ESKRIDGE — When it came to 82-year-old Maisie DeVore realizing her dream of a swimming pool for the town, there was no giving up even if it did take 30 years.
For three decades she collected discarded aluminum cans and scrap metal of all shapes and sizes, picked wild berries in the countryside to make jams and jellies and knitted afghans in her home all of which produced cash for her swimming pool fund.
Her efforts plus donations netted a nest egg of $100,000. Add a $73,000 state grant and come July, if all goes as planned, residents in this town of 500 will be splashing around in a new pool.
"It's a dream come true. I never knew if I would see the culmination of it," she said. "I'm happy, but it took a while for it to sink in and to realize it was going to come true."
Mrs. DeVore paused for a moment, perhaps thinking over all those years, before continuing.
"They thought 'She's crazy, she's never going to get it.' But by George, we did," she said. "You have to live on hope and faith. That had to be important or I would never have survived that long."
Can-do attitude
Those who over the years watched Mrs. DeVore pull cans from trash bins around town or drive around Wabaunsee County on her collection route attribute her success to dogged determination.
"She's feisty. She's a tough person. Once she makes up her mind, there's no stopping her," said Shirley Pletcher, editor and publisher of The County Line weekly newspaper.
Mayor Don Rush agreed, adding, "She's pretty headstrong. I figured she would attain it if she lived long enough."
Even so, Mrs. DeVore said there were times when she wondered, and even her husband Jim, who died 15 years ago, had his doubts.
"I never dreamed it would take this long. My husband said I would never live long enough to see it, but I just might," she said with an infectious laugh.
There were times when people suggested she give the money to other projects, like a golf course or library. But Mrs. DeVore would have no part of that.
"Let them get out and work for it like I did," she said.
'Happy noise'
Plans call for a 40-foot by 75-foot pool big enough for some 140 swimmers on land donated by the school board. It will be located across the street from Mrs. DeVore's small frame house.
"This will be a happy noise over there," said Mrs. DeVore, who raised four children. "After playing ball, they'll be so hot and sweaty, they'll jump right in the pool."
Asked why she started her project, Mrs. DeVore said she simply saw the need. The town didn't have a swimming pool. The nearest place to swim was at Alma, about 10 miles away, or Lake Wabaunsee, a five-mile drive.
"Every baby sitter in town had to take the kids somewhere else to swim," she said. "The only thing we have is a baseball program in the summer for the kids, and not everyone likes playing ball."
As word of her dream spread, people started saving cans and scrap metal. Even now, her garage is filled with drink cans in plastic bags, leaving just barely enough room for her car.
"Going along the side of the road picking up thousands of beer and pop cans? I don't think I would take a job like that," said Inez Dunn, who helps run a home supply store.
Ready to dive in
While Mrs. DeVore worked long and hard, she's quick to credit numerous donors who helped keep the project alive.
"I feel great about them. They were willing to take a risk and not know if it would happen," she said. "What gave me the biggest thrill was the $2,000 Glenn Close sent to me."
Mrs. DeVore worked as an extra in three films based on the "Sarah, Plain and Tall" stories in which Close acted, after answering a newspaper ad for farm women with weathered faces.
For Rush, the mayor, the only worry is paying for the pool's upkeep.
"My concern is the operational part of it, but we'll get it done," he said. "I'm optimistic about it."
Deann Williams, a city council member, said the pool will use a salt filtration system that will be cheaper to maintain, plus there will be money from admissions and concessions.
Another savings, she said, is that much of the construction work is expected to be donated labor.
There have been suggestions that the pool should be named for Mrs. DeVore, but talk like that doesn't interest her.
"Why should it be? I don't care about that," she said.
But whatever the name, when the pool is completed, Mrs. DeVore plans to be there in her swimsuit, although she's not sure if she can still swim.
"I'll get in it. I may not look very good," she said, "but I'll be in it."
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