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VINTAGRAPH • WPA • WWII • YOU MEAN A WOMAN CAN OPEN IT?

School Pool: 1922

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1922. "Swimming pool, Balch School." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1922. "Swimming pool, Balch School." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

I swam there!

That was my school pool! I went to Golightly which merged with Balch back in the early 80's. We still had swim class back then. I can't remember the ladders or upper level. Those may have been gone by my time? I think it was shortly after I left that the pool was shut down for maintenance issues. Which for a 60+ year old pool had to be adding up. There's talk of them trying to reopen it now.

Re: The surface of the pool

The surface looks like that due to the relatively long exposure. A little longer, and all ripples would have disappeared into a misty appearance.

World of Difference

This pool is much nicer than the one at Central High.

The surface of the pool

looks reminiscent of an indoor skating rink in Canada.

Boys will be boys

I'm sure that even back then., more than one of the kids jumped off the catwalk into the pool on a dare. I know I would have.

Heaven forbid

that those boys should be introduced to the evils of Co-Ed Swimming!

I don't understand

I don't understand the ladders rising from the shallow end of the pool to the second floor. The guard rails are in front of the ladder and one would have to climb over the rails if one used these ladders. It is possible that there is a platform at the top of each ladder but with that being the shallow end it couldn't be used for diving. It seems this school has a built in horseplay area.

Also, since this is Detroit, that water would be cold year round unless it was heated. A valid reason for gender separation at such a volatile age of one's developmental life.

[There's a bracket next to the each ladder for a diving board or platform. As for this pool being cold because it's in Detroit, it's in a heated room. - Dave]

Already set

for ice skating in the winter. I bet there were a few high jumps off that walkway.

My eyes are burning

After a minute of viewing this photo I swear I can smell the chlorine.

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