The WPA-built
John Jay Pool and a closer look
at the Pavilion which was modified by WPA workers. In fact the pavilion was
previously the Cherokee Place Public Bath building, full of tubs and
showers, fallen into disuse once most people had running water in their
apartments. It was redesigned by Embury as a bathhouse and recreation
center, with gymnasium, recreation rooms, and showers[1]. And according to
Wikipedia[2], an auditorium.
References:
- New
York City Record, 4390, 22 July 1941, pp.12-13: "Communication, dated
January 10, 1941, requesting that balances of funds from appropriations made
in 1938 for the reconstruction of nine bathhouses in Manhattan be combined
into one fund and made available to the WPA for the reconstruction of the
Cherokee place baths, for the payment of architect's services for the
alteration of the building and for work in John Jay Park, and to permit the
Comptroller to settle out-standing accounts in connection with the nine bath
houses. ... The construction work at Cherokee place baths and John Jay Park
will be done under a WPA project, now included in the WPA program, and will
be financed from relief funds. Costs for the period to June 30, 1941 will be
met from available relief funds, $35,000, heretofore appropriated as
sponsors contribution for the WPA, and re-leased by the WPA for this
purpose. ... The proposed contract to secure architectural services of
Aymar Embury, II, is for the preparation of complete plans,
specifications, etc., for the alterations to the Cherokee place public bath
building ... The Cherokee place bathhouse, erected about 35 years ago, is a
two-story brick and stone building located at 76th street and Cherokee place
directly opposite the south-west corner of John Jay Park. It is equipped for
shower and tub baths only and when built served the immediate neighborhood
and was well patronized. Today, however, not many of the residents avail
themselves of these facilities and the Department proposes to renovate and
reconstruct the bathhouse to provide gymnasium, recreation room, showers,
etc. Such a change would be desirable and would greatly increase the number
of people using the building."
- John Jay Park,
Wikipedi, accessed 28 November 2019.