Then and Now at Neffs Pool with Andy Schneck | Neffs Valley Park, Pennsylvania
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- Join Andy Schneck for some awesome “then and now” footage and memories of the former Neffs Pool! [DON'T MISS THE BONUS POOL FOOTAGE AT THE END!!]
In February 2023, North Whitehall Township began the arduous task of digging up and filling in the beloved pool, which had sat unused since 2007. Six months later in August 2023, Andy went to the park with his sister, Darlene, to check out the former pool area and tour the park and woods.
The creator of Neffs Valley Park was Nathaniel Stahley (1886-1953), a Pennsylvania Dutch dairy and potato farmer. In the 1920s, Nathaniel used horses and a scoop to create a pond near the Coplay Creek on a low-lying area of his farm (tapping into the creek and the natural artesian wells at this spot). Nathaniel used the pond water in his potato sprayer and for fire protection, and he sold ice from the pond, which he stored year-round in a nearby shed. “Stahley's Dam," as it was originally called, was also a popular place for friends and family to swim. Nathaniel saw a business opportunity and made plans to build a public park. By 1934, he had created “Neffs Valley Park,” which included a pavilion, concession stand, bathhouse, and a gigantic 130 x 300 ft. swimming pool (sand-bottom and concrete). Nathaniel and his wife Anna, and their children, each played an important role in ensuring the success of this family venture.
And what a success it was! Neffs Valley Park soon became a favorite destination for swimming, family reunions, community events, ice skating, tennis, and even movies. In an era before air conditioning, this shady park with its towering oak and evergreen trees provided a welcome relief from hot summer days. The park drew thousands of people each year. Some summers, there were as many as 19 family reunions held at the park. By 1946, Nathaniel and Anna were ready to retire and they sold the 12-acre park to two men from Coplay, who had hoped to put an amusement park and restaurant there. However, the men from Coplay sold the park two years later to Gus and Anna Hutnick. Gus and Anna, along with their son and daughter and their families, managed the park over the subsequent decades. In 1956, a summer YMCA Day Camp for boys began, and years later a YWCA Day Camp for girls was added. In late 1962 and early 1963, the Hutnicks modernized the pool and installed a pump and filtration system, built a new bathhouse, and installed fencing around the pool.
The Hutnick family owned the park until 2007 when they sold it to North Whitehall Township, at which point the pool was permanently closed. Today, the park is open for recreation. The township is continually improving the park and it now features an 18-hole disc golf course.
I swam there many times as a kid. Even used to bring my son here when he was little.
Your brother is your Dad when he was younger! I have similar experiences from where I grew up! Thank you Darlene!
Nothing better than a game of dodgeball on The Dock
Thank you again, Darlene and Andy for providing us tons of memories of days gone by..Sonia and I would ride our horses over a few hills tie them to a tree along the creek (they loved splashing in the creek, too) and grab a bite to eat at the concession stand. We spent many of summer days there as a break from our farm work. I, too, am so glad North Whitehall saw the foresight to purchase the land and open it up again for recreational purposes. It is beautiful !!
That’s so interesting! My dad and his sisters rode their horses there too in the 1940s. Andy and I are are glad we could share these memories with you. When I discovered he had vhs footage of the pool, I knew I had to make another video!
It's both awesome and sad to see the memories you guys had there. I play the new disc golf course there often now because it's the closest 18 hole course to me. I really like what they've done with it.
reminds me of fishers pool . now fishers park mountgomery county