a swimming pool, which we thought would be an asset to the Village wherby the people of Canal Fulton could enjoy themselves, Mr. Dugan the Mayor and a good citizen of our village, became ill and died from his ailment, leaving the responsibility to the writer to carry on in this matter.
 +
<br><br>
 +
In the early part of the spring of 1934, the writer who was home from work recuperating from an attack of the flu, was standing at the front window of the Ray Myers Ford Garage soaking in some of the early spring sunshine and looking down across the canal and river. Knowing that the land lying between the canal and river was village property, and had been laid out an a Market Place when the village was first laid out, it being public property prompted the writer to remark in the presence of Mr. Myers, that this location would make an ideal place for the Village Swimming Pool.
 +
<br><br>
 +
My suggestion did not meet with the full approval of Mr. Ray Myers, this did not cause me to dismiss my thoughts of its possibility, as I was determined to investigate its possibility, in a few days, after fully recovered from the flu, and with the aid of my son Keith, we ran levels from the Canal to the River to determine the fall in elevation between the two bodies of water.
 +
<br><br>
 +
The writer and the Village Council were fully aware of the fact that high flooding of the Tuscarawas River would overflow in to the pool if constructed in this location. Every-one conceded that this was of a minor nature and would happen only once in a long time, and the land being Village property there would be no land cost.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Upon completion of the survey, I, found to my surprise that a pool 8 feet deep at its outlet end could be constructed with gravity flow of water from the Canal into the Pool, thence from the pool to the River, along filter beds at the inlet end of the canal which would supply the water for the pool.
 +
<br><br>
 +
This location met the approval of the Village Council, who directed the writer to prepare a preliminary drawing of the proposed location along with elevations. This was done and presented to the County Commissioners, who in turn presented our application to the Stark County Engineer’s Office, Mr. Wade Schidler, County Engineer, and who’s office was charged with checking, prosecution and supervision of all projects.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Within a few days the County Engineer dispatched a survey crew to the scene and made a thorough survey from which final construction plans were made for the construction of the Swimming Pool at Canal Fulton, O.
 +
<br><br>
 +
This project, due to its nature, had to be approved by the Stark County Health Dept. and also the State Health Dept. in Columbus, O. The writer being a good friend of the Stark County Health Officer which was Doctor Floyd Stamp, had no trouble in having him approve the project. The next hurdle to cover was the State Health Dept. in Columbus, O. At Dr. Stamp’s suggestion, he and I drove to Columbus and with his fine manner of persuasion, he convinced the Columbus people that this was a fine improvement for the people of Canal Fulton. So, home we came with the blessings of the Health Dept. of the State of Ohio.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Construction of the Swimming Pool began on June 4, 1934. The concrete footers, walls, inlet and outlet to and from the pool were completed in November of 1935. Mr. Orton Mathie was the project foreman on all of the above work.
 +
<br><br>
 +
The construction of the pool did not include the 6 foot brick walk around the pool. This was accomplished by members of the Canal Fulton Rotary Club along with other public spirited citizens of the village. Around 1935, Route # 21, was being repaved and the section just below Lock #4, was being abandoned in favor of about one mile of relocation of the road. On this section of the old road which was abandoned, the existing brick pavement was still in tact, but was to be removed at a later date by the contractor, Mr. Elmer Vogt of Massillon, O. Thru the efforts of Carl McFarland, a hard working and devout Rotarian and the writer, we imposed upon and was given Mr. Vogt’s permission to remove from the old abandoned road bed enough brick to make a 6 foot walk all around the pool for sanitary purposes. The task of removing the brick from the road bed, the trucking of them to the pool, cleaning and laying the brick on a prepared sand cushion and finally cement grouting of the brick in place was finally completed thru the find co-operation of the Rotary Club members and the many fine citizens who were possessed with that community spirit of making Canal Fulton a better place to live in.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Many other minor and major improvements were made to the pool from year to year. The writer for a good many years would make his visit to the pool twice a week (at about 6 A.M.) to treat the water and remove the debris and leaves from outlet overflow.
 +
<br><br>
 +
The Village Council always provided the necessary chemicals for the treatment of the water as well as the funds for many minor items necessary to keep the pool in good graces with the Health Department.
 +
<br><br>
 +
Then in later years the Rotary Club along with the co-operation of the Park Board assumed all responsibilities of managing the pool and maintenance of the Village Park. Even at this early date, no place in Stark County could boast of having a Park and Pool like the one in Canal Fulton, and this is definitely due to the public spirited people of the Village of Canal Fulton.
 +
<br><br>
 
</p>
 
</p>
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Back
 
in 1933-1934, times were tough and many men were out of work, our
 
country’s economy at a low ebb. The Government, realizing the
 
unrest and seriousness of world conditions, enacted the E.R.A., a
 
federal program whereby Federal Funds could be spend on worth-while
 
projects, and as a direct result of this program, millions of the
 
nation’s idle men would be put to work to earn a meager day’s
 
wages whereby he could support himself and his family.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
+
===== Swimming Pool Data =====
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
{| class="wikitable"
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Throughout
+
|-
the Nation, Political Sub-divisions were requested to make known to
+
| Construction Began || June 4, 1934
their County Authorities (in this case the Stark County
+
|-
Commissioners) worth while projects that would reflect a general
+
| Construction Completed || November 15, 1934
benefit to its community, and the employment of a Multitude of
+
|}
un-employed men.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Requests
 
for projects were submitted to the Stark County Commissioners, and
 
they in turn would submit them to the Stark County Engineer’s
 
Office for review to determine their eligibility, acceptance or
 
rejection as a project worthy of general benefit to the community.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">The
 
writer, who was a Deputy in the Stark County Engineer’s Office was
 
very close to this program, and fully convinced that any worth-while
 
project submitted by the Village of Canal Fulton would receive its
 
due consideration.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Mr.
 
John Dugan was Mayor of the Village at this time, and the writer the
 
Village Clerk. Upon receipt of a formal request from the Stark County
 
Commissioner’s Office asking the Village Council to prepare and
 
submit proposed projects for this program, the Village Council
 
appointed the Mayor, Mr. Dugan and C.E.Gainey, Clerk to act in behalf
 
of the Village, and to submit for approval such projects as they
 
deemed beneficial to the community, and that would warrant with-out
 
question the expenditure of Federal Funds under the Governments
 
E.R.A. Program.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Much
 
thought, and the burning of midnight oil was given by Mr. Dugan and
 
the writer in searching out acceptable projects that would not exceed
 
the amount of money allotted to the village under this program.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Among
 
the several projects proposed, Mr. Dugan the Mayor, suggested we
 
construct a dam in the Ohio-Erie Canal within the Village to provide
 
a place for swimming for the people of Canal Fulton. This proposal
 
did not meet the approval of the Village Council, as the canal was at
 
low ebb and pretty much of a mosquito hole and swampy, due to a break
 
in the banks of the Nimishila Feeder, from which water was fed into
 
the canal.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">In
 
the course of our search for a more desirable location for a swimming
 
pool, which we thought would be an asset to the Village wherby the
 
people of Canal Fulton could enjoy themselves, Mr. Dugan the Mayor
 
and a good citizen of our village, became ill and died from his
 
ailment, leaving the responsibility to the writer to carry on in this
 
matter.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">In
 
the early part of the spring of 1934, the writer who was home from
 
work recuperating from an attack of the flu, was standing at the
 
front window of the Ray Myers Ford Garage soaking in some of the
 
early spring sunshine and looking down across the canal and river.
 
Knowing that the land lying between the canal and river was village
 
property, and had been laid out an a Market Place when the village
 
was first laid out, it being public property prompted the writer to
 
remark in the presence of Mr. Myers, that this location would make an
 
ideal place for the Village Swimming Pool.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">My
 
suggestion did not meet with the full approval of Mr. Ray Myers, this
 
did not cause me to dismiss my thoughts of its possibility, as I was
 
determined to investigate its possibility, in a few days, after fully
 
recovered from the flu, and with the aid of my son Keith, we ran
 
levels from the Canal to the River to determine the fall in elevation
 
between the two bodies of water.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">The
 
writer and the Village Council were fully aware of the fact that high
 
flooding of the Tuscarawas River would overflow in to the pool if
 
constructed in this location. Every-one conceded that this was of a
 
minor nature and would happen only once in a long time, and the land
 
being Village property there would be no land cost.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Upon
 
completion of the survey, I, found to my surprise that a pool 8 feet
 
deep at its outlet end could be constructed with gravity flow of
 
water from the Canal into the Pool, thence from the pool to the
 
River, along filter beds at the inlet end of the canal which would
 
supply the water for the pool.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
+
===== Original Break-Down of Costs =====
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
{| class="wikitable"
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">This
+
|-
location met the approval of the Village Council, who directed the
+
| Federal Funds || $5450.68
writer to prepare a preliminary drawing of the proposed location
+
|-
along with elevations. This was done and presented to the County
+
| Canal Fulton Village Funds || $378.88
Commissioners, who in turn presented our application to the Stark
+
|-
County Engineer’s Office, Mr. Wade Schidler, County Engineer, and
+
| Original Total Cost || $5822.56
who’s office was charged with checking, prosecution and supervision
+
|}
of all projects.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
+
===== Other Data =====
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
{| class="wikitable"
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Within
+
|-
a few days the County Engineer dispatched a survey crew to the scene
+
| Pool opened up for swimming || Summer 1935
and made a thorough survey from which final construction plans were
+
|-
made for the construction of the Swimming Pool at Canal Fulton, O.</span></span></p>
+
| Placed 100 tons of sand in pool || 1935
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
+
|-
<br/>
+
| Average daily bathers as of May 30th, 1936 || 60
 +
|-
 +
| Installed diving board || 1935
 +
|-
 +
| Placed 40 tons of sand in pool || 1937
 +
|-
 +
| Installed extra outlet (north end of pool) || 1937
 +
|-
 +
| Placed warning signs around pool || 1937
 +
|-
 +
| Installed Ladder || June 1938
 +
|-
 +
| Concreted portion of pool floor || June 1940
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
</p>
+
<p>
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
Many other fine improvements have been made to the Pool since 1940, the most outstanding one being the erection of a Bath House, Water filtering system and the enclosing of the pool with a Page wire fence which was installed in 1967.
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">This
+
<br><br>
project, due to its nature, had to be approved by the Stark County
+
This report on the Canal Fulton Swimming Pool is from the memory and meager records of the writer who was very much concerned in Village Improvements.
Health Dept. and also the State Health Dept. in Columbus, O. The
+
<br><br>
writer being a good friend of the Stark County Health Officer which
 
was Doctor Floyd Stamp, had no trouble in having him approve the
 
project. The next hurdle to cover was the State Health Dept. in
 
Columbus, O. At Dr. Stamp’s suggestion, he and I drove to Columbus
 
and with his fine manner of persuasion, he convinced the Columbus
 
people that this was a fine improvement for the people of Canal
 
Fulton. So, home we came with the blessings of the Health Dept. of
 
the State of Ohio.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
 +
March 3, 1968 C.E. Gainey
 
</p>
 
</p>
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Construction
 
of the Swimming Pool began on June 4, 1934. The concrete footers,
 
walls, inlet and outlet to and from the pool were completed in
 
November of 1935. Mr. Orton Mathie was the project foreman on all of
 
the above work.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
+
== Gallery ==
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
<gallery>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">The
+
(2) Cleaning and Laying Brick.jpeg|John Arntz cleaning and laying brick.
construction of the pool did not include the 6 foot brick walk around
+
(3) Laying Brick Walk.jpeg|John Arntz and Lou Miller laying brick walk.
the pool. This was accomplished by members of the Canal Fulton Rotary
+
(4) Laying Brick Walk 2 of 2.jpeg|F. Stump, Heller, Arntz, & Miller laying brick walk.
Club along with other public spirited citizens of the village. Around
+
(5) Grouting Brick.jpeg|C.E. Gainey & Jones grouting brick.
1935, Route # 21, was being repaved and the section just below Lock
+
(6) Making Sand Cushion to Lay Brick On.jpeg|A. Semelsberger & Bill McFarland making sand cushion to lay brick on.
#4, was being abandoned in favor of about one mile of relocation of
+
(7) Keith Gainey Handing Jug.jpeg| Keith Gainey handing jug of water to Harry Smith.
the road. On this section of the old road which was abandoned, the
+
(8) Preparing Earth Bed for Brick Walk.jpeg|Preparing earth bed for brick walk.
existing brick pavement was still in tact, but was to be removed at a
+
(9) Leveling Sand in Pool.jpeg|T. Edwards, D. Swigart, K. Gainey, F. Bisker, J. Parker, Sonny. Gaudaur, F. Stump leveling sand in pool.
later date by the contractor, Mr. Elmer Vogt of Massillon, O. Thru
+
(10) Mixing Mortar.jpeg|Mixing mortar for brick in filter box.
the efforts of Carl McFarland, a hard working and devout Rotarian and
+
(11) Delivering Sand.jpeg| A. Blank delivering sand.
the writer, we imposed upon and was given Mr. Vogt’s permission to
+
(12) Laying Brick in Filter Box.jpeg|Harry Smith laying brick in filter box.
remove from the old abandoned road bed enough brick to make a 6 foot
+
(13) Leveling Concrete.jpeg|Fred Gill leveling concrete.
walk all around the pool for sanitary purposes. The task of removing
+
(14) Blank Delivering Load of Sand.jpeg|Blank delivering another load of sand. Also pictured is Mr. Ries.
the brick from the road bed, the trucking of them to the pool,
+
(15) Building Brick Walk.jpeg|Arntz, Heller, and others building brick walk.
cleaning and laying the brick on a prepared sand cushion and finally
+
(16) Digging Filter Bed.jpeg|Blake Edwards digging filter bed.
cement grouting of the brick in place was finally completed thru the
+
(17) Digging Hole for Filter Box.jpeg|Sudorow, Gainey, & Edwards digging a hole for filter box.
find co-operation of the Rotary Club members and the many fine
+
(18) Brick to be Cleaned and Piled Around Pool.jpeg|Brick to be cleaned piled around pool.
citizens who were possessed with that community spirit of making
+
(19) Digging Ditch for Filter Pipe.jpeg|Ott Sudnow digging a ditch for filter pipe.
Canal Fulton a better place to live in.</span></span></p>
+
(20) Finishing Concrete Floor in the Pool.jpeg|D. Simmons finishing concrete floor in pool.
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
+
(21) Laying Brick Walk.jpeg|Andy Semelsberger laying brick walk.
<br/>
+
(22) Laying Concrete Floor in Pool.jpeg|Keith Gainey, Evelyn Gainey, Mr Swigart, and Mr. Jones laying concrete floor in pool.
 +
(23) Mixing Concrete and Grout.jpeg|Roy Ries mixing concrete grout for brick walk.
 +
(24) Laying Concrete Floor in Pool.jpeg|Hallett, Shull, Gill, Simmons, Jones, and more laying concrete floor in pool.
 +
(25) Laying Concrete Floor in Pool.jpeg|Bill Hallett, Edwards, Bisker, Shull, Swigart, & Gill laying concrete floor in pool.
 +
(26) Nevin Jones Mixing Concrete.jpeg|Nevin Jones and another man mixing concrete for floor of pool.
 +
(27) Construction of Scout Building.jpeg|Ellis, Ries, Swigart construct scout building in 1945 for the Canal Fulton Rotary Club.
 +
(28) Construction of Scout Building.jpeg|Gainey & Ries constructing scout building.
 +
(29) Building Scout Building.jpeg|Ike Ellis, R. Ries, & P. Swigart constructing scout building.
 +
(30) Building the Scout Building.jpeg|G.E. Gainey sleeping on the job.
  
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Many
 
other minor and major improvements were made to the pool from year to
 
year. The writer for a good many years would make his visit to the
 
pool twice a week (at about 6 A.M.) to treat the water and remove the
 
debris and leaves from outlet overflow.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">The
 
Village Council always provided the necessary chemicals for the
 
treatment of the water as well as the funds for many minor items
 
necessary to keep the pool in good graces with the Health Department.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Then
 
in later years the Rotary Club along with the co-operation of the
 
Park Board assumed all responsibilities of managing the pool and
 
maintenance of the Village Park. Even at this early date, no place in
 
Stark County could boast of having a Park and Pool like the one in
 
Canal Fulton, and this is definitely due to the public spirited
 
people of the Village of Canal Fulton.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
 
<p><b>SWIMMING POOL DATA</b></p>
 
<p> Construction
 
Began: June 4, 1934</p>
 
<p> Construction
 
Completed: Nov. 15, 1934</p>
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
 
<p><b>ORIGINAL BREAK-DOWN OF COSTS</b></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Federal
 
Funds: $5450.68</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Canal
 
Fulton Village Funds: </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal">
 
$371.88</span></p>
 
<p>Original Total Cost:  $5822.56</p>
 
<p class="western" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
 
<p><b>OTHER
 
DATA</b></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Pool
 
opened up for swimming, Summer of: 1935</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Placed
 
100 tons of sand in pool: 1935</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Pool
 
opened May 30, 1936. Average daily bathers:     60</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Installed
 
Diving Board: 1935</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Placed
 
40 tons of sand in pool: 1937</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Installed
 
extra outlet, (north end of pool): 1937</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Placed
 
warning signs around pool: 1937</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Installed
 
Ladder, June: 1938</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Placed
 
Stone in bottom of Pool: 1938</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal"> Concreted
 
portion of Pool floor, June: 1940</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
+
</gallery>
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
  
</p>
+
== PDF of Original ==
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
+
<pdf>File:Text of Swimming Pool Gainey.pdf</pdf>
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">Many
 
other fine improvements have been made to the Pool since 1940, the
 
most outstanding one being the erection of a Bath House, Water
 
filtering system and the enclosing of the pool with a Page wire fence
 
which was installed in 1967.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">This
 
report on the Canal Fulton Swimming Pool is from the memory and
 
meager records of the writer who was very much concerned in Village
 
Improvements.</span></span></p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none">
 
<br/>
 
 
 
</p>
 
<p class="western" align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%">
 
<span style="text-decoration: none"><span style="font-weight: normal">March
 
3, 1968 C.E. Gainey</span></span></p>
 

Latest revision as of 15:51, 4 February 2020

Cover of "The Village Swimming Pool and How it Began".

"The Village Swimming Pool and How it Began" is a historical record and compilation of photos taken during the 1930s while construction of the swimming pool in St Helena Park was in progress. The record was donated to the Canal Fulton Public Library in 1968 by the writer, C.E. Gainey.

Original Text, as written by C.E. Gainey

“THE VILLAGE SWIMMING POOL”
*And How It Began

The following story relates to the origin of the Village Swimming Pool:-

Fear of the loss of the origin and construction history of the Village Swimming Pool causes the writer, who was instrumental in its planning and construction, to attempt to relate some of the Pool’s background for historical purposes.

Back in 1933-1934, times were tough and many men were out of work, our country’s economy at a low ebb. The Government, realizing the unrest and seriousness of world conditions, enacted the E.R.A., a federal program whereby Federal Funds could be spend on worth-while projects, and as a direct result of this program, millions of the nation’s idle men would be put to work to earn a meager day’s wages whereby he could support himself and his family.

Throughout the Nation, Political Sub-divisions were requested to make known to their County Authorities (in this case the Stark County Commissioners) worth while projects that would reflect a general benefit to its community, and the employment of a Multitude of un-employed men.

Requests for projects were submitted to the Stark County Commissioners, and they in turn would submit them to the Stark County Engineer’s Office for review to determine their eligibility, acceptance or rejection as a project worthy of general benefit to the community.

The writer, who was a Deputy in the Stark County Engineer’s Office was very close to this program, and fully convinced that any worth-while project submitted by the Village of Canal Fulton would receive its due consideration.

Mr. John Dugan was Mayor of the Village at this time, and the writer the Village Clerk. Upon receipt of a formal request from the Stark County Commissioner’s Office asking the Village Council to prepare and submit proposed projects for this program, the Village Council appointed the Mayor, Mr. Dugan and C.E.Gainey, Clerk to act in behalf of the Village, and to submit for approval such projects as they deemed beneficial to the community, and that would warrant with-out question the expenditure of Federal Funds under the Governments E.R.A. Program.

Much thought, and the burning of midnight oil was given by Mr. Dugan and the writer in searching out acceptable projects that would not exceed the amount of money allotted to the village under this program.

Among the several projects proposed, Mr. Dugan the Mayor, suggested we construct a dam in the Ohio-Erie Canal within the Village to provide a place for swimming for the people of Canal Fulton. This proposal did not meet the approval of the Village Council, as the canal was at low ebb and pretty much of a mosquito hole and swampy, due to a break in the banks of the Nimishila Feeder, from which water was fed into the canal.

In the course of our search for a more desirable location for a swimming pool, which we thought would be an asset to the Village wherby the people of Canal Fulton could enjoy themselves, Mr. Dugan the Mayor and a good citizen of our village, became ill and died from his ailment, leaving the responsibility to the writer to carry on in this matter.

In the early part of the spring of 1934, the writer who was home from work recuperating from an attack of the flu, was standing at the front window of the Ray Myers Ford Garage soaking in some of the early spring sunshine and looking down across the canal and river. Knowing that the land lying between the canal and river was village property, and had been laid out an a Market Place when the village was first laid out, it being public property prompted the writer to remark in the presence of Mr. Myers, that this location would make an ideal place for the Village Swimming Pool.

My suggestion did not meet with the full approval of Mr. Ray Myers, this did not cause me to dismiss my thoughts of its possibility, as I was determined to investigate its possibility, in a few days, after fully recovered from the flu, and with the aid of my son Keith, we ran levels from the Canal to the River to determine the fall in elevation between the two bodies of water.

The writer and the Village Council were fully aware of the fact that high flooding of the Tuscarawas River would overflow in to the pool if constructed in this location. Every-one conceded that this was of a minor nature and would happen only once in a long time, and the land being Village property there would be no land cost.

Upon completion of the survey, I, found to my surprise that a pool 8 feet deep at its outlet end could be constructed with gravity flow of water from the Canal into the Pool, thence from the pool to the River, along filter beds at the inlet end of the canal which would supply the water for the pool.

This location met the approval of the Village Council, who directed the writer to prepare a preliminary drawing of the proposed location along with elevations. This was done and presented to the County Commissioners, who in turn presented our application to the Stark County Engineer’s Office, Mr. Wade Schidler, County Engineer, and who’s office was charged with checking, prosecution and supervision of all projects.

Within a few days the County Engineer dispatched a survey crew to the scene and made a thorough survey from which final construction plans were made for the construction of the Swimming Pool at Canal Fulton, O.

This project, due to its nature, had to be approved by the Stark County Health Dept. and also the State Health Dept. in Columbus, O. The writer being a good friend of the Stark County Health Officer which was Doctor Floyd Stamp, had no trouble in having him approve the project. The next hurdle to cover was the State Health Dept. in Columbus, O. At Dr. Stamp’s suggestion, he and I drove to Columbus and with his fine manner of persuasion, he convinced the Columbus people that this was a fine improvement for the people of Canal Fulton. So, home we came with the blessings of the Health Dept. of the State of Ohio.

Construction of the Swimming Pool began on June 4, 1934. The concrete footers, walls, inlet and outlet to and from the pool were completed in November of 1935. Mr. Orton Mathie was the project foreman on all of the above work.

The construction of the pool did not include the 6 foot brick walk around the pool. This was accomplished by members of the Canal Fulton Rotary Club along with other public spirited citizens of the village. Around 1935, Route # 21, was being repaved and the section just below Lock #4, was being abandoned in favor of about one mile of relocation of the road. On this section of the old road which was abandoned, the existing brick pavement was still in tact, but was to be removed at a later date by the contractor, Mr. Elmer Vogt of Massillon, O. Thru the efforts of Carl McFarland, a hard working and devout Rotarian and the writer, we imposed upon and was given Mr. Vogt’s permission to remove from the old abandoned road bed enough brick to make a 6 foot walk all around the pool for sanitary purposes. The task of removing the brick from the road bed, the trucking of them to the pool, cleaning and laying the brick on a prepared sand cushion and finally cement grouting of the brick in place was finally completed thru the find co-operation of the Rotary Club members and the many fine citizens who were possessed with that community spirit of making Canal Fulton a better place to live in.

Many other minor and major improvements were made to the pool from year to year. The writer for a good many years would make his visit to the pool twice a week (at about 6 A.M.) to treat the water and remove the debris and leaves from outlet overflow.

The Village Council always provided the necessary chemicals for the treatment of the water as well as the funds for many minor items necessary to keep the pool in good graces with the Health Department.

Then in later years the Rotary Club along with the co-operation of the Park Board assumed all responsibilities of managing the pool and maintenance of the Village Park. Even at this early date, no place in Stark County could boast of having a Park and Pool like the one in Canal Fulton, and this is definitely due to the public spirited people of the Village of Canal Fulton.

Swimming Pool Data
Construction Began June 4, 1934
Construction Completed November 15, 1934


Original Break-Down of Costs
Federal Funds $5450.68
Canal Fulton Village Funds $378.88
Original Total Cost $5822.56
Other Data
Pool opened up for swimming Summer 1935
Placed 100 tons of sand in pool 1935
Average daily bathers as of May 30th, 1936 60
Installed diving board 1935
Placed 40 tons of sand in pool 1937
Installed extra outlet (north end of pool) 1937
Placed warning signs around pool 1937
Installed Ladder June 1938
Concreted portion of pool floor June 1940

Many other fine improvements have been made to the Pool since 1940, the most outstanding one being the erection of a Bath House, Water filtering system and the enclosing of the pool with a Page wire fence which was installed in 1967.

This report on the Canal Fulton Swimming Pool is from the memory and meager records of the writer who was very much concerned in Village Improvements.

March 3, 1968 C.E. Gainey

Gallery

PDF of Original