Generations of Marquette residents spent their summers at the Shiras Pool on Presque Isle. It was named after George Shiras III who had provided the inspiration and some of the money for the pool’s construction. Opened on July 4, 1921, it had a sand beach, dressing rooms, high dives and a floating walk. Usage of the pool peaked in the 1940s but maintenance of the outdoor pool proved difficult. Wildlife, particularly geese and ducks, loved the pool, but their droppings caused problems with the water quality. In the 1980s there was a major renovation costing approximately $760,000, including expanding the pool to 37,000 square feet and adding a $60,000 water slide. Despite the improvements, maintenance continued to be an issue. A 2006 study showed that the pool had only been open 70 days of the year, took $100,000 to maintain and that 78 percent of the Marquette residents hadn’t been to the pool in two years. The pool closed in September 2006 and the property was leased to the Moosewood Nature Center who have been allowing the pool to slowly revert to a natural pond. The trio of photos shown here were taken principally in the 1950s. (Photos courtesy of the Marquette Regional History Center)
