This story was originally published in August 2019.
From black and white swim scenes to the color images of the 2000s, we’re packing in all the aquatic fun you know and love in Maine. Pools, lakes, rivers and beaches: You name it, Maine has it.
Do you have any Maine summer swimming memories yourself? Share them in the comments below.
Six youngsters skip into the water at Bangor’s Chapin Park to start the city’s summer recreation season in June 1954. Left to right are Robert Hughes, Margaret Hughes, Jean Littlejohn, Becky Knight, Sharon Corey and Bernard Woodcock. Canvas wading pools were available at other parks for the youngsters during the summer. Credit: Spike WebbDakin swimming pool in 1956. Credit: Danny MaherAwards for their summer water accomplishments are presented to several of the large group of swimmers attending classes at Nickerson Pool in Orono in 1957. The presentation climaxed the summer swim classes. Left to right are: Sam Sezak, supervisor; Mildred McGuire, making presentations; Mary Stevens, assistant supervisor; Barbara Fenderson, junior life saving; Joseph Hempel, swimmer; Nancy Stuart, swimmer; Susan Getchell, intermediate; Dennis King, beginner; Joseph Cutera, intermediate; and Emily Young, intermediate. Credit: Danny MaherWhat surer way for a boy to cool off during a hot, summer afternoon than to plunge into the cool waters of his favorite swimming hole. Above, one of the youthful members of the Charles Street Club beats his pals by being the “first one in” Friday off the old Flour Mill Dam along the waters of Kenduskeag Stream in 1958. Credit: Gordon ClappPeople jump from the bridge over the Pushaw Stream into the water in Old Town, on a hot June day in 1970. Credit: BDN file photoParticipants in the Outward Bound program jump off the dock at Hurricane Island in 1971. Credit: BDN file photoLocal kids jump into the water in the Stillwater River in OldTown in 1983. Credit: BDN file photo10-year-old Zack Adolphsen of Hope preforms a stunning flip into a favorite swimming hole while Jamie Luce (6) and Mike Nelson (13) both of Union watch in this photo from August 1999. Adolphsen was part of a group of a dozen local children jumping endlessly off the bridge at Morgan’s Mills Grist Mill and Country store in Union. Credit: Susan Latham13-year-old Erin McGuire of Bangor paddles with her dog Cheetah, a 7-year-old Tibetian terrier, on Pushaw lake on Aug. 10, 2000. The dog has been riding on kayaks since he was 6 weeks old and regularly travels on Erin’s stepfather Jack French’s boat. French, who loves long paddling trips, has taken Cheetah with him when paddling to Nova Scotia, Virginia, and Martha’s Vineyard. “He starts whining if he’s stuck at home and doesn’t get to go,” McGuire said. Credit: Susan LathamDan DuLuca walks out of Mooshead Lake after completing his record swim of 32.4 miles from Sebomook to the town of Greenville on Aug. 6, 2000. DuLuca finished his swim in 22 hours 9 minutes 46 seconds to be the first person to swim the length of Mooshead Lake, the largest lake in New England. Credit: Bob DeLong
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