colleen8
2 posts
Aug 22, 2007
8:25 PM
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Does anyone remember swimming in what seemed to be the largest pool in the world?
I "walked over it" during a recent visit to Dayton.
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welshrose
1 post
Aug 27, 2007
6:39 PM
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What a great shame.Old River was such a wonderful place for families to go to any day of the wek. They even had a baby pool,(just for infants) .And the koi, how much fun was it to hang over the side of the bridge and throw popcorn down to them. Those days of good clean fun are all gone.
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Valgruber77
1 post
Sep 13, 2007
7:29 AM
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Yes I remember those days! My mother worked at NCR and this was how we spent our Saturdays or Sundays in the summer! I loved Old River! I was in elementary school during that time and I am now 49 years old. I live in Winston-Salem, NC, but I do relish the Old River Days!
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JackK
1 post
Sep 29, 2007
5:51 PM
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Old River Park is still there. If you had a relative that worked at NCR you can walk around on the grounds. The minature golf course is atill there as well as most of the buildings and the boat docks. The pool is all grass but can still be invisioned if you try real hard.
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Laurel59
4 posts
Nov 15, 2007
1:14 PM
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I can still remember swimming and trying to see where my sister or mom and dad were, it was that big, not imaginatively big, just ginormous! There were some fountains there too. Over near a band shell I think. We were little, like 4 and 5 and couldn't resist climbing in, like everyone else and walking in circles laughing and laughing.
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Mike C
19 posts
Dec 24, 2007
10:47 AM
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I use to want to be invited to Old River pool so badly when I was a child. The man across the street from me worked at NCR. His son was a little older than me. I always hoped he would ask me to go to the pool with him since we sometimes played in the same group of kids. He never did. You are right, the pool seemed so big and so fancy. After I grew older ( never grew up you know)I see the pool in a whole different light. The memberships became available to a lot more people towards the end of the life of the pool. In wasn't interested in joining then. Sort of sad to see it go like that. Just like Dayton, slowing going away.
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kbarr11
2 posts
Feb 03, 2008
4:58 PM
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My dad worked at NCR and we used to beg to go to Old River to swim,picnic, etc. I, also, remember feeding the fish popcorn. What a great time. I recently found some old pictures of NCR history and Old River which really thrilled me.
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historymom
2 posts
Mar 26, 2008
4:27 PM
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Did anyone else ever attend the "Toolmaker's Picnic"?
I was raised in an NCR family. My parents and my grandparents met at NCR. My father was a toolmaker and every year they held the "Toolmaker's Picnic". What a great day! I was very young, but it seemed to me that Old River went on for miles and miles. The best part of the day is that we were given some type of "ticket" and we took it to one of the shelters and I got to pick out a present. Wow! How great was that? It's very sad that NCR is just a shadow of it's former self.
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Mark1957
5 posts
May 10, 2008
8:49 AM
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What wonderful memories at Old River. My dad taking us there to swim and then later when I could ride my bicycle and go with my buds. Diving for pennies... I liked Old River better than Oakday because you could wear a mask. Many years later I was able to take my kids before it closed. Remember the giant checker boards and the pieces you lifted with a metal hook to move around the board? Outdoor movies on the lawn. July 4th fireworks? Canoe rentals? What a cool poolhouse..the metal basket frames for your clothes and the numbered claim discs on elastic bands... the disinfectant foot pool you had to walk through on the way out of the poolhouse? The way it smelled?
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kbarr11
6 posts
May 10, 2008
7:28 PM
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Just reading the last post on Old River really gave me a great visual memory - I too, remember the huge checkers and the whole pool scene, especially the disinfectant everyone had to walk through!!! Great times. My dad transferred to Wichita, Kansas in 1972 with NCR and I ended up work for them also in 1973 - 1975. The company is no longer in business in Wichita either!
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richard
1 post
May 21, 2008
3:54 PM
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When did OLD RIVER PARK close? What is left of it.
Is it still NCR property. Do you need a pass to walk on it?
Last Edited by on May 21, 2008 3:55 PM
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55Buckeye
1 post
Sep 22, 2008
2:49 PM
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Does anyone remember the water skiing shows that were held every summer at Old River? Maybe it wasn't every summer, but they had them until there was an accident involving one of the boats and several people were injured, at least one seriously? I was at that show and was one of the (slightly) injured and I cannot find any information about it and wondered if anyone remembered that incident?
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Jim82
1 post
Sep 23, 2008
12:24 PM
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Other than the pool depth, all recollections are fairly accurate.
I do recall the boating accident as I happened to be there. One boat went out of control near the canoe rental and went up on land, taking out several spectators. I recall the stream of ambulances coming down the hill from the guard house. Not a pretty memory.
Beautiful employee park...unparalleled. And the salt water taffy at the concession stand was the best!
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Jim82
2 posts
Oct 09, 2008
11:19 AM
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depth under the diving boards did not exceed 10'--no big deal, though!
great memories!
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DaveHH
1 post
Jan 10, 2009
9:36 AM
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My Dad worked at NCR for 27 years and we enjoyed many of the things that NCR offered.
The Saturday movies and cartoons were great in the theater building. Old River was a given every year including the giant chess and checkers games. Band shell concerts and feeding the fish and the ducks.
The soda machine that dispensed into paper cups that you had to fight the bees for. It truly was a privilege and a highly sought after honor to have annual passes to Old River. Summer was the best then.
As far as the pool depth goes you are both right essentially. The original depth was 13 1/4 and one summer they closed that part of the pool for a good part of the season and it returned shallower. The reasoning we heard was legal issue that the deeper pools brought. Whether there was an incident I do not know.
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daveatvb
1 post
Feb 27, 2009
8:26 AM
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It's funny that I decided to search for Old River Park today. My Dad, Frank, worked at NCR in the late 60's and Old River pool was the best. The first of many summer sunburns at that pool. Too bad it is gone.
Does anyone remember the Christmas parties that NCR had in the auditorium for the kids? After 40+ years and living in more than 30 places (military/military spouse) I stiil remember how much fun NCR made it for us kids. Guess we really need to thank our parents for working there:)
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JR
1 post
Apr 07, 2009
11:49 AM
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I worked at NCR 1965-1967 as an exchange visitor from England. It was my first job and it was a wonderful experience. I do remember Old River and also the lunch time movies in the Auditorium. I had a great time in Dayton and since moving to Canada in 1972 have visited a number of times.
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phil pixley
2 posts
Apr 17, 2009
11:40 AM
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I used to go there,as we were a NCR family.My father was transferred my senior year at Fairview,some of my fondest memories of Dayton were at Old River.I really miss those days!!!Anybody out there,whowants to chat,ppixley@verizon.net
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ALSmith
1 post
May 28, 2009
3:12 PM
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This brought back so many memories. I could walk to Old River and usually in the summertime would go everyday. This is where I took swimming lessons. You had a Old River card they checked when you went in. I also remember the taffy. I remember the merry-go-round, You could climb up to the top and sit down, they couldn't do that now. I also remember every Friday was fried fish or shrimp night. We would go with my cousins and eat dinner and watch the movie or go out in a canoe. I could not wait until I was old enough to not sit in the middle but paddle a canoe. Remember the big boat they had that took you on boat rides? What a great time to be a kid. I loved the pool with the two pools and I do remember diving for pennies. I also remember the Easter Egg hunts they had, they were huge. I also remember the Saterday morning movies (I could walk to the auditorium from my house) and it was always snowy. I was very lucky that my dad worked at NCR because he would come home for lunch and I would walk from Patterson Elementary to eat lunch with him. When I got older it was always fun to take my friends to Old River. My friends were always amazed at the park and it was old news to me, I took it for granted how nice it was. I know that big clock in the middleof the two pools saved my butt many times since I always had to be home before Dad got off at 4:00. I also remember the picnics, my dad was in charge of getting some of the prizes. The kids aways won great prizes. I loved the sack race and the wheelbarrow races and the water baloon toss. It was fun to watch the adults play. WOW what memories. I did have some post cards but they are long gone now.
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Becky73
117 posts
May 29, 2009
6:50 AM
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daveatvb remembers the Christmas parties for the NCR kids and I do too. My parents did not work there, but one year I was being babysat by an NCR family and they took me. What a treat! That year I didn't just have to admire my friends present, I had one too. I was also taken to Old River several times. I remember feeding the fish and the disinfectant that you had to walk through and the huge pool! It is no wonder kids get into trouble these days - all the places like this are closed. What a shame! And 55Buckeye - I would suggest you go online and see if you can get into the archives of the Dayton Daily news to find stories of that boat accident. Library might also be able to help you.
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newspace12x12
8 posts
May 31, 2009
1:28 PM
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they are reopening old river to somne extent real soon, maybe even this summer? i saw something somewhere about it just recently. the park, boat ride, canoe rental parts of it.. it's all tied in with the new bigger better deeds carillon park expansion...
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Jody in Vermont
1 post
Jun 02, 2009
8:11 AM
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I was a lifeguard at Old River during the summers of 1962, '63, and '64. Reading all of the entries certainly brings back a lot of wonderful memories. It is one job I would have worked at, for nothing, for the rest of my life. It was sad when it closed, but a friend told me that the park has reopened. (Memorial Day weekend 2009?) I can't wait to learn more about this.
To "historymom", my dad was a Toolmaker and we attended all the annual picnics. I remember the penny toss was my favorite activity. The bandstand and box lunches.... I could go on and on.
I turned down the Lifeguard Captain position my second summer to work at the boat/canoe rental dock. (Does anyone remember Corky who was head of the guards?) I witnessed first-hand the boating accident referred to above. The man who was driving the boat was a personal friend of our family and he never really got over what happened. The throttle stuck, and I remember seeing the boat afterwards where he had actually ripped the throttle out of the gunnel trying to stop. It was indeed a tragic incident.
My entire family worked for NCR - grandfather, mom, dad, uncles, cousins..... even I worked at NCR Enon intermittently following high school, until the refurbishing plant closed. So I was very involved in all the company activities. Even today I have NCR stock....lol I hang on to it for sentimental reasons.
One of my favorite things to do on Saturdays was go with my dad down behind the factory and sort through all the scrap lumber that was tossed out from the cabinet/carpenter shop. "Recycling" loooooong before it became the trend.
The movies, Christmas programs, the huge organ, candy, ......... ah, the good old days.
Back to the pool - From memory, it was the 2nd largest filtered pool in the world. I believe the largest was in France, can't rightly recall. The men's open dressing area, the wire clothes baskets with numbered brass claim-tag with elastic band, the highly chlorinated footbath at the exit of the changing area. I can still smell the place!
I was responsible, along with the other guards, to clean the pool and tend to the filtration system in the basement, plus clean the park (ride the trash truck)in the morning before the park opened. So I knew the park intimately. And yes, there were bees to deal with. They liked the partially filled milk-shake containers. I never got stung, but I dumped many a shake over my head while lifting the wire trash basket into the truck.
Lastly, we guards used to collect enough change from the grass area and the bottom of the pool that by season's end, we were able to pay for a bus trip to see a Cincinnati Reds ball game. The public was never aware how much money they dropped! (There was a time that I had thought about returning with a metal detector.......) Hmmm. I wonder if there are still pennies to be found over by the kiddie pool?
I stumbled upon this forum while looking for info about the reopening. Thanks to all of you for rekindling what are the fondest memories of my childhood.
Feel free to email jodyinvermont@gmail.com
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Jody in Vermont
2 posts
Jun 05, 2009
4:00 AM
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Dayton Daily News has a 65 photo slideshow about NCR, which is leaving Dayton. Check it out:
http://projects.daytondailynews.com/cache/galleries/News/Business/ncrovertheyears/
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No matter where you see me next, that's where I am.
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Pushall
5 posts
Jun 08, 2009
1:37 PM
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I was just at Old River Sunday; June 7;. The pool is filled in, the bath house is still there, The snack building which was on the west side of the pool is gone. The park seems tidier then it was, when I belonged to it in the late 80's and early 90's, most of the shrubs and under brush that lined the Ox-Bow and the perimeter of the park is all gone. There aren't as many picnic tables or grills as I remember, we played minature golf. A person could use the shuffle board, checkers, chess, and other games that had been available in the past. There was a brass band giving a concert. As others have said you can still rent a canoe if you want. It cost 8 dollars a person to get into to it, 40 dollars for a family membership that also allows entry to Carillon park which now cost 8 dollars a person for entry too. Old River isn't the same, in the 80's there would have been several thousand people there on a June Sunday afternoon, yesterday there was less then 100 cars in the parking lot.
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smelvin3507
1 post
Jun 08, 2009
3:18 PM
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I was a life guard at Old River 1978 & 79. It was the greatest place to work and meet friends. Clair Washburn (RIP)and Dale were my bosses, and these two put up with a lot, I mean a lot of BS from the guards, but it was all fun.
I remember when it was raining, we would close the pool and play beach house volley ball in the pool house. Would love to hear from other guards to talk about the old days. (Urika, Michael F, Aaron U, Patti K, Tamera, Ron, Jim B, etc..please phone home)
I think the big boat was called the Show Boat. A sad note...Michael (Denny) Doyle, friend of mine at UD, and Captain of the Show Boat in 1979. Sadly, he was on the Pan Am Flight 103 that crashed in Lockerby.
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tom070
1 post
Jul 16, 2009
7:17 PM
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i learned to water ski at old river in in the early 60's. still remember what was the largest pool at an industral park in the world. great place,great memories.
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Wendy1410
4 posts
Jul 21, 2013
8:44 AM
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I, too, have fond memories of Old River. My family used to be invited once a year, and it's where I learned to canoe. I still love to canoe. What I can't seem to find out though, is: is it reopened yet? I can find articles saying that UD had closed it in 2011 and 2012 for renovations, but nothing about 2013.
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joey m
83 posts
Jul 22, 2013
12:21 PM
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SNEAK IN TO THE PARK AFTER MIDNIGHT AND FISH THERE. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD PLACE TO FISH BUT IT WASNT. EVERYBODY THOUGHT THEY COULD CATCH THOSE GIANT CARP THAT YOU COULD FEED OFF OF THE BRIDGE IN THE PARK.
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rhuston
7 posts
Dec 12, 2013
5:43 PM
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We were never invited to enter Old River..We just stood at the main gate and ask to be taken in as a guest.
I never was turned away....always got in.
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luv my dayton
491 posts
Dec 17, 2013
6:33 AM
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Key words are 'worked there.' and families which both have all but disappeared. Back in the day people were friendly with their neighbors and helped out one another. My neighborhood was full of NCR workers so my sisters and I didn't miss much that went on there. The NCR auditorium may have been the place where all had been to at least once as every high school had graduation activities there. Time March's on and we old timers are the ones with the great memories of days gone bye.
Last Edited by luv my dayton on Dec 17, 2013 6:35 AM
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luv my dayton
492 posts
Dec 17, 2013
6:50 AM
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Jody in Vermont great story and memory. You didn't miss a thing and felt from your description like I was back there. NCR. at one point in time tried to open the park to public for a small fee. Then the Marriotts guests were allowed access and then it dwindled down size wise.Seems like I heard one of the life guards at one time had drowned there.Do you or anyone else have any info?
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jfox68
90 posts
Dec 18, 2013
4:23 AM
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I work in the new GE building next to the Marriott. The NCR pool bath house and the tower that was in the center of the pool are still there.
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olds88
198 posts
Dec 18, 2013
6:35 PM
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Its amazing to me on this site how back in the day that so many insignificant things and places had such a big influence on our lives including mine.People,kids today will never have what we hadTO REMEMBER.Life was simple,people were interesting and every day was a new beginning.
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joey m
158 posts
Dec 19, 2013
9:33 AM
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olds88 You are absolutely right I try to tell my daughter and son in law this all the time. I know they probably cant relate to what I say but we had the "best of times".
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