I grew up on property that buttd against the Allegheny. The best swimming hole in town was my backyard.

People from all over town, and of all ages would come down to swim and fish. Summer time was busy in the backyard.

The hole has been called "Dates' Hole" or "Dateses Hole" in the colloquial speech. Kids used to cut down from River street along property belonging to the Dates family, through the woods and to the river. Techinically, the hole was bordered by property belonging to my dad, Yogi Hatcher and first the Weaks family and now Jim Geneaux.

I have no idea how many people used to visit the hole, but I know even today, on a hot sumemr day, it's full of kids and adults.
These are some pictures taken this week.


"River Birch" or "Muscle Wood" also known as "Ironwood" trees grow along the path leading to the swimming hole.

Isaiah Hatcher wades in the shallows.

A Family fishes from the bank.


Many remember the old River Birch that hung out over the water. Last year the big tree did not survive the flood, and fell in. This year, that tree has helped to reshape the old swimming hole, changing the direction of the current, and building a gravel bar back along the bank.



All that remains of the old rope swing that used to hang in the big old tree. Many a kid scared their mother with tales of swinging out of the tree.


A view into the top branches of the old tree.