History of the Highmore Pool
1927-Present
1927
An Idea is Born
Efforts to gain a swimming pool for the city of Highmore began as early as 1927 when the American Legion proposed to build a swimming pool, but nothing became of this idea. Later, the City of Highmore provided a lifeguard to supervise swimming at Lake Ebelein, located two miles south of Highmore.
1950s
Fundraising Begins
During the 1950's the cities youngsters were transported to Miller to take swimming lessons in their pool. 1950 was the year the Highmore Women's Civic League started in earnest the push to get a 50 x 120 foot swimming pool built in Highmore. A pool committee was put together with Elieen Bortness as chairman. One of the first fundraisers was a paper drive followed by the 1951 Birthday Calendar. With the assistance of the Thimble Club who helped collect birthdays. All the people of Hyde County were contacted and local businessmen supported the project by placing advertisement on the calendar. The cost of having your birthday on the calendar was ten cents and the total cost of the calendar was twenty-five cents. By 1952 the Civic League had earned $400.00 which was then transferred into a special swimming pool fund. Through the next few years the organization held many more fund raising projects including, style shows, carnivals, hot plate dinners, and concerts. Oct. 24, 1958 the Civic League with the cooperation of the McLaughlin Furniture Co. held a public auction of all kinds of good used furniture. Slim Onken and Gordon Gadd were the auctioneers and the auction brought in a total of$1,107.35 with $500.00 going toward the swimming pool fund. In 1958 Women's Civic League President, Mrs. Don Mason and City Mayor Clem Noonan came up with a National appeal to try and raise the pool fund. One hundred letters were sent to mayors of towns in ten States, each asking $1.00 toward a pool for the youngsters. This appeal was such a flop it gained National recognition with articles being printed in many newspapers including the Miami Herald. Mrs. Mason stated in the articles, "I don't feel it's too encouraging." So far only nine cities had sent their $1.00. With postage costs for the letters and stamped return envelopes which cost $6.00 it only left a profit of $3.00. In the past seven years the Civic League had earned $2,413.64 toward the pool fund.
November 2, 1958
Quirk Family Makes Donation
"Swimming Pool Given" was the headlines of the "Extra" Highmore Herald newspaper put out at 10:30 p.m. Thursday November 2th, 1958 following the announcement of a $50,000 gift from John Quirk of Hastings Nebraska. John a former Highmore resident sent a telegram to Swimming Pool committee member R.J. Drew offering the gift to the City and requesting it be used to construct a modem swimming pool. To be located in the Memorial Park and to be named the Elmer Quirk Memorial Park and Pool in memory of his late father, Elmer Quirk who was a well-known pioneer resident of Hyde County. The council immediately moved to accept the large gift and instructed the pool committee to go ahead with it's plans to build the pool. Because of this generous gift the upcoming bond issue for $18,500 to finance the pool was cancelled. Frank Hawkins was the general contractor for the pool and the city dedicated the south park as the Elmer Quirk Memorial Park with a beautiful memorial constructed of stone taken from the Quirk ranch south of Highmore and was built at the park entrance.
July 4, 1960
Pool Dedication
The Highmore Municipal Pool was dedicated on Monday, July 4th, 1960. Attorney General Darnell Donohue was on hand to deliver the address, he was John Quirks roommate at the University of South Dakota. Other speakers and people introduced by Master of Ceremonies R.J. Drew included Mr. G G Bell Principle of Huron High School, Mayor Clem Noonan, Frank Hawkins (general contractor), WCL President Carol Lettau, Pool Manager Mary McKelvey, Mike Coffey who sold the pool to the city, Mr. John Quirk, John Jr. and Mary Quirk were also introduced to the audience. Rev. David Brown gave the invocation and Highmore High School Band under the direction of Miss Bea Drew played two numbers. The pool opened at 1 :00 p.m. July, 4, 1960 with Red Cross lifeguards. Mrs. Shirley Klebsch, Miss Jan Stewart, Mr. Gordon Goodrich and Manager Mrs. Mary McKelvey on hand to see that the hundreds of people who came through the doors were safe. The pool itself is L-shaped with a 35 foot by 35 foot diving well which is 13 feet deep. The well has a high and low diving board. A large 24 foot by 36 foot kiddies pool is separated from the main pool by a chain link fence and both pools are surrounded by a large sundeck. Color was added to the pool by using blue ceramic tile on the top inside edge of the pool and red quarry tile used on the top. Three huge sand filters purify the water and the pool needs filling only once a year. Six powerful underwater lights provide for evening swimming. The pool fixtures are chrome plated. A 24 foot by 72 foot bathhouse, with the lobby and office furnished in ceramic tile complete the installation. The pool is described by engineers as one of the finest in the Midwest. Swim Awards were presented for the conclusion of the 1960 swimming instructions courses and according to pool Manager Mary McKelvey the largest age group to take lessons was the 9 to 13 years division with 156 signed up. Seventy-nine beginner certificates were earned, twelve intermediate certificates, and ninety-five adult certificates were awarded. Mary reported that July 10th was the heaviest day for attendance in the pool with 701 swimmers going through the gates. However, 600 a day was not uncommon in the first year at the Highmore Municipal Swimming Pool.
1998
Updates Funded
The Summer of 1998 a joint project of the WCL and Hyde County Action Club along with funds from the City of Highmore and Hyde County began on the pool. MB &C Specialties of Sioux Falls began working on the pool. The project began with the removal of old paint, coats of epoxy finish was added to eliminate the need to paint every year and would seal any weak areas in the gunite finish. Deck repairs were also made as well as the kiddies pool being refinished. It was also decided to refinish the floors in the bathhouse. The total cost of the project was estimated at nearly $40,000.
2004
Extensive Repairs
Once again in 2004 a pool committee was formed. Necessary repairs were needed and more extensive projects included enclosing the pool and possibly creating a fitness center were being looked at. So the community of Hyde County once again rolled up their sleeves and supported many fundraising projects. Grants were applied for, a Beach Bash was held, Name this Park campaign, Spaghetti supper, Raffles, a community auction, Ranch rodeo, Ice cream sales at the Frosty Freeze, Schoenhardt funding, and Old Settlers Dance with matching funds from Thrivent all contributed to the pool fund. The City of Highmore and the County each contributed to the funds with monies being budgeted to the park and recreation.
2005-2007
Kiddie Pool and Gutter Updates
March 2005 work began to remove the wading pool to make way for a new one. The pool committee had raised $50,000 to complete this portion of the project. MC&R Pools of Sioux Falls with a bid of $43,000 was granted the work. June 2005 the wading pool was completed and ready for children. The newly remodeled wading pool goes from a zero depth at the entrance to approximately 18 inches at the deepest end. It includes a 42 inch rain dome in the center of the pool and floor bubblers at one side of the entrance to the pool. The pool committee kept plugging along with money being raised for the $250,000 upgrade to the large pool. Installation of a concrete gutter system around the pool with a 40 year life span, replacing decking with rebar for a more stable efficient use, sandblasting and repairing bottom of the pool and adding epoxy paint , adding a new chlorine system , removal of the high diving board, new skimmers, new ladders, new lifeguard stands and chairs, new depth markers, new disinfectant and PH control system , and new slides were all part of the upgrade to the big pool. June 2007 the Highmore Municipal Swimming Pool was once again opened for the season with the renovation project completed.
2020-Present
Pool Closed
Due to significant structural issues, the pool did not open for the 2020 season. City engineering investigation revealed the pool was leaking nearly 10,000 gallons of water a day, making operation of the pool non-feasible. During the summer of 2021, a bus funded by local businesses transported children to Miller twice a week to swim, with many families driving their children to Miller and Faulkton for American Red Cross Swimming Lessons.
Fall 2021
Hyde CPR is Formed
The pool closure was a topic of discussion among the City Council and concerned community members. A pool committee was once again formed, this time choosing to incorporate as a non-profit. 501c3 articles were filed and approved on December 30, 2021 for Hyde County Parks and Recreation.