Fort MacArthur

Fort MacArthur. Hey Rookie Pool. , Fort MacArthur: Beginnings , 1888 , September 14, Executive order by President Grover Cleveland assigns unnamed Military Reservation to improve the defenses of the Los Angeles Harbor. , 1897 and 1910 , Additional military reservation land purchased. Geographically divided into three parts: The Lower Reservation, Middle Reservation, and Upper Reservation. , 1914 , World War I Begins. , October 31, Permanent Harbor defense officially named Fort MacArthur in honor of Lt. General Arthur MacArthur, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient and father of General Douglas MacArthur. , 1914-1917 , World War I hurries construction of training center. After world war one, Fort MacArthur is regularly used for training and housing of California National Guard units, Citizens Military Training Corps, Army Reserve units, and the Civilian Conservation Corps. , 1918 , World War I Ends. , 1939 , World War II Begins. , 1941 , February, the first 1,000 draftees arrive to Fort MacArthur. , December 7, Attack on Pearl Harbor. Fort MacArthur braces for imminent attack. Reports surface of enemy subs and airplanes spotted on West Coast. , Fort MacArthur: 1940's Heydays , , 1942 , Ft. MacArthur Garrison write and produce "Hey, Rookie!" stage show to increase morale for the soldiers stationed here, a show "for the soldiers and by the soldiers". The show is an instant success and even runs for nine months at The Belasco Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. , 1943 , With funds raised from the "Hey, Rookie!" stage show, the US Army Fort MacArthur Command build two swimming pools; one on the middle reservation and one here at the upper reservation. , 1944 , Olympians Howard and Velma Ploessel manage the "Aquacades" - Vaudeville type show headlining with the Southern California Aquabelles. The first "Aquacade" is performed on May 28, 1944. Highly popular, the second show has over 2,000 people packing the pool. Soon, the Aquabelles take their show on the road, raising $26 million in War Bonds. , 1945 , September, World War II ends. , Great Demobilization. Fort MacArthur continues as a training facility for Reserves. Never as active as it was during world war two. , Fort MacArthur: Serving the Community , , 1950s-1970s , After world war two, the pool serves as a recreation facility for the soldiers still based at Fort MacArthur. The military opens the pool to the public. Hey Rookie Pool becomes a local community treasure. , 1975 , Military transfers Lower Reservation (Cabrillo Marina) and Upper Reservation (Angels Gate Park) to City of Los Angeles. Department of Recreation and Parks takes over management of pool facility. Generations of families learn to swim at the pool. , 1982 , Middle Reservation becomes housing and Administration for US Air Force. , 1980s-1990s , The original "Hey Rookie Pool" name falls out of use and forgotten. The pool becomes known simply as "Gaffey Pool". , 1997 , The 54-year old Gaffey Pool is drained and closed due to lack of funds which are needed for major repairs. The pool is decommissioned, leading to years of neglect, overgrown vegetation, and, unfortunately, vulnerability to vandalism. , 2009 , The Fort MacArthur Museum staff and volunteers secure a grant of nearly $7,000,000 from the Port of Los Angeles China Shipping Aesthetic Mitigation Fund to restore "Hey Rookie" Pool. Once again, the pool will serve the community, will pay tribute to the men of the "Hey Rookie" stage show that raised funds to build it, and be a recreational reminder of the sacrifices and dedication of the men of Fort MacArthur and the Harbor Defenses of Los Angeles. , 2014 , The City of LA and community collaborate to restore "Hey Rookie" Pool, and design a new recreational pool facility. , 2015-2017 , Pool restoration and new construction begins.