CHEEKY SHOT: Our columns about skinny-dipping swimming holes in
Bradford prompted a reader to drop by with a calendar from 1910
which shows one such place — and with bare bottoms in plain and
plentiful view.
William Tremaine showed us the calendar which had belonged to
his father of the same name who then resided at 110 Corydon St. The
swimming hole was not far away, he said.
Interestingly, the calendar has never been turned and remains at
January 1910. So obviously it was kept all these years for its
novelty appeal.
No fewer than 10 boys are shown enjoying the swimming hole and a
small group of adults is standing on the shore, obviously watching
the frolicking. Our first thought was perhaps the adults are
teachers and had let their students enjoy a dip in the creek. We
think it does look like the stream that flows past the Pitt campus
and into town.
It was fascinating to us that such nudity was somewhat taken for
granted in 1910. A hundred years later, we would honestly be
hesitant to publish the photograph for fear of outrage from our
readers.
Is it possible we are more repressed as a society in 2009 than
we were in 1910? In certain ways, we’d have to say yes — the
Internet notwithstanding.
STILL THERE: Tom Ewell of Montgomery, N.Y., had a quick answer
to our question about the old swimming holes we’ve been writing
about.
He writes, “Regarding the recent question about whether or not
the swimming holes still exist — In a way, they do. The one
mentioned by the B & O tracks was probably where the spillway
is now at the foot of Grove Street and the other one out by the
Ross Farm was most likely where the spillway is along Campus Drive
by the Senior Center.
“When I was home this summer I saw kids swimming in both
places.
“Speaking of the Ross Farm, I seem to remember having to go down
a very steep and very narrow road off of West Corydon Street just
past the city line and the farm was right along the creek. Their
claim to fame was selling super delicious, super sweet Corydon Corn
which I assume was grown in the Willow Creek area before the land
was taken for the dam.”
