Remember the 1940s? We had many places to swim, some clean, some — well, maybe not.

The Little Androscoggin River was a favorite of many, from the Barker Mill Dam, the second dam, and some islands beyond plus several spots in between. The water was wet, we could cool off. I will agree that we couldn’t see very far underwater. I hope I didn’t swallow too much of it.

Taylor Brook was also a popular place.

Two other places that we had were the quarry at Mt. Appetite and the outlet at East Auburn. That consisted of a gatehouse with a diving board access through a window. The water was clean and cold and deep.

Guess what? No swimming there any more, thanks to the ducks.

Edward Hurley, Lewiston.