Tracking the history of pools
If you were in Foxton for many years you could go for swim in the river or at the beach. The beach is still an option but a lot of the river is not. In its place we have the Foxton Pools.
These are the latest in a number of efforts to have swimming facilties in the town.
The earliest record I have found was when the Manawatu Herald reported in 1905 that F De Ridder had suggested the development of baths on the riverside.
In 1923 a newly formed swimming club hoped to use the swimming hole at the mouth of the Te Awahou Stream for their activities.
After a public meeting it was decided to develop baths and once the town water supply was available baths were developed in Easton Park.
This water was untreated and contained some sediments.
As a child I can remember swimming in them. After a fresh filling the water got warmer but then it got dirtier — the bottom layer was “pea soup”! That was all then drained out and the water was clean — but colder!
By the 1960s the condition of the baths had deteriorated so it was decided to construct a new one.
The old one had to be removed so that was done by letting Army engineers practice their demolition skills!
The new baths were filled in October 1963. These were used by the public, swimming clubs and surf lifesavers.
I gained my Surf Club Bronze Medallion there by swimming 440 yards in under eight minutes!
I haven’t researched what happened at the baths leading up to the present development.
From memory they may have been heated at one stage
— can you confirm or deny that? I aso seem to recall canoeist paddling in it.
We are not far away from celebrating 100 years of a Public Baths in Foxton being available to the public in Foxton.
Let’s hope we still have today’s facilty when the time arises so our community can continue to learn to swim and enjoy the exercise.
Certainly they are needed to teach our children to swim as school baths are very rare nowadays.