Welcome

To the City of Pomeroy

RECREATION IN THE CITY OF POMEROY

     Pomeroy's golf course is city-owned and operated under the city's parks department.  It is located on the southeastern edge of town between 15th and 18th streets along tree-lined Arlington Avenue.  The clubhouse is open daily between April and November but many golfers continue to play year-round.

     The course itself is a 2,033-yard par 31 challenge.  The absence of traditional water hazards and sand traps is offset with tough driving holes and some hilly terrain.  Limited space during construction in the mid 1930's only allowed for five par 3 holes and four par 4 holes.

     The first serious interest in constructing a golf course in Pomeroy was back in the fall of 1933, and in the spring of 1934, a meeting of golf enthusiasts was held and a managing board selected.  The board chosen in 1934 immediately organized a golf association.  Money for the proposed project was donated by businesses and individuals totaling $6,500.  The course was completed in the fall of 1934 with labor provided by the state W.P.A. and local volunteers.

     Pomeroy now has a modern, nine hole course with all grass greens, and fairways, and is considered by many visiting golf fans a very sporty course.  Much favorable comment is also heard on the neat and efficient manner in which the course is maintained.  

     With time comes changes and the Pomeroy Course has seen a lot of them.  The number eight green was a pond in the course's early days.  Also, the original course continued across the road, with golfers having to swing across the street to a green on the present-day football field, where persons were often playing baseball.

     Tee times for the course are not required, as the course has very few regularly reserved times, and passes are very reasonably priced.  Cart and club rentals are also available.  For more information call the clubhouse at (509)843-1197.

     The City Park was purchased in 1901 from the Governor Cosgrove estate for the fair price of $600.00.  It included large clumps of black willow trees which were native to the area.  The remainder of the ground was largely covered by a jungle of undergrowth, which was later cleared and the trees now standing were planted.  While the trees were growing on the park site, the ground was rented for a time to A.H. Mendenhall who grew fine crops of potatoes and saw to the trees.

     About 1904 or 1905 the trees were large enough to provide considerable shade and the public began to use the park.  The city officials had the ground leveled and seeded to bluegrass.

     Many parts of the park have changed since then.  Tennis courts were added about 1935 with the City of Pomeroy providing the materials and a group of young men providing the labor.  The park now contains swings, a slide, rings and a merry-go-round for children, as well as a gazebo and covered picnic area for everyone to enjoy.

     Before the City Pool was built, young people from Pomeroy would build dams and create pools below town in which to disport themselves.  Efforts were made to discourage the boys from paddling around in the not-so-sanitary water of the creek, but the temptation was too strong to be resisted.  Groups of boys would go to the city council meetings and civic organizations and pathetically appeal for the construction of a swimming pool.  The American Legion was the first group to respond.

    At the Armistice Day celebration, November 11, 1919, that organization put on a campaign to raise money to be applied in the construction of a swimming pool.  This commendable effort netted about $500.  The next spring the Ladies' Civic Improvement Club took up the task and through dinner concessions at the annual Garfield County Pioneer Picnics and Fourth of July celebrations, succeeded in raising a sizable sum for the cause.

     In 1920 the club asked the City Council to join them in the purchase of the Cosgrove Spring, as a water supply for the pool, together with the block of land on which the pool now stands.  The land was purchased for $4000--$2000 of which was furnished by the Ladies' Civic Improvement Club and $2000 by the City of Pomeroy.

     With concession money, funds obtained from other sources, and by the sale of life and season tickets entitling purchasers to the benefits of the pool, the swimming pool was completed in 1922 at a cost of $5,200, including the buildings, piping, fences, walks, etc.