The Plant Bath House - Ottawa, Ontario - Artistically Decorated Utility Boxes on Waymarking.com

The Plant Bathhouse

Many generations learned to swim at Plant Bath and also bathed here before home plumbing was common. Enduring community support saved the pool from closing.

The red chalk drawings made by Thomas Charles Wood were used as model to decorate the utility box located in proximity to the Plant Bath. Red chalk drawings of a swimmer, diver and spectator who most probably came to see a swimming of diving competition, are replicated on the utility box.

"Anchoring the intersection of Little Italy, Chinatown, and Hintonburg, Plant Bath and the Community Centre has been a focal point and gathering place for the neighbourhood since 1924. The baths were seen as an important step in promoting hygiene and good health, particularly for working-class families whose homes lacked indoor plumbing. Over the decades thousands of children learned to swim here and it became a hub of community life.

We chose to decorate our installation with the beautiful red chalk drawings of famous Canadian artist Tom Wood, known especially for his paintings during the Second World War. In April 1937, Tom visited Plant Bath and his sketchbook, from which these illustrations are taken, shows divers, bathers, and spectators (the woman in the fancy hat). Held by Library and Archives Canada, these sketches have remained largely unknown and unseen, until now. We are very grateful to Martha (Wood) Gougeon for permission to share them with you.

We chose to decorate our installation with the beautiful red chalk drawings of famous Canadian artist Tom Wood, known especially for his paintings during the Second World War. In April 1937, Tom visited Plant Bath and his sketchbook, from which these illustrations are taken, shows divers, bathers, and spectators (the woman in the fancy hat). Held by Library and Archives Canada, these sketches have remained largely unknown and unseen, until now. We are very grateful to Martha (Wood) Gougeon for permission to share them with you."

Source: (visit link)

Name of Artist: Tom Wood Title of the Art: The Plant Bath House Year Decorated: 2014

Visit Instructions:
When visiting a waymark, please take a picture that clearly shows the artistically decorated utility box. If you have a picture with yourself at the utility box, that would be great too. Also, tell us if you liked the art on the box.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/26/2022 elyob visited it