I was inspired by my memories of going to JFK Pool when it first opened. It was a baby boomer dream come true. 
"Let My People Swim!"
I want to share my memories of JFK pool with you. For those who are unfamiliar with Pottsville’s JFK Pool, it is named after the late President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and not the presidential candidate, John Forbes Kerry, even though widow Heinz’s ketchup is served at its concession stand. This fabled swimming pool is located at Railway Park in the northwest section of Pottsville. When it opened in 1965, it was the premier swimming hole in eastern Pennsylvania. Not only that, it was the home of “The Tower.” The edifice was a massive vertical block of cement, which appeared a mile high.
Actually, how high was the Tower? Well, the oxygen got mighty thin as you scaled the steps. Once on the platform, you got a peaceful, woozy feeling of accomplishment. You had a breathtaking view of all the humanity down below that appeared as small as ants – ants with pasty, white thighs.
Pottsville’s new pool was big. It was practically large enough to place all of Wadesville’s buildings within the confines of its cement walls. In fact, the pool so was big that it was rumored to have its own zips code. That means it had a very large volume of recirculating water. How much? I can’t tell you for sure. However, when in the center of the pool you could not see land in any direction. It was rumored to be an honorary sixth Great Lake.
Prior to the pool opening, the west side of Pottsville had to be content with an inflatable plastic pool located on the front lawn of the high school. However, a careless lifeguard accidentally punctured the pool and the west-siders had to now cross town to swim at the East Side. The long walk up East Norwegian Street carrying inner tubes and rafts was intolerable for the citizenry. Mayor Mike Close rose to the challenge; a mammoth public works project in earnest. When completed, holding his staff above his head and looking up towards the heavens, his honor uttered the famous proclamation, "Let my people swim!” The JFK Pool swung open its doors to thousands of pasty, white Pottsvillians with flabby thighs all in stuffed Speedos and primitive thongs.
Grand opening was on Memorial Day, 1965! What a sight to behold. Yes; there were a few glitches. The signs for the restroom pointed to the pool and were quickly moved to point in the right direction. Other than that, the place was ready for action. Attendees quickly changed in one of the two Jacqueline Onasis Dressing Rooms, then walked through the gate with their flotation devices searching for a small spots of grass to quickly place one’s towel. Then it was a mad rush over to the concession stand for fries, hot dogs and burgers. Yes Pottsvillians have their priorities in order! After waiting 30 minutes to avoid the possibility of cramps, the titanic crowd headed to the water for an afternoon of frolic under the hot city sun. The pool was now officially open for business! The horde was so large that Pomeroy mannequins were hastily placed on the chairs and draped with whistles to increase the number of lifeguards on duty.
The pool was the deepest and biggest around. Crowds came from near and far that it resembled the Ganges in India on really hot weekends. When the sun set, the crowds would stampede out towards their cars and head home to douse themselves with Noxema or other sunburn lotions. Mammy Trout would linger for a time, walking around with her metal detector while the work crew would clean up for the next day.
Besides recreational swimming, the management featured Pottsville’s own Aquacade. It was truly a spectacle. It occurred at the end of July or beginning of August. It featured many local youngsters performing choreographed swims to the backdrop of Broadway melodies. It was the perfect expression of Pottsville’s excessive style back then – opulent, extravagant, lavish and magnificent. I wonder if anyone else remembers Aquacade. with all of the synchronized swimmers, floats and divers?
For the faint of heart, the facility has the JFK, Jr. baby pool ("The John John") on the south side of the grounds. However, the focal point was “La Torre” (“The Tower”). A trip to Pottsville would seem a waste if you missed the world-famous dives, cannonballs, belly flops and can openers as people plunged off the concrete structure estimated to be 130 feet high. Many would view the death defying acts from the nearby Catholic War Veterans’ balcony overlooking the pool while enjoying a Yuengling beer.
I still swim at the pool forty years later. The grounds and the water are clean, but the Tower is gone and so are the large crowds. The idea of a community pool is not as popular as it once was. Apparently, middle-class kids want to swim alone in a private pool in their yard. I don’t know why. I couldn’t think of anything more boring. Although the Tower is gone, the City has constructed “The Whitewater Slide,” which brings to mind the exhilaration of the Clinton Administration. It is roller coaster without a seat. It is definitely worth the price of admission. Trust me, have I ever lied to you?
Actually, how high was the Tower? Well, the oxygen got mighty thin as you scaled the steps. Once on the platform, you got a peaceful, woozy feeling of accomplishment. You had a breathtaking view of all the humanity down below that appeared as small as ants – ants with pasty, white thighs.
Pottsville’s new pool was big. It was practically large enough to place all of Wadesville’s buildings within the confines of its cement walls. In fact, the pool so was big that it was rumored to have its own zips code. That means it had a very large volume of recirculating water. How much? I can’t tell you for sure. However, when in the center of the pool you could not see land in any direction. It was rumored to be an honorary sixth Great Lake.
Prior to the pool opening, the west side of Pottsville had to be content with an inflatable plastic pool located on the front lawn of the high school. However, a careless lifeguard accidentally punctured the pool and the west-siders had to now cross town to swim at the East Side. The long walk up East Norwegian Street carrying inner tubes and rafts was intolerable for the citizenry. Mayor Mike Close rose to the challenge; a mammoth public works project in earnest. When completed, holding his staff above his head and looking up towards the heavens, his honor uttered the famous proclamation, "Let my people swim!” The JFK Pool swung open its doors to thousands of pasty, white Pottsvillians with flabby thighs all in stuffed Speedos and primitive thongs.
Grand opening was on Memorial Day, 1965! What a sight to behold. Yes; there were a few glitches. The signs for the restroom pointed to the pool and were quickly moved to point in the right direction. Other than that, the place was ready for action. Attendees quickly changed in one of the two Jacqueline Onasis Dressing Rooms, then walked through the gate with their flotation devices searching for a small spots of grass to quickly place one’s towel. Then it was a mad rush over to the concession stand for fries, hot dogs and burgers. Yes Pottsvillians have their priorities in order! After waiting 30 minutes to avoid the possibility of cramps, the titanic crowd headed to the water for an afternoon of frolic under the hot city sun. The pool was now officially open for business! The horde was so large that Pomeroy mannequins were hastily placed on the chairs and draped with whistles to increase the number of lifeguards on duty.
The pool was the deepest and biggest around. Crowds came from near and far that it resembled the Ganges in India on really hot weekends. When the sun set, the crowds would stampede out towards their cars and head home to douse themselves with Noxema or other sunburn lotions. Mammy Trout would linger for a time, walking around with her metal detector while the work crew would clean up for the next day.
Besides recreational swimming, the management featured Pottsville’s own Aquacade. It was truly a spectacle. It occurred at the end of July or beginning of August. It featured many local youngsters performing choreographed swims to the backdrop of Broadway melodies. It was the perfect expression of Pottsville’s excessive style back then – opulent, extravagant, lavish and magnificent. I wonder if anyone else remembers Aquacade. with all of the synchronized swimmers, floats and divers?
For the faint of heart, the facility has the JFK, Jr. baby pool ("The John John") on the south side of the grounds. However, the focal point was “La Torre” (“The Tower”). A trip to Pottsville would seem a waste if you missed the world-famous dives, cannonballs, belly flops and can openers as people plunged off the concrete structure estimated to be 130 feet high. Many would view the death defying acts from the nearby Catholic War Veterans’ balcony overlooking the pool while enjoying a Yuengling beer.
I still swim at the pool forty years later. The grounds and the water are clean, but the Tower is gone and so are the large crowds. The idea of a community pool is not as popular as it once was. Apparently, middle-class kids want to swim alone in a private pool in their yard. I don’t know why. I couldn’t think of anything more boring. Although the Tower is gone, the City has constructed “The Whitewater Slide,” which brings to mind the exhilaration of the Clinton Administration. It is roller coaster without a seat. It is definitely worth the price of admission. Trust me, have I ever lied to you?
2 comments:
why-o-why did they tear down the tower? are there any diving boards left? i now live in santa barbara...uscb has a pool, no tower, but 17 deep....
I miss the Tower. I was just thinking of it today so I googled it to see if I could find a photo.
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