Dan and Sheri Dittmer envisioned a competitive training facility for the Quincy area and in 1961-62 brought that dream to reality. Dan worked as a swimming coach from 1957-62 at Spring Lake CC. He coached his team to success in the original Junior Olympics in 1958 and 1959. Dittmer traveled to Decatur, Illinois and consulted with Bob McCaine who had installed a pool similar to the T-Shaped Sheridan pool. Dittmer’s discussions with McCaine solidified plans for establishing Sheridan.
In 1961 several swimmers from Quincy competed in a swim meet in Phoenix, Arizona at the Dick Smith Swim Gym. Walt Schlueter, who had coached prior Olympic teams, was the head coach of the Dick Smith Swim Gym at that time. Coach Schlueter spoke with Coach Dittmer and his swimmers about the Dick Smith facility and the ideas for the present facilities were finalized.
In the spring of 1962, Dan along with 4 other individuals, Alfred Ehrhardt, Paul Seifert, Charles Seifert and George Irwin purchased the land that Sheridan is currently situated on from the William Boge family. The T-shaped outdoor pool was built and opened in the summer of 1962. In the fall of 1962 the construction of the indoor pool began and was opened in 1963.
During that time, the Swimming Hall of Fame opened in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Several swimmers from Sheridan participated in the Opening Meet for the Hall of Fame. Dan left for the Ft. Lauderdale meet with more than his swimmers and had a great experience. He returned to Quincy with his swimmers and the idea for the 50 meter pool. In 1965, he began construction of the pool that is used today, which is modeled after the Hall of Fame pool in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Dan Dittmer and his wife Sheri relocated in 1971. He has now completed over 25 years of coaching at the Longview Aquatic Club in Florida.
The 50 meter pool records reflect the level of age group competition held at the facility. Championship meets including the 2005 Illinois State Long Course Age Group Championships and the 1998 Central Zone Championships have been held at Sheridan. And, for more than 10 years, Sheridan has been host to the Titan Firecracker Classic where pool, state, and national records have been set.
