tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534840576496087146.post1687696875337191049..comments2024-03-14T06:56:40.915-07:00Comments on Early Levittown NY and Beyond -- By Frank Barning and Friends: The symbol of Levittown should be the humble pool tag; it is an icon that sticks in the memory of all who treasured oneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534840576496087146.post-79800324958819051152011-06-09T20:47:20.535-07:002011-06-09T20:47:20.535-07:00These were a right of passage. Different color ano...These were a right of passage. Different color anodized ones with elastic ankle strap -and snapping them against people! Godly item!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534840576496087146.post-80006908716794716032011-05-16T19:24:11.157-07:002011-05-16T19:24:11.157-07:00I grew up on Schoolhouse Road, so our pool was the...I grew up on Schoolhouse Road, so our pool was the one at the North Village Green. The pool tag used to hang on the knob of the fuse box in the kitchen of our Cape Cod. I remember that when we turned 10 we could go to the pool without our parents. What a proud, exciting day that was. Carol Forseth and I would go up when the pool opened at 10:00 am, spread out a blanket or old bedspread and set out a stack of Archie comic books! We'd swim and sun ourselves until noon, then leave our things and run over to the drugstore soda fountain for a snack, then back to the pool until they kicked the kids out at 5:00. They were so strict back then -- shoes off before you enter, no food inside the gate (not even chewing gum), no running, no diving off the side, no rough play in the water, and God forbid a girl's cap came off in the water!! I remember a lot of *really* mean lifeguards. I also remember a family of kids named Craven -- really good swimmers and divers. I loved watching them.Wendy Max Dunford '68https://www.blogger.com/profile/12293496898827879196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534840576496087146.post-40490617155280256952011-03-11T13:26:19.213-08:002011-03-11T13:26:19.213-08:00Alas...there are no more High Boards at the Levitt...Alas...there are no more High Boards at the Levittown Pools. They now have about 1/2 of the "deep end" filled with 'swimming lanes'. But the low board is still there. Swimming lessons are still given for free. And we have LAC Swimming Teams (Lev. Athletic Club) with a huge competition at the East Village Green Jerusalem Ave. pool near the end of the season. Another change is that they now allow you to bring in a chair or lounge...probable due to the fact that there are less kids here now than in our day. Some of the pools have a 'shelter' area- benches under a strong roof type structure to shade you from the sun. Great if you have babies or very small kids. Even stollers are allowed in now and you can wear you flip flops/sneakers in. But there is still 'NO RUNNING"- the lifeguards are constantly yelling that to the kids! <br /><br />I believe there are actually 13 Levittown Pools- some not inside the Levittown zip code, just as some of the Levitt homes are not all in Levittown. They are also found in East Meadow, Wantagh, Hicksville where these towns border Levittown. <br /><br />All you need is a utlilty bill which you take to Levittown Hall. There is a small form to fill out with name(s) of all famiy members, kids ages and your address. Then your tag is just handed to you. If you loose it, there is a $1 replacement fee. You can bring in as many guests as you like. <br /><br />Ours hangs all summer on the original HOOKS, the black iron ones that are in the brick fireplace wall in the kitchen in the Ranch homes, originally built in there to hold pots. My kids , who all live close by with the 6 grandkids, just stop to pick it up when they want to take the kids to the pool. The Jerusalem Ave. Pool at the East village Green is open till 10 PM. The kids just LOVE to go swimming at night! The pool is lite from tall pole lights and underwater lights. Pretty cool!marilyn Monsrud Fresenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2534840576496087146.post-89850016861950871492011-03-11T12:11:19.686-08:002011-03-11T12:11:19.686-08:00Brenda Baldassare 1960
Oh my gosh, it's Memor...Brenda Baldassare 1960<br /><br />Oh my gosh, it's Memorial Day weekend, we MUST get pool tag.<br />I remember it always hung on the kitchen doorknob even after the kichen was extended, the pool tag moved with it. Whenever I visited my Father, even at 84 yr's. old, that year's pool tag was still on the doorknob.<br />Swiming and diving lessons were free at the pool. I did a lot of belly flops. Us girls would perform water ballet stunts. The guys would do cannonballs off the high board. We would lay on our towels on the cement floor, I now<br /> prefer my comfie lounge chair, soak up the sun and read books. Joan Lucas, my forever friend,and I would go to the Bookmobile up by JC Penny regularly. Joanie, even then,was a speed reader, I could not keep up.<br />I'll never forget us girls, including Barbara W, Midge B.,Linda K., had to wear those fancy swim caps. It was a law, if you didn't, you had to sit out for one-half hour. Those wanna be lifeguards were relentless on discipline. <br />And one more memory. Occasionally my Mom would take us girls to Jones Beach. However, on arriving home, we always went right back to the pool for a refreshing dip and to make sure we didn't miss anything exciting.Brenda Palmerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743506038040096141noreply@blogger.com