[Keeper]

Many (OK many) years ago, I remember my grandmother taking me to a swimming pool that had a tube running into it from the natural spring. I remember the water being ice cold. It seems like we drove a ways and if I am not mistaken we use to go by Kilby prison. I could be wrong about the prison as it was a long, long, long, long time ago.

Does anyone here know the name of that place and does is it still around?

Thanks..

[Southlander]

Sorry nobody has answered you. We had a pool like that in Trinity, in North Alabama...closed many MANY years now. Kilby prison is near Atmore which is a good bit south/southwest of Montgomery. You may need to search closer to that area. Good luck!

[Keeper]

Thanks Southlander.. but you had me wondering if I was just dreaming. There was a prison called Kilby near Montgomery which was built in 1919.. That may be why it has since been replaced. As I recall it looked pretty old in the late 50s. Funny the things we remember..

[tsg1059]

I recently saw your post and asked by mother if she remembered a spring water pool back in the 50s. She thinks the name was Willow Springs somewhere between the Millbrook and Wetumpka area. You could have driven by the old Kilby Prison to get there. Kilby was located (I believe) on either Congressman Dickerson Drive or Emory Folmar Boulevard. It has been torn down for many years, but the guard towers remained for years. Hope this helps.

[Keeper]

That is probably it since it was in the 50s. Funny the things you remember when you were just a baby!!! LOL
Thanks so much.. I was beginning to think I was imaging things agan

[lbsing]

I grew up in Montgomery and we used to go to spring fed pool that was painted black. We all got innertubes and there was a big pipe that fed the pool. The water was ICE COLD! I believe you might be talking about a place called Harrigut (spelling???) Springs! I have great memories of driving to go there with my brothers and sisters! I do also believe we drove past Kilby prison to get there??? I haven't thought about that place in a long time.....

[ceilon]

I know you posted this a long time ago, but I just now saw it--I did a search on Google to see if maybe Harrigut Springs had gotten itself a website, because I'd like to take my neices and nephews there this summer. You are CORRECT about HarrogateSprings (and that is the correct spelling), but not about the prison. The prison that is near there is the Julia Tutwiler Correctional Facility for Women (or Julia Tutwiler Women's prison, for short). I have not yet been able to determine if Harrogate Springs is still open, but I'm working on it. (I believe it is.)

[Keeper]

Kool, that would be one place I would want to go again. I remember there were little frogs in the pool. It had a big tube that fed into the pool. Funny how you remember certain things when you get older. I would love to take my grandsons there just to watch their faces when they got into the water being the mean grandmother that I am. If you find out anything please let me know.
My grandmother lived in Montgomery and she use to take me to the springs and to the Big Lake (Mastin Lake) maybe.. but I do remember we went by a prison on one of these trips.

[sterpartsman]

harrogate springs is no longer there. there is a neighborhood built where it used to be. it was on blue ridge between wetumpka and montgomery. the old kilby prison used to be at the corner of colesium blvd and federal drive. my mother lived on site her father was a guard at the prison. she also used to talk about going to harrogate springs. several years ago we went to where it used to be and there is several houses in its place. its a shame that things like that are not preserved for later generations to enjoy.

[Keeper]

Thank you. You are right it is a shame it wasn't preserved for later generations and for us who remember it. I use to visit my grandmother in Montgomery during the summer and she use to take me there. It is only one of the good memories I have of Montgomery.