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RANDOLPH — Randolph’s swimming pool has never been just a place to cool off — it’s a project that, from the very beginning, has reflected how this community can come together and get things done.
That was clear in the summer of 1925. Talk of a pool began that spring, and by June 25, more than $4,000 had already been raised by local residents — enough to guarantee construction. Crews cleared trees in the northeast corner of the city park and work began almost immediately. In just over three weeks, the project went from construction to completion. The pool opened to the public on July 23, 1925 — only 22 days after work started — at a total cost of about $5,000. William Eike served as superintendent of construction.
For decades, that original pool served Randolph and the surrounding area. In fact, it was once considered one of the few pools in this part of Nebraska and drew praise from across the region.
By the late 1950s, however, time had taken its toll. A 1959 inspection by the State Department of Sanitation warned the pool could be closed if improvements were not made to meet minimum health standards. A local fundraising effort in 1960, led by the Modern Mrs. Club, brought in $1,650 for upgrades, including installation of a filter system. Those improvements provided only temporary relief.
By the late 1960s, the situation had become more serious. City officials reported ongoing trouble with the filter system and significant leakage. In 1968, it became necessary to refill the pool once a week — sometimes more — and the constant addition of fresh water often made conditions too cold for comfortable swimming.
Faced with those issues, Randolph voters were asked to decide the future of the pool. On April 1, 1969, residents approved a $39,000 bond issue by a vote of 283 to 85 — more than 76 percent in favor — to fund a park improvement project that included construction of a new swimming pool. The project had been in planning since 1964 and, with additional state and federal funding, carried an estimated total cost of $112,500.
Planning quickly turned into action. On Feb. 26, 1970, the City Council authorized a soil survey for the new pool site, and construction followed later that year. Progress was not without challenges. In October 1970, officials reported delays when soil compaction failed to meet specifications and had to be redone, and when necessary fittings and drainage materials were mistakenly shipped to the wrong location. Even so, work continued with a target completion date of May 1, 1971.
The new pool was ready just in time for summer. On June 5, 1971, Randolph’s new swimming pool opened to the public, featuring a large L-shaped pool, a separate children’s pool and a bathhouse. Robert Meyer of Allen was hired as the first manager of the new facility.
More than a century after that first rapid push in 1925 — and more than 50 years after the current pool was built — the facility remains a central part of summer in Randolph. But much like in 1969, time has again caught up with it. The pool is now in serious need of repair, and the community is once more faced with decisions about how to maintain and improve one of its most valued public spaces.
From its three-week construction in 1925 to the voter-approved rebuild of 1969–71, the history of Randolph’s swimming pool has been defined by action. Each time the need has arisen, the community has stepped forward — a pattern that may once again shape its future.
