The pool was built in 1932, at a time when money was truly a scarce commodity. So... the town got together and, with some financial help from their good neighbour,
, the town, children included, built it themselves. Upgraded and renovated more than once in the intervening 90 years, it has served the community every year since that depression summer that it first opened to the glee of children and adults alike.
In 2012, when the pool turned 80 it was obviously cause for celebration, so the Rossland Rec Department threw a party. Well... ...no, they didn't - they made a
instead. People just don't recognize a good party opportunity any more. Details below.
Rossland Pool celebrates
its 80th Birthday
ROSSLAND REC DEPARMENT - Thu Jul 19th, 2012 2:00pm
The Rossland Pool is celebrating its 80th Birthday this summer! To celebrate the historic pool, the Recreation Department has created a video that can be viewed on YouTube. Type in “Rossland Pool – 80th Birthday” into the search bar – and enjoy! If you have photos, videos or newspaper articles you would like to add to the video, please contact our office at 250-362-2327 or by email at recreation@rossland.ca. We’ll continue to add to the video all summer and release the final version at the Birthday Party Bash, in August.
The idea for a pool was born after a group of Rossland citizens decided that our mountainous community needed an aquatic presence. The Rossland Pool Society was formed and the group worked hard to accumulate donated labour and materials, including the land which was donated by the City, the pump which was donated by Teck and the shipping costs to deliver the pump from Chicago, by CP Rail. The society also drew heavily from the local population of eager volunteers – including children who were rallied to help carry tools, refill water for the men, remove debris and generally help keep the site orderly – in exchange for free swimming when the pool opened, later that summer.
The late Jock Irvin recounted his memories of the summer of 1932 to me, several years ago, and described the enthusiasm and excitement that gripped the community. Jock was a child – I think he said he was seven years old – and one of many local boys who were asked to help the workers each day. He lived across the street on the bluff that overlooks Pioneer Park. At that time the land was a large farm, complete with horses and cows. Jock was able to watch the pool being built from his farm and each day ran to the worksite to help build the pool.
The construction started in the Spring of 1932 and was completed on August 7 of the same year. According to newspaper articles of the time, the community celebrated the opening of the pool with a noisy regatta that lasted the entire day.
The Rossland Pool continued to be run by the Society for the majority of its 80 years – drawing on the skills, expertise and dedication of local citizens. In the late 1960s the Province introduced new safety standards for pools that had to be in compliance by 1974 – when the new Health Act was released. The upgrades to the Rossland pool were valued at $40,000 and included; a new filtering device, a new basin, gutters, lifesaving equipment and play equipment.
With the possibility of losing their precious community pool, the citizens of Rossland banded together to find the funds. Donations came from organizations such as; the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Rossland Teen Town, Rossland Rotary Club, the Royal Canadian Legion, the City of Rossland and the United Appeal. Additionally, the Society put on several large and successful fundraisers. By May of 1972 enough money had been collected to begin the renovation to the Pool.
From the Rossland News