My Mother's Versatile Laundry Tub, by Harley Reid, Edmonton childhood memoir, 1930s

A laundry tub provides hours of pleasure for two children in the 1930's.
\r\nHarley Reid describes how his mother's innovative use of her laundry tub may have resulted in the first hot tub. This tub also served as a cooler for picnics and berry picking

Sometime during the summer of 1932, I believe my mother invented the hot tub. She began with a laundry tub from the basement and turned that basic item into a magical thing. During the week, this rectangular tub sat on a wooden trolley with a round tub. They were placed along side the wringer washing machine in our basement. Once a week they did laundry duties with little fan fare and served their purpose faithfully.


In the heat of one summer weekend, the rectangular tub was moved upstairs and placed on the back steps. Mother filled it with water from the kitchen sink and let the morning sun take the chill from the cold water. Then, with hot water from the teakettle, she warmed the water to the proper temperature, testing it with her hand or the heel of her bare foot. Next, my sister Helen was placed in the water. I thought she was first because she was a girl and the oldest. Then, it was my turn. Sometimes we were in before the hot water had completely warmed the bottom. An automatic reaction from us added more warm water as we settled in.


Strong, young legs churning the water originally supplied agitation as we did our best to maim one another. Sometimes while kicking, a rumble disturbed the water and tiny bubbles began to rise from the depths, tickling us. This would start great gales of laughter, but no one took credit for the mini volcano. It took no time at all to learn if you smacked the surface of the water with your hand you got the other person wet. Over the summer, we spent many hours playing in our hot tub, and each time would reluctantly leave the cooling water to be covered with a towel and dried off.


During those 1930 to 1940 summers, the tub also served as a refrigerator when we picnicked. Dad would fill the tub full of ice and mom would place the picnic food in empty jam tins, put the lids on, and place the tins in the ice. Off we would go to the banks of the river to pick berries.


As far as I know, my mother never received any fame or fortune for pioneering the hot tub. An Irish girl from Ballyaltikilligan, County Down, Northern Ireland she probably did not mind. She had passed on before some fellow named Jacuzzi took all the credit for the invention.


In later days, the old tub was still with the family. I used it several times. Placing it in the back of the half ton, I would drive down to the Arctic Ice Company in the river valley. For fifty cents a paper bag, ice cubes could be obtained from a vending machine. The tub held forty-eight beers and two bags of ice on a hot day. Before I arrived at Seba Beach, the contents were so cold it was torture to drink. I'm not sure my mother would approve of her hot tub being used that way.