Home » Blogs » History Mystery #108: The North Fork Recreation Center
Image of a lake.
Do you have any memories or stories about the North Fork Rec Center's Summer Program? Please feel free to share them with us!

History Mystery #108: The North Fork Recreation Center

NORTH FORK — The North Fork Boosters owns and operates the North Fork Recreation Center, hosting community events and renting out to community organizations and private parties. Among the many events held at this venue is the Summer Youth Program that has been running for over 60 years. The Summer Youth Program is Monday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. during the summer months. Free lunches are served to all community youth, ages 17 and under, from noon to 1 p.m.

We know there are many people in our community who have interesting stories and memories of the Rec Center, Summer Youth Program. The North Fork History Group hopes many will share their memories of this program.

Please make comments here or email to NorthForkHistoryGroup@gmail.com.

Prepared by Don Grove.

Follow-up to History Mystery #107

Thank you to everyone who viewed and commented on History Mystery #107. We had over a thousand views and comments on the CHS Facebook page and on Sierra News Online. We also received a phone call at the Museum from Bill Williams from Raymond. He knew exactly what it is a cylinder-shaped water well draw used to get water out of a well. It was donated by Bob and Holly Longatti.

Some other comments on the SNO Facebook page were as follows:

Marc Lyons – I have one and was told it’s for pulling water out of a well.

Gary Gragnani – Vintage water bail it is to take water out of a well and closes when lifted from the weight of the water inside.

Sally Steiding McCalla – no idea

Bennie Nunley – 70 years ago when I went to Arkansas with my parents, a family member used one to draw water from a well! I hadn’t seen one until now.

Dennis Lyons – I believe your right Marc. Is that the one that was hanging on our parents house?

Charlie Martin –  offered a guess but sadly it was wrong.

Tom Wheeler – thought it was used to get sand out of a well.

Once again, thank you from the Coarsegold Historic Museum. Come by and visit us. We are open Mondays from 10 – 2 p.m.

Submitted by Karen Morris, President, Coarsegold Historical Society.

One comment

  1. The following comments are from the SNO Facebook page:
    Earlene Keller
    I learned how to swim there back in the 70s it was a great place to be Snack shack arts and crafts friends in swimming

    Emily Kratzer
    Every afternoon (after the water warmed a bit!) – swimming and sunning with friends, girls flirting with guys, guys doing impossible dives off the rocks to impress the girls. Goofing off on the logs after the jamboree. Lounging in the water on the huge inner tubes from the mill equipment. Kids in the roped-off shallower zone getting swimming lessons. No lifeguards if I recall. Great summers!!

    Patrick Lorton
    Emily Kratzer From what I can recall, back in 63 and 64, Theoma Palmer (Gene Palmer’s eldest daughter) and Mike Petit, were both lifeguards at the REC. and gave swim lessons as well. There was one other lady in her 20’s, as well, but I can’t remember her name. Chuck Woopeo (sic) was a recreational director there, as well. Absolutely great memories of all the wonderful summer days most of the NF kids enjoyed there!

    Emily Kratzer
    Tx Patrick – I guess I just didn’t realize they were on duty. And Chuck – I had forgotten about him! ????

    Lisa Skillman
    My kids loved that place!!

    KT Barnett
    We started off swimming here and then our children and now their children. It’s a great place all around for our local children to spend their summers at

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