bre reeset eet ce eo ds STOCK CERTIFICATE, Wayne Natatorium Stock issued to Captain John W. Morrison of Chestnut Lane aye (Radnor Historical Society Photo Looking Around Radnor Township This is a column about Four elderly Wayne resi- gingerbread is also recalled by ghosts. They are ghosts from dents remembered the Douglas Wendell. He remem- the turn of the century. They. ‘Natatorium for the Radnor Me- bers cold Winter days sit reside atthe Wayne morial Library's Oral History around Mrs. de Canizares’ Natatorium, a swimming pool Project. Monte George de warm stove and eating the gin- he fowl ‘on "Wilow Ckre Tater mamaged te frend ih hs inns, the fve.inWayne many years ago, Natatoram, Tater, nt father lar and Lynch boys. twas st ‘These ghosts of the past are founded what is today the the icebound Natatorium that ’ usually a quiet bunch during Argus Printing. Mr. de he learned to ice skate on the Winter, but with the Memo- Canizares remembers his “rocker skates.” Mr. Wendell ral Diy opening of swimming chghood-swimming asc. sso roca iat buck te pools, they become active once tor, Mr. Kistler, then swim- on when the Natatorium was. again. I imagine they're remi- ming coach at the Natatorium, ‘still known as Kelly's Dam, his niscing about the days when the and later an instructor at the father wanted to preserve the Wayne ‘Natatorium. was ex- Univeriy of "Femneytani ares asa public park. Herman tolled as the world’s largest ‘Mr. Kistler’s technique for Wendell was a prominent inland swimming pool teaching his young pupils was Wayne businessman and feel especially lose to tlaie." A heavy wire’ wat ule. ‘these ghosts because from my stretched between two tele- One of my own personal fa- ‘itehen window I look across ‘graph poles located at either Vorite tidbits of information our sloping yard to Willow Ave. ‘end of the pool. A belt on a about the Natatorium came ‘The Natatorium was located pulley rope assured the nov- from. Mary, Conkle, 2s, Slightly to the south of the pres- ice’s safety as he learned the Wayne resident. Miss Conki ent Willow Ave. On warm Sum- finer points of how to swim. thinks that the garage that ‘mer evenings, when I'm up to According to Mr. de Canizares belonged to our home before my eidows in dinner dishes and other less sophisticated meth- the iand was subdivided, was soapsuds, I'm positive I can ‘ods, such as throwing the non- the dressing room. Al- hear these ghosts of days gone swimmer in the water, were though it seems like along by aun and realing the oasonly empioye, itance forthe men to travel By ang ppd Inder Mr- Kistler’ direction _f0 change, this i one story I Be ete reer the Wayne Natatorium was the like to eoafirm. If any of-you ; seene of swimming mects that readers remember the mers In ary accounts the Wayne Grew ood sed crowds aclud._Sesing Two, Pease Lt me ‘yg Nalatorium was known as Ke- © ing many swimming en. | KnOv. we ly’s Dam. It was not a very thusiasts from Philadelphia, According to Mr. de we, formal affair, more like the An early brochure describing Canizares soon after the turn of ol swimming hole.” Late, these meets oer the intormse_ he cetary’ in 00 oF 0 the about 1895, some entrepreneurs ‘tion that the site of the Natatorium closed. It was a {sued stock, created the Natatorium is “just one-eighth vel of a drought which af- * Wayne Natatorium - Associa of a mile from the Wayne train _feeted the water supply from Bi lon, made some improve. Suton and” surounded "by. Gulph Creek aad eased 9 menis)"and haled "he ot ate balltp of sige and the new swimming hole” as the world's In the Winter, when the wa erazefor bieyeling which swept largest inland open air pool. ter froze, the ice skaters met the country. eitidedby thigh noon thereee stare mus wea A fence, it was over feet long quieter, more ir type fc me and had an average width of 0 fever Kear ihe hoa artes, rls i fee. The’ pol “rtes "were fag ine the swimmers Fer pus from two to eight feet deep and haps that’s because m; en folan Bi ieliom the waters of Gupn—timanstcansmuyttchen NS Tee ° Creek. Fronefield Gant remembers ‘ait poal ’ Ate western end the pool her lovely young aunt who ice NS | — there was a woman's dressing skated there by lantern light been room and office built on piles. and warmed herself by the 5: 0: = This Ouldng stands today, nove nthe clubhouse. She ne, placed immaculate private residence, idly recalls her aunt's long by neat J. LaROUCHE Perched at the 90 degree turn of black velvet skating outfit Tows of homes on Willow Ave. ‘Willow Ave, Several years ago which was med in white {'m sorry to see one of Wayne's. Mre"Lawrence, the owner gt RMR wa trimmed in white Lm sary tse peo Warnes that home; Invited me in to casual jeans-oriented. skating ‘HAPPY that the ghosts who en: view the fireplace which is a attire of today. Mrs. Gant algo _‘0¥ed those carefree days stil relic of Natatorium days. It's recalls Mr. de Canizares’ moth- _Vsit the old site each Summer. Deut buraised wood shines deaneares mathe yonder i he Joong es as beuulfly as mas hae time ere living on Wilow-ave-everhest 80 years ago. ‘That famous one cent a slice _their ghostly calls? |