[Millie McHugh]

Another spring fed pool was in Prattville -- this was a privately owned but considered "city" pool where the official city pool is located today. The original pool was fed from Artesian Wells -- was icy cold! The pool had bleachers along one side (made of concrete) -- a high-dive and low-dive and changing room/store on the other side. This was in Pratt Park and closed around integration time. Was reopened for a while and then torn down to build the modern pool that is there now.

We would walk to the old "Pratt Pool" in the summer 1) to collect enough Coca Cola bottles to pay the $.10 admission and 2) to get hot enough to jump in that icy water!

Each Labor Day & 4th of July, my sister & I participated in clown diving events and synchronized swimming at the pool. We would have quite an audience in the bleachers.

[Keeper]

Great post Millie.. funny the things we treasure are the wonderful memories. I remember going to such wonderful places with my grandmother around the Montgomery area. She lived with some folks who owned a Bakery once. I remember sitting on the front porch with another family during the hot summer months sipping sweet tea.

[Beth Bond]

My son is currently working at the Crommelin home which Harrogate Springs is located on. He came home asking me if I knew anything about the place. I told him I had gone there as a child and I thought the place had been torn down. My main memory was also how cold the water was. It was not until he mentioned that the old building was still there and it looked like bath houses, that I decided to try to find some info on it. He was very interested to find out some of the history that Mr. Clark posted. I will try to find pictures at our local library.

[Keeper]

That would be great. I would love to see some pics. I bet I didn't go there but a couple of times but that cold water is something I remember.

[Beth Bond]

I fed my son and his co-worker sandwiches today so I could see Harrogate Springs once again. After all, the boys have to eat, now don't they. The location was not where I thought it would be. I was just a young child when we used to travel from Montgomery to go swimming there. I have been living in Wetumpka for 19 years and I pass by the road quite often that the drive goes off of. It is private property and there is a fence blocking the dirt drive. To go back in the woods is like going back in time. The pool is still there as Mr. Clark said. I remembered it as being quite large and was amazed to find that it still is large to me, even as an adult. The pipe that fed the pool is still hanging out of a wooden trough over the shallow end. Most of the wooden structures have been ravaged by time. The entrance shed still has the faded out pricing on it. The dance hall is about to topple over, but the old canteen as I would call it, is still in pretty fair condition considering its age. The old changing and bath rooms at the end of the pool are falling apart. They are up on stilts as my son said. The Crommelin house is still a beautiful old lady. My son likes the house and the yard which is surrounded by tall trees with flowering vines all around. I don't think I ever saw the house as a child, so that was a pleasant surprise.

[Keeper]

I don't remember the house either, but as a kid I am sure the house was the last thing on my mind.

Thank you so much for the description. I could imagine everything you were describing

[jrebbush2]

The old Willow Springs Swimming Pool is located just off Hwy 231 North at the Red Light going up to Blue Ridge Estates. Harrogate Springs Swimming Pool is also Located off Hwy 231 North near Wetumpka,AL.

As a boy and teenager I have swam in both pools. Both Pools have been Closed for Years.

[Millie McHugh]

I would love to see some pictures from today, also, of Harrogate Springs. I am headed to Autaugaville this weekend to pick up my mother and will see if she has some shots I can post. I'm sure, between her childhood and mine, we're bound to have some photos!

[Keeper]

That would be wonderful. I would love to see some pictures.

I remember going there only a few times as a kid with my grandmother and that was sooo long ago. I have a lot of wonderful memories of time spent with her.