Herald's history series: Sylva swimming pool opened in July 1969

When swimmers return to the pool, it will be nearly 32 years since the facility first opened to much fanfare and large crowds.

Following is part of an article from the July 24, 1969, Herald:

Sylva's new Olympic-size pool, in its first week of operation, is an unqualified success. Young Danny Dillard goes down in history as first through the gate when the Roscoe Poteet Swimming Pool opened promptly at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 17.

He arrived at 12:20. At 12:30 there were 18 in line, and by 12:55 the line had grown to 66. Within the first 15 minutes, 132 paid admissions were in the cash drawer.

The balance was about even between teenagers and those younger.

Attendance hung at about 220 paid admissions on Thursday and Friday, the first two days, then soared to 422 on Saturday. Sunday was an off day due largely to bad weather, including heavy electrical storms. Though Monday was something of a rainy day, admissions reached 275.

The snack bar sold out on its first day so the stocks of food and drinks have been upped to meet the demand.

Mike Cagle was first off a diving board, and he went off the high one.

Lined up at the gate on opening day, youngsters kept asking "What time is it? How long yet?" Members of the pool staff said that it was like an invasion, but that things are settling down now and that they were too.

The pool is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

"We've been getting our biggest crowds from 2 o'clock to about 5 but it falls off until about 7," says George McConnell Jr., park supervisor. "Then it picks up again some, but so far there has not been much evening action, so there is plenty of room then."

Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001.

Back to Archive: 06/07/01.