The Dace Hole
A Poem.
Published in The Vermont Standard. July 22, 1922.
WOODSTOCK 1892-1922
Down river from the “lower bridge”—-say fifty rods
or less
Was the swimmin’ place we called “Dace Hole”—-
the same as now, I guess,
Behind the Tann’ry buildings where the South
Branch empties in
Was a first rate pool ‘bout shoulder deep, but ston-
ier than sin,
And though perhaps you’ll know the place beyond
the slightest doubt,
It’s back of Mass’ greenhouse and the saw mill
(just sold out):
I took my first few swimmin’ strokes right there
in that same pool,
And a prouder kid you never saw inside or out of
school.
It wasn’t the most sanitary place to swim ‘twould
seem
For the outlet from the Tann’ry reached the river
just upstream
And chance encounters now and then with horns
and bits of hide
Enlivened the engagements and enhanced the
gentle tide:
This place was very popular with all us kids because
‘Twas a grande above “The Branch” hole and the
handiest place there was,
And ‘twas plenty far away enough from folks a-
passing by
To save offence to e’en the passing tribute of an eye;
For mind you, as I said before, we weren’t a lot of
prudes,
And fellers that wore “swimmin’ trunks” were
classified as dudes.
Karl A. Pember
The “lower bridge” on Pleasant Street
circa 1900
dace /dās/
noun
a small freshwater fish of the minnow family, typically living in running water.
One of the tannery buildings on Pleasant Street.
“Behind the Tann’ry buildings…”
The Dace Hole.
Mass’s green house on Pleasant Street.
“It’s back of of Mass’s greenhouse…”
