The Sixties, The Heat, and the Plymouth Swim Club

The Sixties, The Heat, and the Plymouth Swim Club

It Happens To Be The Coolest Place In Montgomery County

By Jack Coll

May 18, 2014

     The Philadelphia Phillies have had an up and down season during the early stages of the 2014 season, it’s still much better baseball then I remember as a kid growing up in Philly.  I remember going to Connie Mack Stadium back in 1961, when they had about ten or twelve fans per night showing up for a game, I think eight of the ten fans were there to boo the team, not me man, they were my hero’s.   But the fans had every right to boo, on July 9, 1961, right in the thick of a north Philadelphia heat wave, the Phillies lost the first of 23 straight games.

I know 23 straight loses sounds crazy but 1961 was a crazy year, who could forget May 27 of that year, President Kennedy announced the U. S. goal to put a man on the moon, WHAT? That same day in 61 the very first “Black Light” was sold, what is a black light you asked, obviously you missed the sixties.

Hey, Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 61, James Hoffa was elected chairman of the Teamsters Union in 1961, and (I don’t think there was any connection with the Hoffa thing and Roger Maris hitting 61 dingers)

Let’s give credit where credit is due, TV shows came out with “Car 54 Where Are You,” “Ben Casey,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” and “Mr. Ed,” the talking horse.  And we really should mention that Walt Disney released “101 Dalmatians” in 1961.

With all the promises and activities of 1961, we also recorded one of the hottest summers in the country.  Places like San Francisco recorded their hottest temperature in the city’s history reaching 106 degrees on June 14.  On August 4, Spokane, Wa., checked in at 108 degrees, and the following day Ice Harbor Dam in Washington hit a record 118 degrees.  The heat wave crossed this country like a plague and had Americans wishing there was such a thing as home air conditioning.  Temperatures hovered in the high 90’s in Montgomery County throughout June, July and August and it was just plain stinkin’ hot.

Residents young and old were hitting every swimming hole and creek in sight to cool down. In the summer of 1961 the Montgomery County area became known as “Death Valley.”

Then a group of Plymouth residents came up with the idea to convert a 13 acre tract of land on the upper part of Gallagher Road in Plymouth Meeting into a swim club, to help ease local residents stress in more ways than one.  It started with a pool, and lots of local residents.  Today the Plymouth Swim Club continues on that very same strong foundation created more than half a century ago.

According to Board of Director Jerry Fisher, Plymouth Swim Club has stayed strong over the years because of the family atmosphere, “We work hard to involve the families as a unit with our numerous activities throughout June, July and August,” noted Fisher.  “Plymouth Swim Club schedules planned activities throughout the summer for every age group including adults,” said Fisher.  He was referring to the numerous swimming events including the diving for coins event, water volleyball, swimming lessons, tennis lessons, pie eating contest, and the adult social evening event.

Fisher also was quick to point out the special events throughout the summer like the July 4^th gala, with special events all day long and stressed about a dozen times that Plymouth Swim Club is a family event, “attending the swim club has a tendency to bring families together,” said Fisher.  He also said, “Parents know that the Plymouth Swim Club grounds are a safe haven for children.”  Don’t get me wrong he said, “Parents like to set up camp under a cool tree or umbrella and turn their children loose to run and play, meeting new friends every time out, but the parents will certainly keep an eye on them, from certain areas of the club you have the entire pool and playing area within full view.  When an organization runs a program like a swim club, safety is the number one priority and everyone involved knows and understands that,” Said Fisher.

I stopped at Plymouth Swim Club about a week ago to sign-up for my 2014 membership, it took a few minutes and I stopped to talk to Frank, grounds manager of the club.  Frank expressed how busy his staff was with preparing the grounds for the current season.  “You watch, two weeks from now this place with be jumping with family activity,” said Frank.  He went on to say it must be a breath of fresh air for the parents who feel their child is stuck behind the screen of a computer, “These kids will be running wild throughout the club grounds,” said Frank, “We love it!.”

Plymouth Swim Club was founded 53 years ago, when swim clubs became a very popular concept in suburban Philadelphia.  Over the years the swim clubs have dwindled, gone is Jimmy’s Place once located on Germantown Pike next to East Plymouth Valley Park, gone is Markley’s Swim Club, Penn Square Swim Club, Marble Hall Swim Club once located on the Ridge.  Andorra Swim Club, Upper Merion Swim Club along with several other local swim clubs are all gone.

“I can’t tell you why other clubs have closed up but I can tell you why we’re more successful than ever,” added Fisher.  Our swim club is run by a dedicated Board of Directors, we have three pools including a wading pool, intermediate pool, and deep pool complete with a lap lane and two diving boards.  Our summer activities are endless, we provide volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts, Ping-Pong tables, horseshoes, baseball field, picnic grove with charcoal grills and a certified lifeguard staff and management.  We have a professionally run snack bar, I mean we go beyond hot dogs with quality lunches and dinners.”

I think what Jerry Fisher is trying to say is this, it’s a great time to join the Plymouth Swim Club, relaxing under a tree at the swim club is a whole lot different than relaxing at home in front of the TV. Plymouth Swim Club is truly one of the last great gathering places for local residents to get together and socialize.  I think what Jerry is really trying to say is, DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO EXECUTE THE PERFECT CANNON BALL?

Here’ the thing, Plymouth Swim is worth checking out, feel free to stop by 1724 Gallagher Road, (you’ll see the tennis courts right out front) No obligation, just stop on by and tell them you want to check out the place.  Feel free to contact Bonnie or Dora for more information by calling 610-659-1064 or 215-680-0922

And hey, this article is brought to you by the “Staying Cool by the Pool Committee.”

Photographs below of the Plymouth Swim Club