Side View of the Art Linkletter Natatorium at Springfield College

Item Information

Title:
Side View of the Art Linkletter Natatorium at Springfield College
Description:
This photograph shows the West side of the Art Linkletter Natatorium at Springfield College. There is a young tree full of leaves in the photograph, and two pine trees near the side windows of the natatorium. On the far left of the photograph, the raised "skywalk" corridor leading into Blake Arena and the rest of the Physical Education Complex. This corridor was removed when the Wellness Center was completed in 2008. The peak height of the roof of the natatorium is up to 45 ft for diving.
Date:
1981–2007
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Art Linkletter Natatorium Records
Subjects:
Linkletter Natatorium
Springfield College
Springfield College--Buildings
Springfield (Mass.)
Swimming pools
Walkways
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/2982
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
It was Arthur Gordon Linkletter, also known as Art Linkletter, who suggested that the college build a new swimming and diving facility. Art Linkletter was the famed entertainer best known for his TV series "House Party" that ran on CBS from 1952 to 1969. Art Linkletter believed so much in the project that he sold his house for $250,000 and donated the money to the project. Another $250,000 was raised by the student “Work Week” in 1967, where students worked jobs such as trimming hedges or moving telephone poles for donations. Other money was supplied by a federal grant, alumni gifts, and friends of the college. Groundbreaking took place on April 30, 1966. The natatorium had steel arches rising to 45 ft at their peaks. The pool was 169'1'' long and 44' wide, and was 4' deep at the south end and 12'6'' deep at the deep end. With a movable bulkhead that could shorten and lengthen the pool, it was the longest indoor collegiate pool in the Eastern US at that time. The Olympic-sized pool had permanent bleachers that could seat 490 spectators and roll-out bleachers that could seat 510. There were two classrooms with underwater picture windows that allowed coaches and instructors to observe the swimmers. Underwater speakers allowed them to correct swimming technique as they were swimming. There was also a closed circuit television system to further analyze swimming skills. On the day of the dedication, October 21, 1967, the former Swimming coach, Charles E. “Red” Silvia and Linkletter raced each other in the new pool. Linkletter beat Silvia by a tenth of a second. Later it was revealed that Linkletter had trained for three months prior to the event. The Art Linkletter Natatorium is still in use today as the main swimming and diving facility on campus, having been incorporated into the new Wellness and Recreation Complex that opened in 2008.
Identifier:
rg131-02-04-001