DUTCHTOWN SWIMMING HOLE POPULAR IN THE 1950s

During these hot summer months, we are reminded that Albion once had its own "natural" swimming hole, in existence from 1914 until the end of the 1957 season. It was called Dutchtown, and was located on S. Hannah St. across the Kalamazoo River from the Albion College athletic field.

Dutchtown had a changing shelter, and the summer program was operated by the Albion Recreation Department. During the 1950s, the Department would feature a water ballet event each season, and featured various swimmers. There were various props and costumes which swimmers used in their performances. Hundreds of youths lined the Hannah St. bridge and along the banks of the River to watch these water ballets.

What happened to Dutchtown? On July 2, 1956 at exactly 3 pm, the summer swimming program came to an abrupt halt. The Albion Flour Mill on E. Cass St., which owned the water rights, lowered the millrace in order to make repairs to its water-powered facility, and Dutchtown was closed for the remainder of the season. The following year, Dutchtown was opened again for the 1957 season. The Albion Flour Mill was closed that year on August 24 after the owner, Gladys Key, failed to find a buyer.

In addition, the health department began pressuring the city to close the park for water quality, sanitary and safety reasons. Broken glass abounded, as well as blood-suckers, I am told. The 1957 season was therefore the last, although they didn’t know it at the time, and Dutchtown did not reopen for the 1958 season. The water rights were subsequently purchased by Albion College and the water level was lowered.

Without any official natural swimming area left in town, Albion youth subsequently sought to go (if they could) swimming at Swain’s Lake south of Concord, or at Dudek’s along the Kalamazoo River on the way to Concord, or swim at their own risk clandestinely at various places around the Victory Park waterfall. Some swam at the Parker Inn pool, provided that they paid the 50-cent fee each time.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photo of the June 12, 1954 Dutchtown season opening showing children happily enjoying the cool waters of the Kalamazoo River. How many of our readers remember swimming at Dutchtown?

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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