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Show The Salt Lake Tribune SUNDAY Sunday, April 27, 1997 last Deseret Gym specific times. The reason? “The men swam in the buff.” The sisters recall the intramural high school basketball games Closes Era of Sweat and Tears played in the gym, a popular publie facility that also bulged with @ Continued from J-1 numerous recreational hoopsters in high-tops. university fans cheering the Runnin’ Utes, the BYU Cougars and Sometimes it has been Davis CountyLibrarydirector Pete Giacoma’s pickup team of teens to mid-50-year-olds trying to be like Stockton. Or the marrieds in denimsand golf shirts shrieking with delight whenan off-balance heave from a flabby armearns nothing but net. Simon and Garfunkel would recognize the sounds of silence here today, interrupted only slightly by a lone heavy-footed jogger in baggy red sweats circling the balcony track high over- head. Ten times around and he'll complete a mile Cement columus painted burnt umber, stand like soldiers between the handbali courts on the The Stromness and Pratt children learned to swim atthe “new” DG,in the 87-degree family pool with the convenient steps, a safe perch for water- multi-shaped bodies that enjoy the informal, varied atmosphere at the DG. It is a place where one is as likely to hear German, Tongan or Russian as English, said Utah artist Susan Fleming. “I came here years ago on crutches, because my arthritis was so bad,”said a free-standing, healthy Fieming. “WhatI grew to love was the diversity.” On Sept. 29, 1910, the first Deseret Gym opened “to all persons of good character regardless of religious affiliation.” Gov. William Spry and Salt leary little ones. Stromness, a retired school teacher and mother of six, Lake MayorJohnS. Bransford were among the 10,000 celebrants that day. At the dedication of the $215,000 facility, LDS Church President Joseph helped run the fam- ily business while earing for elderly parents. Rarely did anything keep her from a daily swim. “You make time for what’s important to you,” she said. Thirty years ago she had a mastecto- Fielding Smith, a regular gym patron, A point of reckoning: the scale in the men’s locker room. told the crowd of well-wishers, “This is a center where Twoyears ago, she broke herleft arm and it was back to the pool for therapy and complete recovery. The devoted sisters meetat the 60-foot pool, two diving boards, a 75-by-150-foot gym with an inside running track,a visitors’ gallery and a library with books to lend on physical education. Member- pool four days a week and swim ship was $25 a year for business- Marcus,are locked now. Harriet Marcus first inched into the gym’s 25-yard competition pool in 1965 for health reasons. Her husband accompanied her and soon got hooked on squash. They stayed not only becauseof the physical benefits and love of sport, but also for the “many people we have met who have become much more than aequaintances. It breaks our hearts that the gym is closing.” Ruth Pratt and herbest friend, younger sister Mary Siromness, learned to swim 70 years ago at the first Deseret Gym, one block south on Main Street. They remembertheill-fitting gray cotton suits they had to rent and the LDS. bishop’s recommend that allowed them entry. There was one pool, off limits to females except for 50 minutes using six different strokes. “Sometimes you come to the gym and you're all upset,” said Stromness, ‘then you do little talking, do little swimming and things aren't nearly so bad.” They are downtrodden at the thought of losing the gym, their cherished exercise haven that allowed them a daily constitutional followed by lunch, shopping and conversation. “T don’t know whenwe'll gettogether now,” said Pratt. “Mary lives in Bountiful. I live on the east side of the city, and with the freeway construction, well, there Wiliard R. Smith, who hadlocker No. 1 at the first DG, was afforded similar honors at the new “The finest health- promoting facility in this part of the country.” At 128,929 squarefeet, it was twice as large as the old DG. Its brought out the soothing aromatic scent of aspen benches. Now the steam room appears old and forgotten. The one-inch pink and gray tiles are coming soap or a towel were charged an extra penny. steamers, towels wrapped around mentstated that a new gym would be built on First South and Richards Street (where Crossroads Plazanowsits). Those plans were altered and on June 2, 1962, LDS Church President David 0. MeKayinformed the community that an addition to the Hotel Utah and anew LDS Church adminstration building would be built on the block east of Temple Square, requiring the Deseret Gym to be razed. An underground parking spandex, over-70 crowd, the rent DG was June 18, 1963, the area would bebuiltin its place. Groundbreaking for the cur- their bodies, crowd onto the lone 12-foot bench,occasionally reaching for the green garden hose to feel the invigoration of cold water in a hot room onelast time. Throughout the years, the steam room has beena retreatfor introspection and solace, a place to comfort a sobbing stranger who was a victim of spouse abuse and cameto the gym for refuge. It has been an exchange hub for Thanksgiving recipes and tips on the best way to use a round ioofah sponge — cut it down the middle and scrub away. Andit has beena place to laugh heartily while explainingski-resort directions to a The Corerof the Pool Group convenes morningsin the Deseret Gym pool. “Barbara calls us the Liar’s Club,” jokes Dennis Craynor. “To become a member, you've got to have a Republican Party membership and an expired temple recommend.” The members — Craynor, Bud Sant, Val Biesinger, Newell Knight and Ronn Munford — counttheir years at the gym from § to 31 years. More Cases of Courthouse Lunacy in Lawsuit Land Crossword solution Dear Readers: Ever since | began writing about ridiculous lawsuits and nutty judges, read- ers have inundated mewith stories from their local papers. ANN LANDERS a I have been dumbfounded by some of the crazy lawsuits that have Star. It seemsa lawyer who attended a Billy Joel-E! John concertat a San Diego stadiumwas drinking beer and had to go to the bath- room, While he was in there, a woman who couldn't wait in the long lines for the ladies’ bathroomdecidedto use the men’sfacilities. The lawyer becamesostartled at seeing a woman in the restroom that instead of doing what comes naturally, he was unable to do anything at all. soon after, he filed a suit not only against the city of San Diego, which owns the stadium, but against the beer vendor as well, Crazy! Puzzle on J-3 ay Well, the fed- cral judge appareatly thought so too, He ordered che lawyer and his associate, whofiled thesuit, to paythe city and the beer vendor $20,009, which was the estimated cost of defending themselves My hat is off to that judge. If more judges would penalize people whofile wacky lawsuits, attorneys would notbes0 quick to encourage their clients to sue. In his column, Chuck Thomas went on to suggest another candi date for a Loony Lawsuit Award gentleman refused. of the keyboard maker, Digital The patron ing treated unfairly, The judge decided the case had merit, and the man was awarded $18,000. Chuck Thomascited his favorite — a San Francisco woman who “No dummy she, Geressy didn’t cided that Digital's keyboard de- sign was defective and therefore led to Geressy's injury but because the computer maker ought to have posted warnings on its was riding a cable car when it keyboards alerting users to the phomaniac, dangers of typing too much.” So, dear readers, again we see evidence that truth is stranger rear-ended an auto. She claimed the injuries turned herintoa nyNutty? The jury didn't think so, She was awarded $85,000, ‘Thenext eye-opener came from a reader in Santee, Calif. It ap. peared in the San Diego Union Tribune in a piecebyJoseph Per- than fiction. And people accuse me of making up letters, Why in the world would I haveto? Oo Gem of the Day: For people kins. then sued him for malpractice. | guess she thought if he were a ecutive secretary for the Port Au- strongly recommend some fourletter words work, risk, guts “Patricia Geressy, a former ex who want to succeedin life, 1 thority of New York and New Jer and zest competent psychiatrist, the mar sey, claimed that she developed a riage would not havefailed chronic condition of carpal tunnel syndrome — a repetitive stress injury — from typing so much on Ave., ‘Thomas also told about a gen tleman who was denied enjrance | Equipment. And a New York jury | came downin her favor, awarding her a $5.3 million judgment. “It was not becausethejury de. It seems a woman married her psychiatrist, divoreed him and | bother to sue the Port Authority, | She wentafter the deep pockets grounds that women werenot required to wearties and he was be- have one that ranks with the looniest of them. It was written upin a column by Chuck Thomasin the her computer keyboard. nia hotel because he was not wearing a necktie. The maitre d’ offered to lend him one, but the then filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against the inn on the cometo my attention, and nowI Camarillo (Calif. into the dining room of a Califor- | | | | | uous perforated pipe for unifor- loose. An ugly concrete support stump remains wherea whitetile bench once rested. Die-hard On May 6, 1961, an announce- | | | Richard Condie conducted the Tabernacle’s men’s choir in three hymns and Thomas Monson gave the benediction. The $2.5 million | structure, providing for the first time full athletic access for women and children, was deemed men, $18 for adult males, $10 for adult females, and $7 for children 4 through 12. Patrons seeking really isn’t any place for swim- merslike us.”” “Like us” refers to the non- acquire health-giving exercise.” numerous amenities included a women’s steamroom,with contin- The 4-foot-high doors on the ducked underbytallerfigures,in- tened. Dedication of the new buff-colored brick-and-cast-stone DG complex was Jan. 5, 1965, with 1,500 people in attendance. President and Mrs. McKay were present but did not give formal speeches. Hugh B. Brown of the LDS First Presidency told the crowd, “We are anxious that our young peopleandall of us should mity of steam, and a 14-by-9-foot Finnish sauna with dry heat that squash and handball courts, cluding Utah actor Robert Peterson and retired doctor Stanley building made its debut on South | ideas of fair play, chivalry and honor are fostered.” stains on the floor. same year the University Club | Temple. The old DG was flat- Thebrick DG included a 30-by- my, and today credits lap swimming for a fairly smooth rehabilitation period building’s north side. Soggy, de- eaying ceiling tiles leave brown Nancy Carmen, a 25-year memberof the Deseret Gym, swims laps in the gym’s pool, “We've been mourning in our house,” she says. “It's a great loss for the community.” lap Write to Ann Landers c/o Chi cago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Chicago, IL 60611 ‘ | |