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Tenino Stone Company Quarry

Coordinates: 46°51′16″N 122°51′10″W / 46.85444°N 122.85278°W / 46.85444; -122.85278 (Tenino Stone Company Quarry)
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Tenino Stone Company Quarry
Tenino Stone Company Quarry is located in Washington (state)
Tenino Stone Company Quarry
Tenino Stone Company Quarry is located in the United States
Tenino Stone Company Quarry
LocationCity Park, Tenino, Washington
Coordinates46°51′16″N 122°51′10″W / 46.85444°N 122.85278°W / 46.85444; -122.85278 (Tenino Stone Company Quarry)
Area3.4 acres (1.4 ha)
NRHP reference No.83003355[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 28, 1983

The Tenino Stone Company Quarry, at City Park in Tenino, Washington, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]

Also known as the Memorial Swimming Pool or the Veteran's Pool, the site is a sandstone quarry from which stone was removed in a box shape. The quarry measures about 900 feet (270 m) long, 60 feet (18 m) wide, and 90 feet (27 m) deep. It is used as a swimming and diving pool[2] and the basin split into two sections, a shallow area and a deeper pool, large enough to be considered an inland lake.[3]

History[edit]

Quarry operations ended in the 1920s when the formation filled with spring water. There are two proposed causes to the cavities filling with water - that workers in the quarry opened up a natural spring or that personnel turned the pumps off as they left the job in a labor protest.[4]

Tenino Quarry Pool[edit]

The area was officially opened as a pool, known as the Veteran's Pool,[5] by the city in 1950[a] and remained without any significant upgrades until a 2018 renovation project funded in part by a grant of $200,000 from Thurston County. The remodeling was completed in 2023 with the addition of a splash park and a combined retaining wall and walkway, and betterments were completed to the decks, docks, and filtration systems.[3][6] Further renovations were undertaken into 2024 which included additional safety measures and access for disabled people; a large reopening of the facility was in June.[5]

Features[edit]

The site contains two separate swimming areas. A 2 foot (0.61 metres) deep shallow pool that also contains a spray area, and a larger swimming hole that, at its deepest, is measured up to 80 feet (24.4 m). The site also contains picnic areas and outdoor shower facilities.[5]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Local reporting also mentions a vague 1940s opening.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ J.H. Vandermeer (June 1981). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Tenino Stone Company Quarry / Memorial Swimming Pool". National Park Service. Retrieved April 24, 2019. with accompanying photo from 1981
  3. ^ a b Sexton, Owen (May 24, 2023). "Seasonal Lifeguards Needed for Tenino Quarry Pool This Summer". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  4. ^ The Chronicle staff (April 15, 2017). "Expedition to Bottom of Tenino Quarry Pool Planned for Thursday". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Dimond, Jacob (June 4, 2023). "Tenino Quarry Pool renovations nearly finished as grand reopening approaches". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  6. ^ Mikkelsen, Drew (July 20, 2018). "Grant money pouring into Tenino Quarry Pool". King 5 News (Seattle, Washington). Retrieved June 14, 2023.

External links[edit]