Maisie's Story

Maisie DeVore, an 83 year old woman, crushed aluminum cans for nearly 30 years in an effort to raise enough money to construct a community pool in her hometown of Eskridge, Kansas in Wabaunsee County. She collected cans, scrap metals, car batteries and junk from around Wabaunsee County and hauled it to a scrap metal recycling center in Topeka where she sold it. Maisie raised more than $73,000 on her own. 

Governor Bill Graves, State of Kansas, presented to Maisie, a matching check of $73,000 from the Local Government Outdoor Recreational Grant program; and, private donations have since been given of $1,000, $5,000, $11,500 and $12,000. (Included among the money Maisie raised was $2,000 from actress Glenn Close, who starred in made-for-television movies based on the “Sarah, Plain and Tall” books. 

Maisie said, “I won a part as an extra in all three productions, after reading a casting call in the newspaper for ‘weathered farm faces’.”)

After the money was raised, the community formed the “DeVore Community Swimming Pool Association” with the purpose of creating and maintaining the greatest outreach and positive health effects for the community. 

A Request For Proposal was prepared and the bid for the swimming pool project was awarded.  With funds in the account totaling approximately $170,000 the plan for a pool totaling $165,500 was accepted.  This plan included a complete pool filtration and sanitation system and maintenance, safety and deck equipment for a class “A” municipal pool, high-strength concrete and steel construction, ceramic tile at the water line, special pool coping and an epoxy pool finish plus baby pool and bathhouse.

The pool was completed July 14, 2001 across the street from Maisie’s home.  The CBS Sunday Morning TV crew filmed and featured this story July 22, 2001.  A parade was held with over 1,000 people in attendance.  After the ceremony the pool was opened as Maisie made the first step into the completed pool. Since that day, the summer attendance averaged about 100 people a day.

Public Served:

• The citizens of Eskridge (population 600), neighboring communities of Harveyville, Keene, Dover, and the counties of Wabaunsee, Riley, Western Shawnee, Osage, Jackson, Pottawatomie, Lyon, and Morris.
• The Heritage Village (Challenged adults) Home, arthritis sufferers, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord patients.
• Schools: Eskridge K-8 (131 students), Harveyville K-8 (109), Mission Valley 9-12 (212), Dover K-8 (146) – Total 598.
• Special groups: Seniors, community organizations, and churches.
  

Project Goal: The city of Eskridge is providing all of the water.  The Project must fund the maintenance, sewer and liability insurance.  However, it lacks employees and funding to properly manage the pool.  Consequently, The DeVore Community Swimming Pool Association leased the right to manage the pool with some city oversight.

Our current goal is to secure funding to meet the needs of the public served and to offer improved health and quality of life for the residents of this rural population.  We are urging your support to bring funds to Maisie Devore’s effort for our small Kansas community.  Your contribution would be a visible sign of your commitment to the philosophy of supporting improved community health facilities which provide essential services in rural areas and towns; and, especially to an 83 year old woman’s effort to simply improve the health of the children, elderly and handicapped in a small community.

Contributions and gifts can be mailed to:

DeVore Community Swimming Pool Association
PO Box 233
Eskridge, KS 66423