The Bloomfield Pool finally re-open to the public

On the evening of Thursday, August 2, members of Fill the Pool met to mark the realization of nearly six years of hard work by “filling” the pool with buckets. Present to mark the occasion were Sophie Haywood, Marcy Cook, Jane Lueking, Mari Uland, Kris Jarman, Mary Evans, Resa Woodruff, Jo Ann Carmichael, Susie Schulte, Judy Wise, P. D. Haywood and Bob Uland. The Bloomfield Pool is re-opens to the general public Friday, August 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Haywood from the Fill the Pool Committee made the announcement over Facebook around 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The committee, Park Board and others had been teasing the official opening of the pool since the beginning of July, battling unexpected rain, Fourth of July festivities, awaiting contractors and completing phases of the project at rapid speed to get the pool to this point. The Bloomfield Community Pool opened for the first time ever at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, 1966. The opening weekend was enjoyed free of charge. This came after the Bloomfield Swimming Pool, Inc., formed in 1964, worked for three years to raise the $60,000 needed to cover the planning and construction of the pool. Private contributions alone covered building costs, according to the Terre Haute Tribune-Star in 1966. The pool was built for $37-39,000 by the Baker Pool Company of Kentucky with no small amount of labor and contracting donated by community volunteers. The pool was designed by Charles Totten of Columbus. Local schoolteacher Eugene Sandberg served as pool manager. The Bloomfield Civic and Community Club officially endorsed a project which would bring a pool to the town on July 13, 1963. They selected Bloomfield school district superintendent Richard M. “Weezer” Richeson as chairman of the pool committee. In 1964, the nonprofit Bloomfield Swimming Pool, Inc. was formed. Incorporators were Richeson, Rolland Farris and Elmo Dowden. “Mrs. Forest Carmichael”, J.L. Wilson, Robert Grounds, James B. Sparks, William S. Harrah, John D. Morre, Richeson, Farris and Dowden served on the Inc.’s board of directors. While organizers were hopeful that the pool could open earlier than projected, in May, the opening was delayed back to mid-June. The newest renovations of the Bloomfield Pool cost roughly $500,000. The “charter” employees of the re-opened Bloomfield Pool include Ainsley Arthur, Noah Cummings, Becky Riggs and Alex Malone working concessions; Abby Hartzburg, Skylar Jones and Nathan Tislow to serve as guards; and pool activities will fall under the watchful eye of pool manager Judy Wise and assistant manager Hannah Hall. Prior to opening day, Pool staff invited the members of the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce to view the pool and ask questions. Pool Manager Judy Wise led a tour and her staff stayed busy putting the finishing touches on the project. According to Councilman Bob Uland, who was just a resident when the pool first closed in 2012 due to safety concerns, the pool passed its state health inspection last week with “flying colors”. Hours of the pool will be dependent on staffing, but organizers intend for the pool to be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays noon to 7 p.m. up through Labor Day. Admission for the pool is $4 per person, with the option to purchase a punch card at $65 for 20 admissions, which will remain good for the 2019 pool season. Children age five and under, accompanied by an adult, get in free. Water aerobics well be held every Monday and Thursday at 7 p.m., with a price of $4. The pool will also hold Snack and Swim Sundays, beginning next week. Organizers are also scheduling private parties after pool hours, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. During a closed meeting following the commemorative event, members of the pool board decided that kids can wear puddle jumpers in the two-foot section of the pool up until the rope. Handicapped swimmers must use flotation devices which are Coast Guard approved. No toys, goggles or flotation devices are allowed on the slides and some swimmers may need to pass a “swim test” for safety reasons. Goggles are allowed in the deep end only. For more information, visit The Bloomfield Pool on Facebook.