Clover Hill Swimming Club
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The Clover Hill Swimming Club in Millington, New Jersey was a classic late 1950s and 1960s swim club in New York suburbia.
Activities at the suburban club centered around a three acre lake filled with water from the club's deep well. The lake bottom was covered with stone and soft, white, seashore sand covered the beach and extended out into the water to wading depth.
Children played safely on the spacious, 300 foot beach beside shallow water, while a 224 foot dock and deep water float provided an uncrowded area for swimming and diving. Spectator bleachers overlooked 25 meter swim lanes in the special area where races, diving competitions, water ballet and life saving classes were held. Competitions with other clubs were scheduled regularly for the club's swimming teams. Daily practices under the guidance of the Swim Team Coach were held for boys and girls ranging in age from 15 & 16 to the 8 & under age group.
The water front was staffed with fully qualified Red Cross Water Safety Instructors and Senior Lifesavers. Lifeguards were on duty at all times the waterfront was open. An Emblem Testing Program for the children provided incentive, achievement, and instruction as well as safeguarding them while at the club. Swimming activities were on a seven day a week basis from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Four tournament courts permitted a full tennis program for adults and children from April to October. Intra-club and inter-club matches and tournaments were held for both adults and children. Tennis clinics were conducted by the club's instructor to teach children how to play tennis and to instruct them in sportsmanship and tennis etiquette. The club also had an elaborate playground,outdoor ping pong tables, horseshoes pit, snack stand, and tether ball. Events included evening dinner parties and dances.
The club, which thrived for years was eventually a victim of suburban and urban sprawl and was torn down and replaced by townhouses.
The club is also remembered for losing a 1966 civil rights case. CLOVER HILL SWIMMING CLUB, INC. v. ROBERT F. GOLDSBORO AND DIVISION ON CIVIL RIGHTS,47 N.J. 25; 219 A.2d 161; 1966 N.J. LEXIS 180 (1966). In that case, the club was sued by a black veterinarian who said he was denied membership because he was African-American. The club claimed that because it was private it could pick its own membership, despite the fact that the club advertised open membership in ads in newspapers. The Supreme Court of New Jersey sided with the plaintiff. Despite this blot on its record, many children who spent their summers at Clover Hill still have fond memories of the place.
