Pool postcard: University of California, Berkeley

Strawberry Canyon Pool

I just love this card: the setting and rustic charm is gorgeous! This is the Strawberry Canyon pool was a men's only facility from when it was opened in 1911, to 1943 when it was opened to women. There is still a pool complex there, which replaced the original in 1959.

This site, Gay Bears : the hidden history of the Berkeley Campus has an excerpt from a novel set in 1919, and a poem from 1930 set at the pool.

Pool postcard: Fleischhacker Swimming Pool, San Francisco

"World's largest out-door tank. It holds 6 million gallons of warmed (and filtered) sea water, is ove a thousand feet in length. It is located close to the Pacific."

Here's a link to information on this pool on Wikipedia. It opened in 1925. "After years of underfunding and poor maintenance, the pool was showing some deterioration when a storm in January 1971 damaged its drainage pipe. Because the repair costs exceeded the City's budget, the pool was converted to a fresh water pool which resulted in poor water quality. As a result of the poor attempt at conversion and resulting water quality, the pool was closed by the end of 1971.

Detail of original bath house

In 1999, the San Francisco Zoological Society was granted ownership of the pool house, and it is not known what might become of it. The swimming pool itself was filled with rocks and gravel, with the space now serving as a parking lot for the zoo. The poolhouse is currently derelict and occupied by the homeless."

Library of Congress photos of Fleishhacker Pool

Here's two of the LC photos:

Original diving tower

Here is a fascinating site about the current state of the pool. There are some great memories of the pool in the Comments section on this blog. Two photographers, including the blog author, Jonathan Haeber, visited the site of the pool in 2008.

Photo by Joanathan Haeber : http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/fleishhacker-pool-san-francisco

Pool postcard: Santa Clara International Swim Centre, California

"This is one of the finest aquatic facilities in the world, consisting of three separate pools: a 50 meter racing pool, a diving and synchronised pool and an instructional pool"    Postmarked 1977.

Now called the George Haines International Swim Centre, after former US Olympic swimming coach, who started the Santa Clara Swim Club.

Neptune and Roman Pools, Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California

Surely this pool has to be evryone's fantasy swimming venue?
Of all the pools in the world, this is the one I would most like to swim in! We were told on a tour that once a year there is a party for staff in which they may use the pool. I'd also love to swim in the indoor Roman pool

Category: Private. Can be seen on tours only.

Website info: Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle

Encino, California

May 2006