A little known haven for swimmers where members also run the show

Everyone pitches in to make Province Line Swim Club work

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — "We like to think of our swim club as a well-kept secret," said Jane Leonard, the membership secretary of the Province Line Swim Club. "But we’ve had a long history, we’ve been in existence since 1962."
   The swim club, which is located on Province Line Road at the foot of the Sourland Mountains, draws members from the Hopewell area, Princeton, Hillsborough and Montgomery townships.
   "We offer free swim lessons to our members and are available for member swimming from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Memorial Day through early October depending on the weather," Ms. Leonard said.
   Because it is a member-owned co-op, the club can offer special accommodations for its members.
   "A lot of members come late at night to swim, some come early in the morning. The only rule is that they have someone with them, you can’t swim by yourself," Ms. Leonard said.
   The swim club’s history goes back to the 1960s, when three local residents — Bill Terhune, Ken Dorey and Bob Karch — had an idea, the club’s Web site explains: "Why not get a group of people together and build a swimming pool and recreation area where we can all go and relax, have fun and beat the heat?"
   Over summer evenings and backyard barbecues, the three discussed the idea. This small nucleus grew quickly to a group of 25 families, each initially investing $400.
   The original group did a lot of investigating for a suitable location until finally a farmer, Johnson Moore, sold the group 5 acres for $2,000.
   To help pay for the club’s construction and financing, the group raised money through dances and swim parties. The club held its first birthday party in 1964.
   Along with its history, the club is also unique in that it is a cooperative in ownership, operation, management and maintenance. Membership, which is limited to 40 families, confers the benefits of use of the pool and grounds, and also confers the responsibility of pitching in to keep the area organized and clean, Ms. Leonard explained.
   "We depend on the dues and efforts of each other to maintain the club’s facilities and operations, from painting the pool house, to repairing the fence, to hiring and supervising lifeguards, to planning and carrying out the club’s special events," she said. "Families accepted for membership are assigned to committees, each responsible for certain areas of the club’s operations."
   The club holds two meetings each year. During the fall meeting, officers are elected and initial planning for the coming year is initiated. At the spring meeting, the pool startup is planned and dues are set.
   Accepted members buy a $650 bond, which is fully refundable when membership terminates, Ms. Leonard said.
   The club’s facilities include the pool, diving board, a wading pool, a bathhouse, picnic tables and barbecue grills. Normal hours, meaning when there is a lifeguard on duty, are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
   Special events are scheduled during the year as well, including an opening day picnic, a children’s party and "impromptu" pot luck suppers and lunches.
   The club can be contacted at [email protected] and more information is available at www.plswim.com.