Public Baths, Foot of Conover

At the end of the 1800s, New York City docked floating pools, known as baths, along the Brooklyn water front to provide relief from the summer heat.  They were protected spaces to swim in the river. 

Bath No. 4 was docked at the foot of Conover Street. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac of 1903 reported that the 5 Brooklyn baths accommodated 1,000,000 during the June thru September season.

Unfortunately, in 1910 a report of the Metropolitan Sewerage Commission said: “it was impossible to locate bathing establishments at a safe distance from sewer outlets.”

Images

Free Floating Baths, Foot of Conover Street

Free Floating Baths, Foot of Conover Street

Postcard | Source: Brooklyn Eagle Post Card, Series 38, No. 224 View File Details Page

Free Bath, foot of Bridge Street

Free Bath, foot of Bridge Street

Source: Free Bath, foot of Bridge Street Lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in. Brooklyn Museum, CHART_2011. (S10_12_Brooklyn_Various030.jpg) Brooklyn Museum Archives. Lantern Slide Collection View File Details Page

Date:

1903

Subjects

Sources:

  • Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac, Volume 18 Compiled by William Herries, Publisher Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1903 p.400
    https://books.google.com/books?id=E0HOAAAAMAAJ

    Photo: Free Bath, foot of Bridge Street
    Lantern slide, 3.25 x 4 in. Brooklyn Museum, CHART_2011. (S10_12_Brooklyn_Various030.jpg)
    Brooklyn Museum Archives. Lantern Slide Collection

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