Return to the Frank Passic
Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
|
Morning Star, August 11, 2024, pg. 8 From 1914 through 1957, the City of Albion offered outdoor swimming in the Kalamazoo River on S. Hannah St. at a place called Dutchtown. Hundreds of Albion youth would gather here during the summer months under the auspices of the Albion Recreation Department. It was a great place to swim if you were growing up in Albion. An attended bathhouse allowed for changing of clothes, as well as toilet facilities. There were railings installed that led into the water, and concrete steps led into the water from both the City side and the Albion College side as well. As part of the summer activities at Dutchtown, the Recreation Department would feature a water ballet event each season highlighting particular swimmers. There were numerous props and costumes which swimmers used in their performances. Spectators lined the S. Hannah St. bridge and the banks of the River to view this event. Unfortunately, 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. The 1957 season was the last, although swimmers didn't know it at the time. The water rights were subsequently purchased by Albion College and the water level was lowered via the dam which exists there. A new municipal pool was planned for the west end of Victory Park to replace Dutchtown, but funding was not secured and the plan was abandoned. From our Historical Notebook this week we present a rare unpublished photograph, recently digitized from a 4 x 5-inch original negative taken at Dutchtown in June, 1955. The view looks north, while swimmers are enjoying their time in the water. Here we see the south end of the Albion College concrete wall with the chain-link fence barrier that was installed to keep people from sneaking in free to football games in the fall. Kids and their bicycles line the sidewalk on the west side of the wall. Notice the steps going down into the water which still remain there today. On the right we see a small sandy beach on the College side of the River, showing kids playing and swimming there (Imagine the liability problems that would create today). In the foreground on the left is a youth watching over the swimmers, while electrical wires exist overhead. There are some loose wooden boards laying on the ground for some type of repair job. The three lifeguards for the 1955 season were director Walter McCormick, Lindsay Gunderman, and Gary Kraus. Although Dutchtown has been closed for nearly seven decades, there are still physical remains of its existence today. Drive by there and see for yourself what's left. How many of our readers ever swam at Dutchtown?  Dutchtown in June, 1955
All text copyright, 2024 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
| ||||
