As you watch the hundreds of children who dive joyfully into the new city pool, splashing and swimming under the watchful eye of the life guard, or as parents sit and watch as their little ones learn to swim, one wonders what it was like for pioneer farm kids on warm, summer days when they longed to cool off in the water. Who taught them to swim? Where did they go to swim? Was there a lifeguard on duty? Did the parents accompany their youngsters to the water?
A bit of research among the folks who have lived in the Galt area all their lives, produces answers as interesting as they are varied. Oral history tells that streams that threaded through some of the farms offered a cool break. One such place was the “Lagoon” on McEnerney’s ranch. We were informed that Dry Creek was once a mighty stream which offered swimming holes that were plenty deep, until the late summer heat finally drained it to a small stream. Still, one person said, you could at least get your feet wet and cool as you sat under a young oak and daydreamed.
Some ranches boasted large water troughs for the cattle, and, when the cattle weren’t using them, they could become a place to cool off for a while.
Who taught pioneer children how to swim? Was it a big brother, a loving aunt, a big sister, friends, or a visiting uncle? Dad was busy in the field irrigating, feeding animals, plowing, etc. How about Mom? Did she watch them? She would have liked the respite from the kitchen chores, but there were fruit and vegetables from the garden to be canned, and dinner to prepare for the workers who were hired for summer work. She accomplished it all on a very hot wood stove. Yes, she would have liked to find a swimming hole somewhere for just a little while.
Who looked after those young people who were swimming in the various swimming holes, streams, or water troughs? Who was the lifeguard on duty? Older brothers and sisters were expected to look after their younger siblings, and woe to the bully who endangered the life of a smaller child whose big brother or sister was nearby.
The folks who have been here all their lives say that the area was greener at one time, because of the overflow from the Cosumnes and Mokulmne Rivers. The smallest stream had more water and was a great swimming place for youngsters on a warm summer day. Most of them have dried to a small trickle today, so maybe it’s a good thing we have our new Galt Community Pool to enjoy.
Alex Haley wrote, "When an old person dies it's like a library burning down." It gives us something to think about. This past year we lost a number of life-long residents of the Galt area, and with them went a piece of history that could be related first-hand.
Recently our guest speaker, Jackie Hansen reminded us how important it is to identify pictures for the future. She said "Me" was not an adequate way of identifying a picture. Put the date, the event, and the name of the person in the picture. Future generations will thank you.
Remember, NOW is the time to record your family history. Your progeny will thank you for your efforts. Have your grandparents in the family been recorded? They have many interesting family stories to share, and you'll be glad you took the time to get their stories on tape.
Galt Area Historical Society Home page