The concept of building several bathhouses or indoor swimming pools in Holyoke took hold in the late 19th century. The pools would provide children and early teens with recreation and a safe summer swimming environment. There were many tragic accounts of unattended or youth drownings in the Connecticut River or the canals. The hope was to steer the youth to these swimming pools, where swim lessons and supervision would be provided.
The first bathhouse, the Ward 6 Bath House, was constructed in 1899 on the northeast corner of Sargeant and Commercial Street. the pool was in a 38' x 59' building made of wood. It contained a 20' x 50' pool called a basin. The basin had a floor and walls constructed of concrete. The pool depth ranged from 2' to 4 1/2'. The pool area was surrounded by 34 dressing rooms, which could be locked to secure personal effects. The pool capacity was estimated at 50 patrons at a given time. The contract was awarded to L. T. Beaulieu for $999.
In May 1901, the bid of F. J. Curley of $1,385 was accepted for the construction of the Ward 2 Bath House. Alderman Potvin proposed an alternative site for the bathhouse on the west side of Canal St., between Adams and Jackson St., but this suggestion was deemed too close to the third-level canal. An estimated 10,000 people used the facility in 1901.
In April 1902, the school board requested that the land on which the Ward 2 pool was located be used for an addition to the Sargeant Street School. The pool had been open for one season.
In April 1902, $1,600 was budgeted for each planned Ward 4 and Ward 1 bath house. The Ward 1 pool opened on July 16, 1902, and the Ward 4 pool on July 17, 1902.
Bath house matrons and keepers were selected annually for each facility. Male and female swimmers were assigned separate days.
The Ward 1 bath house keeper reported that 51,325 people used the pool in 1904.
The property on which the Ward 2 bath house was located was purchased from Holyoke Water Power. Two adjoining houses were purchased from private parties. The land purchase ended the Ward 2 pool house effective the last day of the summer swim season, September 2, 1905.
On May 9, 1906, the bath house would be moved 200 feet from behind the Canal Street Gasometer to the south of it. Louis A. Turgeon was awarded the contract to move the Ward 1 Bath house. The Ward 2 bath house was abolished.
The bath houses were maintained by the Board of Public Works through 1915. In 1916, the Playground Commission successfully petitioned to care and accept responsibility, care, and assume liability for the three remaining bath houses.
The history of Holyoke's four turn-of-the-century bath houses:
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