The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-02

On. the ola SWlmm1n mole Wudre the
crick SO still and deep
Looked like baby river that was Iayin'
half asleep.
And the gurgIe of the worter round the
drift just below
Sounded like the laugh Of something
we onc't ust to know.
Before we could remember anything
but the eyes
OF Angels Iookin' out as we left Para
disc;
But the merry days of youth is beyond
our controle.
And it's hard to part forever with the
old swimmin' hole.
That is the song of the stubbed toe
days that James Whitcomb Riley,
the "Hoosier Poet sang in verse to
the "Old Swimrnin' Hole" on
Brandywine creek near Greenfield,
Ind.
That was his tribute to the swim
min holes of the world with their
glad lilies, bullrushes, and cattailS
tall"
And now that poem sings best
requiem for the spot on BrandyWine
creek which Riley made famous, as
the new $4,000 swimmin' pool with
in a horseshoe toss of the "Old Un"
bristles and CLEANS in its new con-
crete in readiness to take the "Old
Un's" place.
Dedicatory exercises for the new
pool-a pool with diving boards N
other fancy things-will be held
Friday in Riley park.
Times Have Changed
backed bathing suits in hobby
stripes will take the place of ma
lures suit. Theren be no sandy
silt to wrinkle your toes in and the
"Skinnys" of today won't have to
worry about some one tying knots
in their shirts as did Riley.
Bright nickled showers displace
the first "duckin' The old log
where you baked and burned with
out being stylish about it and CALL
ing it tan" won't be there. The
"two-by-four" you used for a spring
board is lost in a nifty board
wrapped in rope mating.
There'll be no moonlight swims,
with incandescentS everywhere at
the new pool.
And as for playing hockey in the
springtime, there's not chance,
with life guards, swimming instruc-
tors, and pool managers near.
&c. the lost joys is past! Let your
tears in sorrow roll
Like the rain that ust to dapple up the
old swimmin' hole
But the new pool brings super
vised swimming to the tads of |
Once Towns Hangout
In the barefoot days of Riley,
from 1858 to 1865, the "Old Swim
min Hole" was the towns hangout
for boydon1 in the spring.
Then Brandywine creek changed
it's course and left the "Old SWIM
min Hole" high and dry, with
naught to mark it but an old log
stump.
But the youth wasn't to be denied
and as the creeks course changed,
the "swimmin' hole" changed. 1t
changed in attire, too. The Green
field city council passed an ordi-
nance forbidding 'au natural dives
and the boys came in suits, home
made and the store kind.
On Oct. 7, 1925, Riley Memorial
park was dedicated formally. The
heart of its enviror:s was the swim
min hole" BY day, youth, prop
erly suited, swan there. BY night
well-they do say that white ghosts
Of Riley's dream worlds came back
sometimes TO do "jack-knife" dives,
The late George A. Carr, former
mayor of Greenfield, was one of
Riley's earliest chums. He visioned
the new modern pool as a tribute to
the "Old Swimnin' Hole" and the
man who made it e saga of youth.
Dedication Set for Friday
The Greenfield park board and
city officers fulfill that dream with
the dedication Friday.
The poem, "Old Swimmin' Hole"
first was printed in the Indianap-