Pool History

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 pool operated until its closure in 2012 due to safety concerns.  By Patti Danner and Kristen Inman at Greene County Daily World