Boyne Swimming Hole
From the time of early settlement, the many tree-shaded swimming holes along the Boyne Rover were popular areas for fun and recreation.
In the mid 1940’s, the Carman Swimming Club developed this curve on the Boyne River as a major recreation center of the community.
The Carman Kinsmen managed operation of the pool and took over the assets of the Swimming Club in 1950. They enlarged and improved the site by hauling in fine sand every year to create a beach area.
Crowds of up to 2000 people watched annual swim meets. The Carman Band often entertained from a bandstand on the south side of the river.
In 1960, the swimming area closed due to safety concerns and the Kinsmen opened a modern pool in Kings Parks.
March 2014
The Old Swimming Hole on the Boyne River
CDMHAC appreciates help from the local community in identifying heritage sites that should be commemorated by cairns, signs or in other significant ways. One of the sites that was brought to our attention was the Old Swimming Hole on the Boyne River.
Margaret Riddell kindly forwarded a copy of an article she wrote for a special Homecoming Edition of The Valley Leader (July 10, 2000, p. 31) in which she reminds us of this intriguing piece of local heritage. Margaret wrote:Wherever you find a river, you will find swimmers, and the Boyne is no exception. From the time of early settlement, there were many swimming holes along its shady banks.
In the mid-forties, the idea of a ‘pool’ in the centre of town was conceived. The Carman Swimming Club developed an area on a wide curve in the river just west of the present Riverview Legion Place. It quickly became one of the major recreation centres of the community.
Construction at the Boyne Swimming Hole
Crowds of up to 2000 people showed up to watch annual swim meets. Local people competed in races and relays and diving exhibitions, and young daredevils catapulted into the water from a rope on the great tree overhanging the river. The Carman Band often entertained from a bandstand on the south side of the Boyne.
The Carman Kinsmen managed the day-to-day operation of the pool until 1950, when they took over all the assets of the Swimming Club. The Kinsmen proceeded to enlarge and improve the site, which included tennis courts and horseshoe pits to the north of the river. They moved a building to the west side of the tennis courts to serve as a lunch stand and storeroom. Fine sand had to be hauled in on a yearly basis to maintain the beach area.Boyne Swimming Hole showing bandstand on left and other amenities
By the late fifties, safety concerns were mounting. The Kinsmen opened a modern pool in Kings Park in 1960, and the recreation area next to the Boyne disappeared beneath a residential development.
All that remains of the once-busy pool is a set of small concrete steps which led down to the diving platform at the river’s edge, and the remnants of concrete sidewalks leading to the change houses. Part of the low concrete wall that protected the sand beach area is still visible, but the great tree with the rope swing is long gone.CDMHAC is looking into the type of signage that might be suitable to mark the location of the swimming hole, considering public access to the area. Note that the above photos are from the fine collection of pictorial images at the Dufferin Historical Museum. See this month’s Vintage Photos for more pictures featuring the Boyne River.