TA24-J F-Pages - Flipbook - Page 68
Opening spread Barton
Above Deep
Springs Pool represents the heart of Texas swimming culture. People from all walks of life cool o昀昀 and socialize in the natural spring water.
Eddy Pool was one of the earliest “destination” pools, and at one point counted a zip line and a merry-go-round amongst its amenities.
othing soothes the burn of the infamous Texas sun quite like taking a dip
in the nearest swimming pool. Texans of all ages 昀氀ock to public pools
during the summer months — on the hottest days of the year, it certainly seems
as though everyone in the city must be at your neighborhood pool. Despite the
prominent role of swimming pools in Texas culture, these community landmarks have been in decline for some time. Many Texas pools are in a state of
disrepair and neglect, su昀昀ering from underfunding and low attendance rates.
In a time when unregulated third places (social environments outside of one’s
work or home) are fast disappearing, public pools provide valuable space for
socialization and open-ended recreation. However, if we wish to preserve the
future of our swimming pools, we must 昀椀rst turn a critical eye to their past.
Municipal pools got their start in the northern United States during the
late 19th century, when it became clear that swimming in man-made pools
was much safer than splashing around in any of the highly polluted bodies of
water surrounding the nation’s most populated cities. Swimming pools became
increasingly common during the Progressive Era but functioned primarily
as public baths and exercise facilities. At that time, pools were segregated
along class lines, guided by the belief that members of the working class were
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inherently dirtier than middle- and upper-class swimmers. Men and women
were also separated in the name of public decency; they visited the pool on
alternate days or used di昀昀erent facilities altogether.
While the 昀椀rst municipal pools were built to serve a distinctly utilitarian
purpose, they gradually became places for socialization and entertainment.
Deep Eddy Pool in Austin — the oldest pool in the state — was one of the
earliest “destination” pools. Located on private land when it opened in 1902,
it operated not only as a swimming attraction but also as a carnival ground.
Open to the public, the bathing beach and park offered many amenities,
including a zip line and a merry-go-round. The city of Austin purchased the
property in 1935. Shortly after, a 昀氀ood took out most of the pool’s amenities,
and only some of the facilities — like the bathhouse — were rebuilt. Today,
Deep Eddy operates more like a traditional pool but remains a treasured local
landmark for recreation and socialization.
The golden age of swimming pools took place during the 1920s and 1930s.
Widespread economic prosperity in the Roaring Twenties saw the rise of resortstyle pools like Deep Eddy, and even smaller public pools were designed with
leisure in mind. Sunbathing beaches and picnicking lawns grew in popularity as
OPENING PHOTO BY ALEX GEORGE VIA UNSPLASH; PHOTO THIS PAGE: [PICA 22649],
AUSTIN HISTORICAL CENTER, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
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