Volume 13 , Issue 2

McGill Swimming Pool Memories

This photo on the left shows what the 600 block of Barnes Avenue looks like at the present. Behind the short building is where old McGill Swimming Pool once filled many young lads and girls in the early 1900's during the hot summer months.

We did a search back through our OkieLegacy archives for more memories of McGill Swimming Pool stories and found the following memories featured in Vol. 7, Iss. 13, dated 2005-04-02:

This is some more information we gathered about the McGill Bros. Furniture stores and swimming pool: "The McGill Bros. Furniture had two stores in the 600 block of Barnes Avenue, in Alva, Oklahoma. The first store was just East of DeGeer's two-story building. The DeGreer building had the Grocery Store on the bottom floor, main floor and apartments on the second story."

"I think the pool was almost behind Bill Brands pool hall. I played lots of dominos there. Nothing but soda to drink. When I went out the back door, I seem to remember going around the edge of the pool. Never remember it having been used. This would have been around '54 or '55. Wow, has it really been that long ago? How time flys when you're having fun! Hope you are too!" -- Steve

"I remember the swimming pool, used it often in the 30's. Can't remember it being open in the 40's, but there was a pool room either right or left of where the pool entrance was. It didn't sell beer and was a hangout for the teen-agers. I can't remember the name of the guy who owned it. I and several of my close friends hung out there during the summer of about 1940 or so. Max McAlister, Jimmy Appleman and I. Those were the days!!" -- Max

"That swimming pool behind the south side of Barnes Avenue was still there in the 60's, but it was full of weeds and hadn't been used in years. My mom used to tell me that she swam there in her youth." -- Scott

"The street was Barnes Avenue, of course. As I recall, Bob Shorts Dad had a store there and next door was a barber shop. You walked between the stores, by the old pool, to the alley. Across the alley was the Doctors offices and clinic." -- Richard

Remember this following poem about the McGill Bros. Swimming Pool, written by Wm. J. "Bill" McGill:

McGill Bros Swimming Pool
At the close of sultry summer day
Join the crowds that wend their way
To plunge in water fresh and cool
At McGills' most popular Swimming Pool.
And just a few steps from the door
You'll find their Famous Furniture Store.
There, too, your needs will be supplied,
And all your tastes be satisfied.
McGill Brothers, S.W. Cor. Square.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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