Eckels Lake

I learned to swim there. Became a life guard. I mostly lived at Eckels Lake whenever I could.

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The lake was actually an old stone quarry that the Eckels' turned into a gymnasium over water. There was a 12' long barrel to try and run on, traveling rings (seen here), spinning disks that two to six people could rock and cause to spin at a very fast rate, big and even bigger water slides, flying rings that took one way up and over the water (and land on the back swing) and a 3', 6', 10' and 20' diving boards and more.

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For the life guard test I had to tie my street clothes into a bundle, throw it out into the lake and when it had sunk completely, I had to dive in and "save" it. The water was a coppery green and bitterly cold at the bottom.

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Mr and Mrs Eckels were like parents who took a real interest in their enlarged "family" which they made me part of. Mrs Eckels suffered from a malady and constantly needed to keep weight on, so each day, when there, I would ride my bike to the Dairy Queen (quite a hike) for a milk shake with an egg mixed in for her to drink. She always had a big smile and a 'thank you', especially when I got back to her with a still cold milkshake.

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As an only son, when my father took me to Mr Eckels as a young child and asked if he could teach me to swim, Mr Eckels said yes and promptly threw me in the water as my father watched in horror. Mr Eckels told him if I didn't start flapping my arms by the third time I went under that he'd jump in and get me. I started flapping like a bird on the second time and have been swimming ever since.

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As life guards, it was common to have to watch over a couple of hundred swimmers every weekend while nursing a Grape Nehi, trying to not get caught ogling the bikini contents and getting very tan.

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The Eckels have passed and lawyers and insurance costs doomed their water gymnasium over water. To the detriment of all.