Considering the Past: Topics in M.C. History

From the beginning of the college’s move to the outskirts of Raleigh in 1925-26, students at Meredith College had wanted a swimming pool on campus. Compared to the cramped, confined downtown campus, the new campus had room to expand with such amenities. The idea was floated occasionally in the student newspaper for several years, sometimes a little bitterly, when no progress was made. But the college emerged from the Great Depression with many funding  and building needs, and a swimming a pool, primarily for recreation, was not a priority for the administration. In 1935, students hit upon the idea of collecting the coupons printed on the labels of Octagon soap, among other products,  and redeeming them for cash. It was also suggested that students could sell subscriptions to certain magazines in a reward/commissions program. Pledge cards were issued to students, faculty and alumnae. Various local alumnae clubs joined the campaign, raising money with modest contributions. But in February 1936, the Swimming Pool Committee could only report a fund of about $3,000 when an estimated $25,000 was needed. 

The pool idea finally got the boost it needed as a result of infrastructure changes on campus.  Once the city of Raleigh built a pumping station at Wilmont in 1948, Meredith College was no longer dependent on either the water tower behind the dining hall or the reservoir at its base for its water supply. While we don’t know whose idea it was, Zeno Martin, the bursar of the college, is credited for getting the work done that was needed to turn the water reservoir into a swimming pool by September, 1949. The cover was removed, concrete gutters and walkways were added and a circulating pump and chlorinator installed. Ongoing expenses were to be financed with money from the soft drink and washing machines. Maintenance was assigned to the physical education department and the Student Athletic Association. 

The school community envisioned using the pool for swimming lessons, life-saving classes, as well as for recreational swimming and relaxing.  The October 7, 1949 Twig was optimistic that the shed that had once covered the reservoir could be used as a game room when a concrete floor was poured and the equipment purchased -  although these dreams apparently came to nothing . A diving board was to be added in the spring, as well as a tables and chairs and a privacy hedge. When Meredith hosted a Sports Day with area colleges or celebrated the annual Student-Faculty Play Day, the pool was available for competition.

But already in 1951, when students expressed their dreams for an improved campus, those thoughts  included a new gymnasium that with an indoor swimming pool. Finally, in 1968, members of the Weatherspoon family donated the funds that made the new gymnasium a reality. By September 1968, when students returned for the year, the Twig noted, that among other changes on the campus, that the “bush-enclosed cement depression, known laughingly as the swimming pool, has been filled in to make way for new and better things.” Weatherspoon Gymnasium was dedicated in September 1970. By the following year, as recalled in a newspaper article, the once dreamed-for outdoor swimming pool was already a distant memory.