As demise nears, a look back at how Brand Park Pool was created by Elmira residents

If you grew up on Elmira’s Southside, you spent your entire summers at Brand Park Pool. We stood sardined in ice-cold water with no room for actual swimming. I remember admission as 10 cents for a whole afternoon in the 1970s. Although it hasn’t been used in 20 years, we’re about to lose our beloved pool. It is set to be torn down later this year.

Elmira had early pools. The YMCA had a pool in 1906, but you had to be a member. The Federation Building had a pool.

On Aug. 21, 1922, the Brand Park Neighborhood Association petition request that the city build a swimming pool in the park was read at the Common Council meeting. Many interested citizens believed that city pools would eliminate the drowning deaths in the Chemung River. The Westside Playground Association also petitioned the Common Council for a pool.

Mayor Wood stated that a safely constructed pool would cost no less than $25,000 each.

Three years later, after nothing had happened, a swimming pool fund was started by Leon Markson on July 9, 1925. Two days later, the city fathers responded that they had thoroughly discussed the matter, and “If we had the money, we could start building a swimming pool next week,” said park commissioner John Duhl.

Another park commissioner, John Brand, suggested Brand Park with ample room and distance from residences to avoid complaints. There were three ways to get the money – a bond authorized by citizens, an outright donation of the sum needed, or a fund drive.

Two weeks later, the idea was nixed for the time, citing “the cost of construction, heavy maintenance expense, and the possible lack of enthusiasm. The estimate had been raised to between $60,000 and $80,000 with an annual maintenance of $3,500, plus a mechanic’s salary to change the water and for a 'lifesaver.'”

The citizens of Elmira weren’t ready to throw in the towel. A second movement started on Sept. 5, 1925, under the auspices of the Lions Club. This got the ball rolling. The Association of Commerce, various lodges, and organizations believed they could raise $30,000 fairly quickly.

The Lions Club raised $13,000. On May 11, 1926, taxpayers voted to raise $20,000 for a pool in Brand Park. On Sept. 9, 1926, the contract was signed for Holleran Brothers to build a pool with an early Wesley Bintz design for $31,971. Construction would start the next year.

The pool opened July 2, 1927, although, on June 27, the first Jackknife dive - fully clothed - was by Edward Sweeney, EFA football captain, who announced, “The water’s great.”

Brand Park pool opened on July 2 at 6 p.m. with 900 swimmers on the first night. Problems arose the first week. Picnic basket thieves were hard at work. Families’ lunches disappeared.

The pool was destroyed in the May 1946 flood. It was deemed unusable. Now what, should we build another big one or maybe a bunch of little ones? For the time being, the city set up splash pads.

The levee next to Brand Park was raised to 20 feet that summer.

Army Flood Control decided a new pool would need a new location to protect the levee.

In June 1948, the city council discussed the possibility of a new pool.

On Aug. 23, 1948, Wesley Bintz, the nationally known designer of swimming pools, was in Elmira, speaking to our city council. He recommended an elevated pool. He brought drawings. It would cost approximately $125,000. It was more like $160,000 when the bidding started.

The new Brand Park pool opened on July 23, 1949, with great success. The first weekend brought 1,300 swimmers, with a limit of 678 at any one time, so some kids had to wait. Such success came with problems – kids climbing the outside walls to get in day and night, and the lack of lockers left clothing lying everywhere. Special police patrols watched over the walls to keep climbers out. More lockers arrived for the guests.

That was the pool we fondly remember. In the 1970s, my mom greased me with Crisco and sent me off for an afternoon of swimming. It was “my fault” when I returned home bright red and burnt to a crisp. I had the whitest shade of blonde hair in those days.

In its last year, 135 swimmers used it daily. Our pool closed on Aug. 10, 2003.

— Diane Janowski is the Elmira City Historian.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: How Elmira residents rallied to create Brand Park Pool