| Author | Message | ||
     bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 60 Registered: 12-2005 |
Does anyone remember the old swimming pool? Can anyone post some photos? | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 599 Registered: 6-2001 |
Hey Betty! Which one? Olympic Park? Help me out, I think I can find anything. -John | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 22735 Registered: 6-2001  |
I think she means South Orange. If so, I'm sure there are pictures at my Dad's house; next time I'm there I'll see what I can scare up. | ||
| Cartman Citizen Username: Cartman Post Number: 28 Registered: 2-2005 |
BOYS OUT! | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 64 Registered: 12-2005 |
It was the one in SO, right against the railroad tracks in a similar location to the present pool. The present pool was built in 1970 or 71 I believe. I remember that anything went in that pool. You could bring in rafts, balls, rocks, and once, a small turtle. | ||
| AGD4 Citizen Username: Agd4 Post Number: 52 Registered: 2-2003 |
The book Images of America South Orange}, by Naoma Welk, includes a photograph of the old South Orange pool. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4193 Registered: 1-2004  |
Remeber when there were gold fish hunts in the old pool? Boy Only and Girls Only Swim? Having to shower and then step in the smell blck thing to 'clean off your feel' before being allowed in the pool area? The smelly locker rooms? And who could forget Mrs Daily and her yelling "WAAAAAAALK!!! | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 244 Registered: 10-2005  |
There's the South Orange book for sale at the pharmacy on Scottland Road (may be the same book as mentioned by ADG4 ?) with a picture of the pool. Says SO had the first municipal pool in the country! | ||
| Maryann Citizen Username: Maryann Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2006 |
BettyD, I remember the old Cameron Field Pool very well. Like you I learned to swim there. I was also a lifeguard at the pool from 1967 to 1971. Betty, I'm sure you can find some pictures of it at: The News-Record, the South Orange Recreation Dept., and the South Orange Library. It really was a "child friendly" pool, wasn't it? Do you remember the water ballet shows and races every year on the Fourth of July? Do you remember the canoe lessons Rose Williamson used to give at the pool, too? | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 147 Registered: 12-2005 |
Maryann: I do remember those now that you mention them. I also recall putting your feet into that black, rubber basin. The pool was square I believe, with steps all along one side. I remember "feet off the ground" whenever a train went by. It certainly was child friendly; you could do just about anything in there (chicken fights, dunking) or bring whatever you wanted. | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 148 Registered: 12-2005 |
Does anyone remember the plane crash in the park in the early 70's I believe? I remember the pool was closing at dusk, and then someone said a plane had crashed in the park. Everyone ran out of the pool and into the park. I was a kid and expected to see a huge airliner, but it turned out to be a small one engine Cessna that crashed by the little league field. I also recall being in the old pool in the summer of 67. The ground started to rumble and shake and there was an incredible noise coming from SO Avenue. Everyone ran out to see what was going on and there were National Guard tanks and vehicles heading to Newark at the start of the riots. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 1381 Registered: 4-2004  |
Boys swim 1-3, girls swim 3-5, lifeguards included Messrs. Kelly, Wilderotter and Rathjens. Cracks in the bottom where you could slice your foot open. The goldfish that died 2 hours later from chlorine poisoning. It was great! I also remember the 2-3 years without a pool while the new one was being built. Public swim was at Columbia or Seton Hall, and pool hopping was elevated to an art form. Orange Lawn and Newstead were among the popular areas, and kids drove the cops crazy-nobody worth a damn ever got caught but we all raced through the night anyway. We finally found a couple of homes that were virtually abandoned during the summer and squatted. The new pool was and is fantastic, but there were hardly the same thrills as pool-hopping. Each night was like a mini-biathlon: swim, run, swim, run... | ||
| Cartman Citizen Username: Cartman Post Number: 30 Registered: 2-2005 |
Perhaps we bumped into each other. One summer night in 1974, we hit 11 pools. Gotta be a record. And yes, Orange Lawn was a regular stop. Never got caught, but got chased by lots of dogs. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 1133 Registered: 5-2003 |
It was only one summer without a pool--1970? My sons were 4 and 7 years old, and I took them to New Hampshire for the summer. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 1421 Registered: 4-2004 |
Lizziecat- It was definitely two years, around 1972-73. When the new pool is open again I'll check to see when it was dedicated. Cartman- 1974 is a distinct possibility. Just because the new pool opened didn't mean the fun had to stop. My last hop was before college several years later. | ||
| Psychomom Citizen Username: Psychomom Post Number: 99 Registered: 5-2005 |
The Cameron Field pool was only 5 feet deep at the deepest and I do remember the cracks in the bottom...but I lived in Maplewood and didn't have a pool yet so we used to sneak into the one at Cameron Field...they didn't issue badges or anything...the lifeguards would occasionaly ask for your address....we had one all ready to go (it was my mother's bosses place) all went well until one day the life guard asked for the address and she said oh I live right around the corner from there...we still got in but were in dire fear of getting caught. I remember a kid drowning in the pool because they were playing near the drain or filter or something and got caught and couldn't surface. All the mothers constantly admonished their children to stay away from that part of the pool. Once Maplewood had their own pool we didn't go anymore and then SO re-did the pool to the site as it is today. | ||
| kevin Supporter Username: Kevin Post Number: 682 Registered: 2-2002 |
Betty - how about a photo from 1947 ? It only shows one corner, but it's more than what others have posted here.  | ||
| bettyd Citizen Username: Badjtdso Post Number: 199 Registered: 12-2005 |
Great photo Kevin. Thanks. I assume we are looking north, the RR tracks are to the right and we are looking towards the baseball field and Baird CC. Or is it looking west toward the hill and SO Junior High? | ||
| Maryann Citizen Username: Maryann Post Number: 6 Registered: 2-2006 |
bettyd -- I'm pretty sure we're looking at the "deep end" of the old pool. I believe the building in the distance is 10 North Ridgewood Road. The Farrell's home would be off to the left, the rr tracks would be behind you, and the dressing rooms and play area would be off to the right. I wonder if the tennis courts were grass courts in 1947 ? They aren't too clear in the photo. Kevin -- Thanks for sharing this wonderful photo... | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5097 Registered: 1-2004 |
Maryann I think I remember you! There were very few lifeguards back then. If I remember correctly there one the one lifeguard chair and another walked around. Do you remember Anne C? I remember Anne was a teacher during the school year. Up until a few years ago I'd see Anne and her mom swim laps at the current pool. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5098 Registered: 1-2004 |
Orange LAwn has a pool? Despite Orange Lawn being behind an old friend's house I never knew there was a pool back there. Plus an old neighbor of mine played tennis there almost every day; bur never said anything about a pool. The things you learn on MOL. BTW - The person who drowned had a seizure. I use to hear the foot story, but never had the nerve to ask my friend who's brother he was what actually happened. I'm thinking it was a combination of both? | ||
| Maryann Citizen Username: Maryann Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2006 |
Just The Aunt -- Hi Aunt! I am Anne C., AKA "Maryann". It's nice to know that a few of us still remember the "old pool" with such fondness, and that we appreciate how great it was to grow up in a village like South Orange. Aunt, there were 8 lifeguards each year, 4 female and 4 male. You'll recall we were positioned one on each side of the pool. The chair was installed during Rose Williamson's tenure as Head Lifeguard. But, it was somewhat uncomfortable. And in all honesty, I can't recall any of us sitting in it for very long. One of my favorite memories of lifeguarding at the old pool was watching the children swim in the rain. I'm sure you can recall us lifeguards standing on the deck in our bathing suits,umbrellas over our heads, "at the ready"  Then, when it had rained hard enough to make the river flood, we'd take out the canoes and give the kids rides around the park in them. Those were the days huh? | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5191 Registered: 1-2004 |
Are you the same Anne my friend and I use to push in the pool? Hmmm, don't remember one on each corner. I remember thinking how silly it was for the lie guards to stand there with umbrellas! Also couldn't understand why some of the lifeguards would get so upset if splashed. If you're the same Ann I never knew your full name was 'Maryanne.' Don't worry we don't push life guards into the pool anymore! You were the olny one because you were our favorite lifeguard! I miss the BBQ's and different activities at the pool! Brett- I remember the Kelly, Wilderotter and Rathjens families. Do you remember the Verlardo's? (sp) Don Wilderotter use to also teach gymnastics at the Community Center. | ||
| Maryann Citizen Username: Maryann Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2006 |
JTA -- Yes JA, it's me. And how is your friend, LL ? Thank you so much for the compliment that I was your favorite lifeguard. When will the SO Pool open for the summer? Did the SO Rec. Dept. do anything two years ago to commemorate the fact that there's been a pool on that site since May 30, 1914? It would have been the 90th anniversary of the old Cameron Field Pool. It wasn't the first reinforced concrete municipal swimming pool in the United States. But, it was one of the earliest examples. Some other pools were built before it in cities like Chicago where seven municipal pools were installed between 1904 and 1912. Our old Cameron Field Pool may not have the first municipal swimming pool in the country, but it was historically significant and was the forerunner of the current pool on that site. Open each summer until 1972, the old pool provided 58 years of fun for South Orange youngsters and shouldn't be forgotten. I guess South Orange, as a progressive place to live, was ahead of the curve even then. Maybe someone in the SO Rec. Dept. would be interested in organizing the 95th Anniversary of the "old pool", (site of the "new pool"), for the summer of 2009... | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5381 Registered: 1-2004 |
LL is doing great! She and I are still friends though we don't get to see each other as much as we'd like to. No, the rec dept didn't do anything to commemorate the pool. Maybe someone could mention it to Paul, the manager? I didn't realize there was a pool there since 1914. I use to hear it said the current pool was the first Olympic Size Municipal Pool, don't know how true that is. And yep, you were our favorite life guard! Why else would we tourture you as much as we did! "Don't splash me I don't want to get my hair wet!" You'd yell at us while trying not to laugh! So we didn't splash you. We just pushed you in! Then you'd make us sit under the lifeguard chair in the hot sun, or throw us out for the rest of the day. When you caught on to us doing this just before we were leaving anyway, you banned us from the pool the next day. That took all the fun out of it. But we still annoyed you in other ways! Did you see Mrs Farrell was 'Villager of the Month' this past month? Do you remember Mrs Daily yelling "WAAAAAALLLLLK!!!" I really miss the old days of Summer! There were always different activities at the pool. Each day had something different. Thurs I think were the BBQ day! Are you still swimming laps? | ||
| Psychomom Citizen Username: Psychomom Post Number: 155 Registered: 5-2005 |
JTA I had forgotten about Mrs. Daily but your post brought it right back, and I can hear her voice in my head now...thanks a lot LOL I think the Maplewood pool pre-dates the current SO pool so I don't think SO was the first Olympic sized municipal pool. Could be wrong though. (I thought I was wrong once before and found out I was mistaken LOLOLOLOL) |
