FROM THE ARCHIVES BY MARY WATSON

BATHING BEAUTIES OVER THE YEARS

Summer is coming, honest! So let’s get in the mood and take a look at how bathing apparel in Wasaga has changed over the years.

Swimsuits 1919 Swimsuits 1920’s

During the early 1900’s, everyone was well covered and even the children had heavy woolen one-piece swimsuits. Although men could show bare arms, their chests and thighs were covered. If a lady did go into the water, she was protected from head to toe. Usually, the ladies would stroll along the beachfront in their full blouses and skirts, seeking shade with their parasols.

Brock’s Beach 1930’s

By the 1930’s, bare arms and legs were allowed, but the bathing suits were still quite heavy and you had to wear your bathing cap. Two of the Archive postcards show beauties enjoying themselves at Brock’s Beach, which is in the general area of Cedar Grove Campground.

Phyllis 1937 Fran & George 1937

By the end of the 1930’s, swimsuits were becoming less cumbersome and more of the body was exposed. Ladies could stroll down Main Street (Pedestrian Mall) in their swimsuits and high heels. Two Garvey photos we have on file show “Phyllis” stopping in at Pop’s Club, probably for an ice cold coca cola and “Fran” ready to take “George’s” order at the Marine Lunch Bar.

Normandie Lodge 1950’s

In the 1950’s, styles had changed somewhat but still seemed to carry the look of the 1940’s. At the Normandie Lodge, which was located on the river at 12

th Street and Mosley, you could enjoy

the sun while talking with your friends.

Nancy Villa Beauty Contest 1960

Beauty contests were very popular in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. One such contest was sponsored by the Nancy Villa Resort, which was located next to Nancy Island where the Nancy Parking Lot is now.

Dyconia Resort 1970’s Beachfront 1970’s

By the 1970’s, swimsuits had changed considerably with ladies showing their bare mid-rifts. The swimming pool at the Dyconia was always busy and the beachfront was full of visitors enjoying our stellar summers.

I’m sure you can remember having to wear that horrible bathing cap as a child. It was tight, left lines around your face and looked just plain ugly. Older ladies would wear caps with plastic flowers on the side. And remember your mother telling you that you couldn’t go into the water for two hours if you had just eaten? It seemed like an eternity when you were 10!

All in all, bathing suit styles have changed dramatically over the years, but as you can see from the pictures, Wasaga was and still is a popular mecca in the summer. If you visit our Archives, you will see bathing suits and caps from the 1930’s. If any of you can identify any of the folks in the pictures with this story, I would love to hear from you so that I can properly label them. Just contact me at the e-mail address below or call the Town Office at 705-429-3844 and leave me a message.

Be sure and watch for our new 16-month Archive Calendar! It will be available soon and only 1000 copies have been printed so they’ll go fast! Mary Watson is Archivist for the Wasaga Beach Archives. If you would like to contact Mary with any historical information, pictures or questions, you can e-mail her at archive@wasagabeach.com.

First printed in the “Wasaga Sun” on 04May2011.