Old Swimming Hole, "Sandy Bottom," At Woodside Park – Whitman Bailey

A last look at summer sketched by Whitman Bailey:

Old Swimming Hole, "Sandy Bottom," at Woodside Park

Complete Newspaper Clipping of September 3, 1938 (PDF)

The area at what is now Washington Boulevard and Bridge Street had a race track and was opened to the public in 1868 by the Ferris brothers. (see also).  The city bought the land in 1927 and turned it into Woodside Park.  A map.  In 1962 the park was named for local son, athlete, and businessman John Scalzi.

1922 Stamford High Basketball Team, John Scalzi at bottom left
more

As it so happens, The Advocate had an article on Scalzi Park yesterday:  Scalzi after dark: Park comes alive after sun sets

We add the usual warning: "At times, the accompanying vignettes are mostly folklore passed on to Mr. Bailey by residents of the areas where he was sketching.  In those instances he had no way of determining the truth of the story.  Nor have we.  It is presented as a sidelight to the sketch.  Therefore, researchers are cautioned to regard these tales as local color, interesting, thought provoking, but sometimes not entirely factual."

(Reference file Bailey 289.jpg)