‘Tis the season to be jolly – and perhaps a perfect time to visit the Bath House.
A Bath House in December?
This is a perfectly logical statement to readers familiar with the Bath House Cultural Center – especially to those who enjoyed the facility prior to the early 1950s.
For newcomers, a little history and update might be in order.
The Bath House, 521 Lawther at White Rock Lake, was designed in early art deco by Carsey and Linskey architects. It was constructed by the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department in 1930.
The one-story, reinforced concrete structure consisted of two large rooms – one for men and the other for women – providing lockers, showers and restrooms for White Rock Lake swimmers. Because the 10,000-square-foot structure is located on a slope, a partial basement was constructed to function as a concession.
Behind the Bath House was a beach. Chain link fences on either side of the beach area formed the side boundaries of the wading/swimming area, and a rope between the ends of the two fences completed its perimeter. A diving pier beyond the rope provided addition entertainment.
The Bath House was part of community life until 1953, when swimming was prohibited because the lake was used as a water source for the area following a drought. Some also say the closing was a precautionary measure taken when Dallas experienced cases of polio in the early 1950s.
After its closing, the Bath House was used as a training site for the Dallas Police Athletic League’s boxing organization, as a dog obedience school, and for storage for park picnic tables and trash cans.
In 1979, a renovation of the historic building began, following approval of a $200,000 proposal to convert the structure into the City’s first neighborhood cultural arts center.
The Bath House Cultural Center includes a 100-seat theater, performance space, two exhibit spaces, a classroom, and a photo darkroom.
If you decide to visit the Center this month, you can catch the “Grinch is Back” performances from Dec. 2-18. For information, call 670-8749.
Also, while you’re at the Bath House, visit with Teri Aguilar, director of the Center, and Bill Parr, technical manager. They are a wealth of information, both past and present, about the Bath House.
