The Old Flow-Through Pool

“The first swimming pool was a flow-through pool,” Dale said. “We would drain the pool early in spring to clean it out before summer camps began, and the water was ice cold. It would be full of leaves and dirt. Everything came running into it and would accumulate at the bottom.

“The pool was about 6-feet deep. When you hit the water, it was so ice cold you couldn’t breathe. There was a wide, wooden plug. At the end was a handle. You would have to dive down and pull it out. Sometimes the handle had a chain on it, which made it easier. But we couldn’t have the chain on when children were swimming in the pool during the summer.

“In spring the chain was attached, but sometimes you would still have to pull and pull and pull. And of course you’d have to hold your breath while pulling. It was difficult. The plug fit into a 12 ̋ hole and the suction was strong. Sometimes you’d dive down and couldn’t get it. People would come up and almost look blue.

“Once the water drained, we’d sweep and clean it out. In the summer it wasn’t as bad, since the water was a bit warmer.”

Frank Freeman said, “I did not like diving down there to pull out the plug. It was freezing and it was also a little scary. Once you pulled the plug out it felt like the suction could pull you with it.”

Lowell Jantzi said, “What I disliked so much about pulling the plug in the old pool was not so much the coldness of the water, though it was frigid, but never knowing what was in that seven months collection of debris surrounding the plug. It was slimy, oozed through your fingers, and the water was so dark the only way to find the 18-inch chain attached to the plug was to feel for it. Tree branches felt like snakes, cold salamanders hibernating abounded, and you knew it was going to take multiple dives into that morass before you were successful. Every time, I vowed to add a 10-foot chain to that plug and place it on land, but I never did.”  

Duane Stoltzfus said, “Ahh . . . the old pool. I remember that it was freezing, no matter what time of year. And I remember being in awe of a youth group leader, Cecil Torres. One spring, maybe the first one, he dove into the pool to attach the chain so that we could pull out the plug and drain the pool and clean it for the new season. What courage, I thought, diving into the mucky, freezing pool.“

One side of the pool was sloped for easy wading, but the other side was so steep, and often slippery. I also remember diving in during the swim season for golf balls. We would throw them in and dive down to retrieve them one at a time. That was just for fun.”  

Dale recalled an annual visitor with clout: “An inspector would come to camp every spring. He would look at the facilities and let us know what needed to be updated or fixed. We were sometimes given a list of things to do before a second surprise visit in the summer. We had to be ready because we needed the inspector’s approval to keep the summer camps running.

“We always worried about the inspection of the old pool. Because water was continuously flowing in, it was hard to keep the chlorine levels where they needed to be. When we saw the Health Department car arrive, someone would run down to the pool and dump in more chlorine. We always passed inspection.

From spring to fall, church retreats would take place at camp and immersion in the pool was often part of baptism ceremonies. Along with appreciating the spiritual significance of baptism, many people have a clear recollection of the water in the pool.

“It was cold!” said Barb Freeman.

“I remember trying to stay focused on the meaning of what we were doing,” said Donna Stoltzfus, “and not just think about how freezing the water was.

”Jesus Cruz said, “I was baptized in the old flow-through pool and it was COLD.” The photograph on page 29 shows Jesus and several other young adults from Glad Tidings Mennonite Church in the pool being baptized, including Leonor Constantin Kennell, Louie Constantin, Maria Lugo and Jose Cruz. “Gene Shelly got to dunk us all,” Jesus said. They are each standing in the water with their arms crossed.

The last time the old pool was drained was around 1977, the year building began on the new swimming pool. Campers today probably couldn’t imagine swimming in the old flow-through pool—now part of the area where the llamas live. Campers fondly call it “Llama Lake.”

—Written by Donna Stoltzfus, baptized in old pool, former camper and staff.

Dale Stoltzfus, first director of camp, attended Glad Tidings Mennonite Church in the Bronx.

Barbara Freeman, baptized in old pool, former summer staff and volunteer, current office staff, attended Glad Tidings Mennonite Church and Good Shepherd Mennonite Church, both in the Bronx.

Frank Freeman, teen camper in 1970, counselor and maintenance from1971–1975, helped build House #3 and House #5, former board member, attended Good Shepherd Mennonite Church in the Bronx.

Jesus Cruz, former board member and board chair, attended Glad Tidings Mennonite Church in the Bronx.

Duane C. Stoltzfus, former camper and staff.

Lowell Jantzi, former staff, former board member, volunteer, attended Burnside Mennonite Church in the Bronx.

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