1936: Boys Locked Out of the Pool

As the mercury zoomed upward, Jack Bryant, Joseph Birhanzi and Richard Attanaro pined for the pool. The trio grabbed their swim trunks and trekked from their homes on East 147th Street down Kinsman Road. The June sun, about to explode in a historic heat wave, beat down on them. The boys must have arrived at the Woodland Hills park pool sweaty that Friday and eager to dive in.

The Woodland Hills complex was then among Cleveland’s largest and best recreation centers. In 1927, a pool, bathhouse and shelter house were built there. In 1936, tennis courts, a football field, running track and an office building were added. The city was so proud of it that The Plain Dealer recommended the pool to attendees at that year’s Republican National Convention.

But the three boys found their swimming plans had belly-flopped. The pool didn’t open until a few days later on June 21, so the gate was padlocked.

The city still boasts 21 outdoor municipal pools, including one at Woodland Hills now called Luke Easter Park. They open the second week of June.