About the Swim Club

Whitman Swim Club is located at 156 Whitman Drive in the Whitman Square Development of Washington Township. We offer the following facilities:

• 3 Pools
  • 5' Lap Pool
  • 3' - 10' Diving Pool
  • Kiddie Pool
• Snack Bar
• Tennis Court
• Vollyball Court
• Playground
• 6 Newer Grills for BBQ's
• Two Pavilions for Parties

History

For nearly 50 years, the Whitman Swim Club has offered families a chance to meet, greet and compete with each other, and get out of the hot summer sun.

Before there was a Whitman Square, the land that is now the Whitman Swim Club was owned by George and Claire Harley. The original pool (still in use today) began as a birthday present from George to his 12 year old daughter Elanor in 1942.

The land and the lake surrounding the pool was the Harley horse farm, which bred American Arabian albino horses, which were descended from stock owned by the emperor of Japan.

The farm and pool were sold in 1948, and quickly sold again, this time to a developer.

The developer had deeded that the property be used as entertainment for the community.

The Whitman Square Community Club was born and soon developed into something resembling our current form in the 1960s, as the Atlantic City Expressway was being built.

When you bought a house in Whitman Square, you were required to purchase a $100 bond for membership to the club. The bond was used to generate money to operate the club. In addition to the bond annual membership fees were also assessed. In 1965 the family membership fee was $350.00.

The club then consisted of the diving pool, the new competition 5” pool , Several buildings and a Lake. At the lake there was a bath house and changing rooms and a small concession stand. It even had a rope by which a swimmer could swing far into the middle of the lake and jump in.

St. Charles Borromeo Church began its existence at the then club house. Sunday services, Holy-communions and even weddings were held on the club grounds until the church was built at its existing location on Johnson and Stagecoach Rd

1967 saw the addition of the 5’ competition size pool.

Then, in 1975, a storm blew open the dam and the lake drained out. High costs and environmental concerns prevented the dam from being restored.

Later, a portion of the land was deeded to Washington Township to settle a tax bill and the Municipal Utilities Authority got its headquarters.

During the Eighties and Nineties the club experienced peaks and valleys with membership with many renovations and additions. New playground equipment, new concrete pool deck aprons and pool copings and two covered pavilions were added as well as a large deck on the side of the main building

The new millennium saw the addition of a gatehouse, 6 commercial direct feed gas grills and commercial grade vinyl pool chairs. The name was changed in 2007 to The Whitman Swim Club to encourage membership from outside the Whitman Square development.

Our club is full of history and traditions. In fact many of our current members were members as kids, when the club first began.