By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Demolition has started on Myers Memorial Pool, located at the Washington County Fairgrounds at 706 E. Market St., Salem.

The pool has not been operation since 2019 and has become an eyesore. Age, lack of maintenance, improper winterization and a reported sink hole under the deep end of the pool are listed as reasons for the pool’s demise. The pool house is also being completely demolished.

The pool is actually located on county property controlled by the Washington County Commissioners. The city ran and operated the pool under old agreements.
Estimates to repair the pool were in the neighborhood of one million dollars.

Since parking is limited at the fairgrounds, the commissioners have planned to use the former pool property for a parking area. However, they are open to suggestions from the public for other uses.

The wooden gazebo near the pool has been saved and will placed in a new location on the fairgrounds.

The pool was opened on Memorial Day 1962. It was named in honor of Ralph Myers, who started a local business with four mules that became one of the area’s largest construction companies.