Dedication of the David Pool, circa 1948. Quite an event. The David coal miners built this pool which was a much appreciated amenity for the children there. It famous and progressive for the day--and the only pool in the county. My brother Rod worked on building the pool and I know other boys did too. The miners earned season tickets that could be punched as the years went by. We had many free swims on those cards. We were privileged. I'd love to hear some "pool stories" below. People came from everywhere to swim in our great pool. This photo is looking toward the tennis court, the home of Superintendent William and Peg Crawford (our Girl Scout leader--I always yearned for Adirondack chairs like theirs), The company Store, and the fountain. Turn left up the hollar at the Crawfords, that's where the Dawson Bussey children spent our childhoods..
Judy Bussey We all became expert swimmers. I was an endurance swimmer and later, in college, became a certified Red Cross life saver, and a lifeguard one summer at Berea College. We all learned right here. In the summer mine and Karen's platinum blond hair turned green from chlorine. We slept in our bathing suits and went right back the next day!
Judy Bussey nieces and nephews, children and grandchildren. Please review this entire album to get a sense of how we spent our youth in the Coal Camp of David, Kentucky. Some of you will be responsible for telling the stories someday! KayAnne Frazier Wilborn I think one reason I don't like swimming in a pool where the water is less than bath tub temps is because I took swim lessons in that pool and it was the coldest water direct from a spring in the hill. About the time it warmed up a bit, the water was changed and freezing once again.
Rod Bussey I taught swimming to my peers at Berea College where I worked in the PE dept for 3 yrs as a student...taught classes for beginners, advanced , intermediate ,and Life Saving......all of this because of our swimming pool experience...rod Rod Bussey I believe the water came from within the mines into the treatment building where chemicals were added..what do you think?.. Walta Lee Pack thanks for bringing back even more memories. Loved our summers.
Wayne DeBoard
One year, I was a lifeguard at the David pool and we were ask to go to Huntington. W. Va. to the towns house to learn how to jump on the trampoline because they were going to send one to the pool at David. My big bro (Ken) loaned me his 56 Ford convertible to go. It was big stuff to me. Does anyone remember that 2 tone car of Kens? I had a wonderful time there. Their kids taught us how to jump, do flips, land on your belly. A week later, here it came. There was so many kids that had a wonderful time jumping on it. I don't remember anyone getting hurt on it but I do remember several people accidentally jumping off. This town was a heaven to grow up in. We had it all. A total paradise. This is just one of many things that I remember of our childhood. Hi Walta Lee. How is Jackie doing. Tell her, I said,Hi Judy Bussey What a great story Wayne! What year was the trampoline? I don't remember it...was it after I graduated in 1960?
KayAnne: We just kept swimming no matter how blue our lips and bodies turned. I remember the cold!
Wayne DeBoard Judy, I think it was the summer of 1963. Sorry, you missed it.
Judy Bussey I know you meant 1963, that's Karen and your graduation year. I was long gone! Actually was married and had my first child in 1963. Pattie Clark Mollette The reason the water was so cold it was piped out if the mines David Burns Mollette-- Most of the coal miners that lived in David worked on the pool and they got tickets that had to be punched for a free swim. my dad Fred Mollette & Pat's dad, Earnest Clark and brother Charlie Clark and Henry Clark were some that worked on the pool. The company gave the men tickets for their children and when w wanted to go swimming we would take a ticket and Ann Everly and Jane Crawford would punch out a x on the ticket. a A lot of us boys worked for the company cutting hedges, grass, and picking up paper around the store and fountain. I live in David now and its not the same. David it used to be. I can remember when water was hauled from Prestonsburg by a truck which the driver's name was Chigger and he would pump the water from the tank on the truck to the water tank at the foot of the hill. when we moved to David the road was a dirt road and we had a time getting up here. Rod Bussey I was 7-8 yrs old and was allowed to "work"....I worked enough to earn free swims for all of my family that first summer..."working" and being productive helped shape us into contributing citizens......rod
Elaine Andrusia What an awesome picture, I was born that year. Just my opinion it was an honor to live in David! We had the world at our finger tips and I remember the trampoline, I was around 15ish.
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