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Spring swimming
Spilling forth from a deep well of history is the story of swimming at Tallulah Falls School.
Because of the school’s location on the slope of Cherokee Mountain, the rich soil is saturated by natural springs, all running downhill.
Fed by these underground streams and constructed of native stone and concrete, the school’s first pool delivered recreational swimming to 1920s-era students. Area children accustomed to taking a dip in rivers and creeks experienced quite an upgrade.
The Greater Tallulah fundraising campaign made possible the expansive aquatic escape; it was later named for Ida Lee Hester Fitzpatrick, resident trustee and director of TFS from 1932-1951.
The Light in the Mountains school history refers to it “as one of the prettiest sights imaginable on a hot afternoon. Built of stone and concrete, recessed in beautiful shade, it is the joy of the entire plant. Everybody takes a dip once a day and the children are all learning to swim.”
Later at the TFS Farm, a small lake marked the spot for swimming and diving on hot days. It featured a dock and diving bar in the 1950s.
Long-time math teacher Linda Harris remembers taking her sons there to fish.
She would perch on a rock while the boys made their way around the circumference, hoping for a bite.
In 1971, the school celebrated the opening of The Young Matron’s Circle Building, which included an indoor pool located below the current upper school practice gym.
This indoor heated pool was a favorite spot every evening and on weekends for boarding students.
According to middle school PE teacher Cyndy Campbell, students learned to swim, played games and practiced rolling kayaks and paddling canoes during the academic day classes.
“It was used in many of the same ways as we will use the new one,” Campbell says. “I’m glad we have another one. The kids will love it.”
Upper school math teacher Allen Campbell served as athletic director for some of the time the Circle Building pool was open.
“It was used for field day a lot,” Allen Campbell says. Additionally, the school hosted community events in the space and faculty/staff used it for physical fitness purposes.
The pool closed in the early 2000s, making way for additional gym space.