It's filled in now, but in its prime Rocky Point pool hosted Olympians. Here's the story.
At Rocky Point State Park, vestiges of an old saltwater pool remain along the right side of the road that used to be the main entrance to the amusement park.
These days, it's full of grass, outlined by the cement perimeter from which kids used to jump in on a hot summer day. It's marked by a sign explaining what used to be there — how it was 12 feet deep in the center and had three diving boards and two slides.
A note on the bottom of the sign reads, "Fun Fact: The 1936 U.S. Olympic Men's swimming trials were held at this pool."
One What and Why RI reader wrote in to ask if the fun fact was true, so we broke open the archives to take a look at the event.
The 1936 Olympic swimming trials in Rhode Island
It’s not a legend. In 1936 elite swimmers from all over the country dove into the pool to compete for their chance at Olympic glory.
It was Rhode Island’s tercentenary year, and celebrations were happening all around the state. Leading up to the celebration, a committee The Providence Journal described as energetic — consisting of chairman Arthur R. Francis, Brown swim coach E. Leo Barry and swimmer Bud Latham — got it in their heads that Rhode Island should host the Olympic swimming trials.
What and Why RI: What's the story behind the 'Gnomes' mural on I-95? We tracked down the artist to ask
They campaigned against New York City, Cleveland and Long Island, promising that the Rocky Point swimming pool could be brought up to par. And, they won out.
“The meet, first of its type ever held east of Detroit and Cincinnati, will bring between 100 and 150 of the leading swimmers from all parts of the United States to Rocky Point and will be one of the largest and most important sports attractions ever held in Southern New England,” The Journal wrote in the Dec. 29, 1935, edition. “Certainly, nothing ever staged in Rhode Island of a sports nature looms above the possibilities that this event holds.”
The pool needed to be lengthened by 50 feet ahead of the event, and a press box had to be set up. When tickets went on sale in April they were $1.65 a piece, which would be about $36 today.
What happened at the event?
On July 10, 11 and 12, Olympic hopefuls from all over the country hit the pool for their shot at swimming in the games in Berlin.
Ahead of the event, sports enthusiasts were predicting that numerous records would be set, with people particularly watching Adolf Kiefer, who was described by The Journal as “the brilliant Chicago schoolboy swimming sensation who apparently has limitless speed and stamina,” and Johnny Higgins, a hometown favorite from the Olneyville Boy’s Club.
What and Why RI: Why do Rhode Islanders say bubbler when most people don't? Here's what we found out
Higgins set the record in the 200-meter breaststroke. Kiefer set the record for the 100-meter backstroke. Ralph Flanagan broke the record for the 400-meter freestyle. Jack Medica was also a standout, winning second place in two events.
All told, 21 swimmers qualified, according to The Journal’s reporting after the event.
How did the team do at the Olympics?
At the games, the Americans won two gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
Medica won gold in the 400-meter freestyle, and Kiefer won gold for the 100-meter backstroke. Higgins just missed the podium at the Olympics, coming in fourth.
What and Why RI: How did Federal Hill get its name? There was almost bloodshed.
The games themselves were somewhat eclipsed by the rise of Nazi Germany, with Adolf Hitler visiting the Olympic Village, including a meeting with the U.S. swim team.
Kiefer, who went on to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II, famously and repeatedly said, “I should’ve thrown him in the pool and drowned him. It would have saved everyone a lot of trouble.”
What happened to the Rocky Point pool?
Just two years after the Olympic swim trials brought so much excitement to the pool, it was damaged in the Hurricane of 1938.
It was reopened in 1949, according to the Cranston Herald. But as public swimming pools became less popular, the pool fell out of favor. In 1985, it was closed for good.
What and Why RI is a weekly feature by The Providence Journal to explore our readers' curiosity. If you have a question about Rhode Island, big or small, email it to klandeck@gannett.com. She loves a good question.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How Rocky Point pool in RI came to host 1936 Olympic swim trials
