$15.00 CAD
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White’s Swimming Pool and Danceland
Mrs. Wellington White Mngr.
Manitou Beach via Watrous
Attractions:
Little Manitou Lake is known as ‘The Carlsbad of America’, Analysis of water comparing two locations.
3 double-sided panels. Horizontal fold.
Manitou Beach
Western Canada’s Finest Playground
Map. Advertisements: Y.W.C.A Lodge, Chalet Swimming Pool, Manitou Garage, Health Clinic, Princess Café, Welcome Café,etc.
6 double-sided panels
White’s Swimming Pool
- Built in 1918 by entrepreneur Wellington White, originally using leftover materials from a stalled municipal project.
- Officially opened in June 1922, it featured:
- A 25 x 60 ft pool holding 253,000 gallons of mineral-rich lake water.
- 98 individual cubicles for changing, each with its own mirror.
- Water heated to 80°F by a steam boiler.
- Admission was 25 cents (or 35 cents with a towel).
- The pool was known for its healing waters from Little Manitou Lake, often compared to the Dead Sea for its buoyancy and mineral content.
Danceland
- Originally a smaller dance hall, it was rebuilt by Wellington White in 1930, using 84,000 feet of lumber and horse hair to create a unique floating dance floor.
- The floor is cushioned with layers of horse hair, making it ideal for dancing and still in use today.
- Hosted “jitney dances” where men paid 25 cents and women danced for free.
- Over the decades, it became a beloved venue for weddings, polka fests, and live music.
- Despite challenges like flooding from the nearby lake, the community has rallied to preserve it, with fundraising efforts underway to save the structure.
These two landmarks are more than buildings—they’re part of the soul of Manitou Beach. Ever danced on a horsehair floor or floated in mineral water so buoyant you could read a newspaper without getting it wet?
