Sychronized swimming and a little Mount Holly History

Bathing beauty cover 1944 from IMBD

Keep It Local, by Barbara Lawrence – Aug. 29, 2012
Did you happen to see the synchronized swimming competition in the 2012 Summer Olympics? You may not know there is a bit of Mount Holly history connecting this sport, through Esther Williams movies, and Mount Holly.  

History isn't just about old times. History offers authentic connections to new ideas, future innovations, and developments for a community. 

Esther Williams

(Quotes from www.imdb.com Esther Williams biography)
"Before her stint in MGM musicals, she had been training as a competitive swimmer, and probably would've participated in the 1940 and/or 1944 Olympics (she would've been 18 and 22 years old respectively) if World War II hadn't canceled them. … Esther Williams was an advisor to the International Olympic Committee at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles for the new sport of Synchronized Swimming."

"Following (a) short movie, stardom was not far away. MGM created a special sub-genre for her known as "Aqua Musicals". Her first swimming role was in Bathing Beauty (1944). "Bathing Beauty" was a simple movie compared to her later big splashes such as Million Dollar Mermaid (1952), co-starring Victor Mature and Walter Pidgeon. Esther Williams was often called "America's Mermaid", as it appeared that she could stay underwater forever!"


Esther Williams, now 91, went on from promoting swimsuits to designing swimsuits and has a great online business today. A great article in Stylelist written during the recent Olympics provides and update and pictures. 

Synchronized Swimming

I didn't realize that this became a sport.  For those of you who have followed the sport, seeing a duet or team compete is amazing. You should find an old Esther Williams movie and watch the immense spectacle of a musical extravangza in the water.  Photos of the 2012 synchronized swimming competition are available through NBC Olympics. 

Mount Holly Cotton Mill

Mount Holly Cotton Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places

Robert Friedl, owner of the Mount Holly Cotton Mill, and Austrian official for the Austrian consulate, made a swimsuit personally for Esther Williams. I am so happy that I confirmed this tidbit with him personally a couple of years ago. Unfortunately he passed away in 2011, and his lovely wife Pam Friedl continues to be a big part of our local community, while exploring new opportunities for this beautiful historic mill, and conducting international business.

This short introduction cannot do full justice to the contributions of the Friedl family, the Mount Holly Cotton Mill, the fashion and textile industry to our region.  Hopefully, a little bit of history will help connect a few new ideas for our future.

About Barbara Lawrence – Barbara has a background in economic development and real-estate research. Her work has included revitalization of downtown Boone, downtown Gastonia and now Mount Holly.