In 1940, when I was 8 years old and living in Dallas, I was sent to a boy's summer camp close to Belton. I retain some memories vividly, others are just about faded away. This camp was not too far from town, near a creek where we were taken to splash around in a pool below some falls that were 3-4 feet high. I also seem to remember an outdoor swimming pool on or near the square in downtown Belton. It seem also to me that the sheriff at the time (or a deputy) had a significant role in the daily affairs of the camp. Are there any old geezers left that would remember anything like what I describe, or have I got it all wrong?

The above message was posted by me, James Stinson, not my wife, Virginia Stinson. I suppose there was a mixup in the accounts.

Jim Stinson

I'm not quite an old geezer yet (are geezers all men? cause I'm not one of those either) but I have a postcard of the swimming pool you are talking about. Let me know if you would like for me to scan it and send you a picture. cindy

I grew up in Belton,Tx. and the name of the swimming pool was The Belton Municipal Swimming Pool located on Central Ave. across the street from the Bell Co. Jail and the Sheriff may have been Lester Gunn.

There was a boy scout camp south of Belton near the Lampasas River called Camp Tahuaya. (Not sure of the spelling.) West of Belton on FM 93 there was a place called Camp Kinsolving that I believe was operated by a church organization. In 1940 the sheriff was probably John R. Bigham. He was sheriff for many years, and always wore a big white hat. Ralph Jeffers was his deputy. The swimming pool was west of the courthouse, across the street from the jail and next to Nolan Creek. It was called the Natatorium. It had a roof over it, but the sides were open. Your memory is good, but the swimming pool and old jail are long gone.

You have the correct spelling of the Scout camp. It was/is between Belton and Salado. It has a swimming pool and a lake.

There were two swimming pools in Belton.

The Natatorium, the roof kept the water very cold even in August heat, was on the southwest corner of Central and Main, across from the jail. I'm glad when they took the roof off in later years, around 1964-1966.

The old road out by the Lampasas River, had a swimming pool. No cover on it, but the water was like ice. They had a 9 hole miniature golf course as well. Highway 817, the old Waco Road. Google maps shows it as USA Fun Park. South-east end of Leon Valley Golf Course.

Both pools had metal slides. The one on the river had rings on rope so you could swing across the pool. Until you slipped and fell in.

The second swimming pool in Belton, Riverside Swimming Pool, was on the Leon River on old Hwy 81 between Belton and Temple. That is where the water park is now. I don't remember a pool on the Lampasas River, but we used to enjoy going swimming (wading) in the Lampasas in a shady spot under willow trees. I was born in Belton in 1930 and lived there until 1966, and I don't remember a miniature gold course there. It must have been built long after 1940. We used to play at one in Temple. During WW II I lived in the Nat. There was no air conditioning then, and it was the only cool place in town. I loved that roof, and was sorry when they took it off.

Ah, now that I look at the map... The Lampasas River flowed near Camp Tahuaya, between Salado and Belton. It is the Leon River, flowing out from the Belton Lake, that went by that swimming pool.

This link is on the former Terraserver topographic map site, now Microsoft Maps Research. The small blue rectangle next to the Leon, east side of Belton, is the location of the swimming pool. I remember some of us going up by the Pumping Gauge Station and there was a small concrete dam there.

http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=14&X=81...

The 9-hole miniature golf course was there in about 1963. I don't think it lasted long. Not much in the way of shade.

I took swimming lessons at the Natitorium around 1952. Sorry, I felt like I was swimming in ice water. I have somewhere some photos of the pool about 1966. It was the off season and was empty of water.

I see the Belton drive-In Movie Theater is no longer shown on the topograhic map, nor are the ones in Temple still shown. I remember the Tem-Bel Drive-In about at Midway, but not the names of the others.

My relatives and I are looking through boxes for old photos of the Belton area. I know I have some of the old Natitorium, and the 1966 4th of July parade down Main Street and Central Avenue. And some photos of Camp Tahuaya from many years ago. No idea how long it will take to locate them.

It would be nice if you could post them on the Bell County web site, http://www.txbell.net/