1910

Officially opened in 1916, Ithaca Pool clocks up 104 years in Brisbane’s swimming history on the 21st of October this year, 2020. Nestled in Neal Macrossan Park at 14 Caroline St., Ithaca Pool is a far cry from the days of old when it was an excavated hole in the ground. Improved over the years and undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2011, the locals are proud to have this inviting escape from Brisbane’s heat in their own backyard. In the early years of Brisbane, a dip in the river was primarily for hygiene purposes. Not without peril, the colonials faced the fear of drowning or shark attack. From 1857 shark-proofed floating baths were established by town councils along the river. The Paddington Cemetery Act was passed in 1911 by Queensland Parliament, which authorised the government to resume the burial grounds and relocate the remains to another site. Around this time the locals took advantage of a cleared space on the northern side of the cemetery and fashioned a pool of sorts. It was little more than a rudimentary pit filled with water pumped from the Brisbane River. It was a great boon for Paddington, although sometimes not the most desirable place to cool off. Behind the scenes, to keep the river water suitable for swimming, chlorine was poured into a holding tank and then pumped into the pool. Raising unpleasant memories for locals from the era, the water was often murky and odorous. In January 1928, a Letter to the Editor of the Brisbane Courier mentioned the pool was in such terrible condition that they suspected someone had thrown a dead cat or rat into the water. After recommendations in 1940 by a health committee, City Council installed a water filtration plant as an experiment at Ithaca Baths. The process removed the sediment and made the water fit for public bathing. Fresh town water soon replaced the suspect supply from the polluted Brisbane River. In 1942, the Chairman of the City Council Health Committee announced in the Courier-Mail Brisbane that…”Ithaca municipal swimming pool is to become the show baths of Brisbane.” (The Courier-Mail Brisbane Tue 27 October, 1942, page 2 ) Plans were approved to build new dressing rooms and toilets at an estimated cost of £1800. The article also stated that the galvanised iron fence surrounding the baths be replaced with a wire fence, so people passing could watch swimmers in the pool. Source: www.jonzunlee.com.au/2020/10/15/hidden-gem-in-paddington-...

On the left is Hyman D. Davis (LOC note spellings). Active in Ohio Republican machine politics, Taft named him as US Marshal for Northern Ohio. I don't think the Senate ever confirmed him but he received annual recess appointments to the post throughout the Taft administration.

Emmet Montgomery (Mont) Reilly was also an active Republican machine operative - in his case in Missouri. He was an early Teddy Roosevelt backer and went on to be part of the Warren G. Harding cabal. Harding made him Governor of Puerto Rico. He's gone down in history as one of the worst Governors in the history of Puerto Rico.

A photo of Reilly with Roosevelt aboard the K.A.V appears in the June 20, 1910 Bridgeport Evening Farmer. It looks like Mont is wearing the same hat and same watch fob.

I'm confident this photo is part of the 18 June 1910 TR's Return to NY series.

Hyman D. Davis
www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125800601

Home of Lady Betty
www.askaboutireland.ie

Suck Diesel What a story!

[https://flic.kr/p/69hxkN]

Via Trove more tales of Lady Betty - trove.nla.gov.au
(1919)

Roscommon Messenger 22 June 1907

Madame Louise Grafton and her clever Dramatic and Comedy Company have provided excellent entertainment for well filled houses in the old Church during the past week. "Under Two Flags," "Not Guilty", "The Shadows of a Great City", "The Lady of Lyons", and "The Unknown", were amongst the pieces staged. The performances as a whole were successful, and the staging and general arrangements astonishingly complete. Madame Grafton goes to Castlerea next week where she is sure of a warm welcome.