![[Dyersburg State Gazette]](http://www.stategazette.com/images/nameplate-small.png){kind=small}
RSS
Print
Email link
Respond to editor
Read comments (26)
 |
Williams shared the invitation with the Dyer County Historical Society at Tuesday's meeting, encouraging members to pass the word to any residents who might be interested in forming a "Friends of Okeena Pool" association.
"I would like to stick my toe in the water to investigate and talk about raising some private funds to ensure that the pool continues to be operational," Williams told members of the organization. "(The last estimate to refurbish the pool) was in excess of $900,000. It needs new filters, new drains and new fiberglass. I think it is an underrated landmark (in Dyersburg)."
Williams said the pool was a WPA project, and that he has heard of only two others with a similar design still in operation in the nation.
Those with ideas on ways to raise money to refurbish the beloved Dyersburg landmark are welcome to attend the party. Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors are also invited. Participants should bring towels, swimsuits, lawn chairs, a genuine interest in saving the pool and ideas for fundraisers.
I judge a person by the content of their character, not the color of their skin...................
sad to think we still live in a world where there are "only" color anything...white or black. I have friends because of their character not color. Save the pool
SaintPaul,
If you knew your history you'll see why black colleges, pools, etc. were formed. It was because they were not allowed to be in the all white colleges, pools, clubs, country clubs, tennis courts, stores, beauty pageants, churches. The list goes on and on and on.
So, what were the black people supposed to do, sit and wait for the whites to tell them it's okay for them to join their schools, clubs, pools, etc. No, they decided they were equal and everyone else and life did go on and continues to go on. Segregration was not and has never been started by blacks.
What's the big deal about it used to be an "all white" pool? There was an "all black" pool too. In fact there STILL are all black pools. Us whites are the only ones who can't have segregated things. There are all black colleges, all black clubs, all black beauty contests, ......the list goes on and on. Who is really racist?
Anyway - yes Okeena pool should be saved as a historical part of Dyersburg.
Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just wondering why the color of a person's skin seems to always come into these blogs.
Everybody bleeds red and when the skin is cut, the inside is white on every person living.
We all have different colored eyes and hair ,different texture skin and hair. We are all different from each other but we are also the same. All God's children. We are precious in his sight , well maybe the ones who don't bring up the differences in a negative light.
Better watch out and not get too dark this summer from the sun, you might be talked about or shunned because of the color of your skin. Take a hint from little kids. they play together and don't question the others color unless taught so by their parents. Just do the pool for all people young, old, black, white, brown, yellow, red,purple and what ever God creates. We need good things for our residents to be able to enjoy.
Karmazone,
I do not wish to explain in detail why I said what I said. I will say that when I read the article about saving the pool, my initial thought was as I said, it used to be all white. My thought went there because someone I know personally tried to participate in activities that went on at the pool and other parts of the park. This was in the late 70s. Athough there were no signs that said it was all white, the actions were there and against them. I do not wish to say anything further than that, because I do not wish to get attacked here and then have to defend myself or the other person. My intentions were not to make this a race issue either.
My comment was not to attack anyone and I'm glad that the person was strong enough to push and believe that they were as good as everyone else who participated in activites there.
I will end here and leave it at that. Again, I do not apologize for saying what I said.
Karmazone, I acknowledge and respect your response and hope that I was able to give you a little clarity without opening up a can or worms.
Okay, sinjoines, if you notice, I said that my interpretation may not be what you meant, so I didn't put words into your mouth. And you are right, not every comment has to be expounded upon. But curiosity comples me to ask you now, why did you specifically say that it used to be an all-whites pool (A fact that I do not deny)?
the kids of dyersburg do not have alot of things for them to do and that they can afford. the pool is one place they can go to and enjoy. it is reasonable priced and swimming lessons are affordable. an indoor pool would be nice as long as it would be for everyone to use and affordable, i use to go to one in chicago in the winter and really enjoyed it. the parks use to have day camps and different activites for kids all ages. here every time the kids get a game room or some place like that kids over 18 come in starting fights or trying to sell their dope the kids need the swimming pool and the park.
Whether the "pool" was an all whites pool has nothing whatsoever to do with preserving what is left of "Dyersburg's History". Agreed that the cost of repairing is expensive, but is it really that expensive to save a little heritage? Look around people of Dyesburg/Dyer Co, not much left of what we are proud of...If you can recall, not too many years ago, the old Dixie Youth Baseball Complex on Lake Rd was all but dead, now look a it, a thriving Dixie Youth Softball Complex..so it can be done....
Well getter-done.Today_P.8, the answer to that little problem is to become a big shot yourself. It worked for me. I awoke one morning and thought hey, I'll be a big shot. I've been strutting my stuff ever since. I even look down my nose at the peons, occasionally. Try it. You'll like it. ;-)
Karmazone, I do not apologize for my tone and my comment and I like anyone else on this forum have a right to make a comment. Believe me, I have seen tones way off the scale and my comment does not even match up with any of those.
This is a public forum. Would it be really grand if we all chose to give the same opinions? Then it would not be a forum.
Please do not put any words into my comment that were not there. Does everyone elaborate on every comment that they make? Did I say that the pool should be left to die? No I did not. So, how you chose to recieve what I said is your choice. So, you can't tell me when the time or place is for me to say what I want to say. I am an adult and if we want to talk about tones, your tone to me is as if you are scoulding a child for saying something wrong. I do not hold a grudge for the past resrictions, but I do remember that they were there as early as the late 70s and not just the pool.
Ninjaman, my comment was not racist, but again, that's your opinion. By the way, racism has never died, it still lives.
I wish them all the best in the restoration of the pool.
Peace!
MR.BART IS A GOOD MAN, WITH A JUST MISSION...THAT POOL HAS BEEN OCCUPIED WITH ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE..THAT DO NOT NORMALLY HAVE ACCESS TO A PRIVATE POOL....I WENT THERE AS A CHILD & MY CHILD HAS WENT THERE..TRUE IT IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF FIXING..HOPEFULLY WITH SOMETYPE OF FUNDRAISING THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE...IF YOU HAD A INSIDE POOL SOME WHERE, I AM SURE THAT IT WOULD HAVE REGULATIONS,MEMBERSHIP FEES,& CERTAIN QUALIFATIONS THAT NEED APPLY BEFORE ADMITTING THE AVERAGE PUBLIC...THE COMMUNITY CENTER IS A VERY SMALL POOL...IT WOULD BE A EVEN SMALLER POOL IF ALL OF DYERSBURG WENT THERE..GOODLUCK MR. BART...MAYBE USE OF POOL LONGER IN SUMMER WOULD BRING MORE MONEY IN..STAYS VERY HOT EVEN AFTER SCHOOL STARTS..
We need AN all around season pool. It would be good for every one,but the one,s that don,t want it is the BIG SHOT,S,they don,t want to go with the little shot,s. If a all year around pool dose come hear, the little shot,s won,t be able to afford to go!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with muscadine. The $900,000 estimate must be for a complete renovation. I would love to spend $150,ooo to renovate my home, but what I do is spend what is necessary to keep it at a functional level. I think maintenance can continue to be done for much less than $900,000. One thing that would be a great option, when the pool becomes too expensive to maintain, is a sprinkler park. Olive Branch, MS, has a great one. It is great fun, and much safer for elementary age children. There is no need for lifeguards, so the operation cost is low. It would be a great addition to O'Keena's existing facilities.
Sinjones,
You said "Historic as it may be, it used to be an "All Whites" pool".
The key words in that sentence are "used to be". It is thinking like that which keeps racism alive and well today.
jimbobvol, I was just thinking about Caruthersville's facility the other day, as I've seen several similar in the Nashville area.
I think the 'burg would be better served by a year-round operational facility.. combine efforts from the Parks, YMCA, and private donations.
As far as a historical standpoint, I think all efforts need to go into cooperating with the Downtown association, and restoring the town square into something to be proud of.
Sinjoines, yes that is part of the pool's history. I don't think that dontknowwhoiam was disputing that. But why would you go out of your way to point it out? You could probably walk around all day and say "That water fountain used to be whites only", or "That cafe used to be whites only". But what would be the point of that?That is an unfortunate part of American history, and there are times to look back on it, but this is neither the time nor place. And your tone is especially troubling:
'Historic as it may be, it used to be an "All Whites" pool.'
You make it seem as if the pool should be left to die simply because of that part of it's history. The comment made it sound as if you hold a grudge against the pool for the time when it's access was restricted. I'm not saying that is what you mesnt, but that is the way it sounded. My suggestion is when you reflect on a message board for all to see, just put a little extra info so there can be no mistaking your intent and meaning.
Summer outdoor swimming,,,,,, getting the tan and all that...... has been a tradition in Dyersburg since Okeena Pool was built in 1934..... don't know whether this tradition can be carried on solely by the Activity Center Pool.................. The Activity Center Pool is an Olympic style pool where competitive swimming is held during good weather........... Possibly covering it with a bubble and making it a year round facility would be more economically feasible than spending several million dollars that we don't have on a completely new indoor pool.........................
jimbobvol,,,,,,,,,,,, you made some good points and i agree with you...... but where's the money coming from to build the indoor facilities...................
Let's think about this in a different way. Wouldn't the City of Dyersburg be better served by an indoor pool facility similar to Caruthersville's? Year-round swimming. The swim teams could train and compete locally. Tournaments would bring in additional revenue to the City businesses just like the ball tournaments have.
While they are at it, public racquetball courts could be added. A personal favorite of mine. (Also in Caruthersville)
NO to spending $900,000 to redo the old one. YES to spending that money toward a new facility that can be used year round by all.
I agree that the pool should be preserved....... but the $900,000 estimate is outrageous....... I think that it could be kept functional for considerably less money than that.........
Okeena Park was packed all day on the Fourth....... Okeena Pool would have been packed if it had been open.......... I think it was a bad decision to close the pool on the Fourth of July....... The citizens of Dyersburg were not being served very well by that decision............
My comment was rather a reflection. When I reflected back in the history of the pool, that is what came to my mind. The truth is the truth and my comment is a part of the pool's history.
Yes, a lot of things "used to be" but I guess the "used to be" still is a part of its history no matter how hard you try to not acknowledge it. Yes, times and things have changed and the pool has served many throughout its history.
So, dontknowwhoiam, I don't know what you mean...
A lot of things "used to be" but are not now.
Okeena is a lankmark that should remain.
Here we go again
Historic as it may be, it used to be an "All Whites" pool.