West Shore Swimming Holes

Only the geese can cool off in New Cumberland.

As well all know, New Cumberland does not have a swimming pool.  I wish someone would have had the forethought to build a public pool somewhere in this borough over the years.  Up until a few years ago, the YMCA operated their outdoor pool just outside of town.  It wasn't great, but it was in close proximity to our town.  Over the years, that pool descended into disrepair and had to be closed.  My husband tells me that when he was a kid he would swim at a pool at the Army Depot, but I don't think that's an option anymore for us from town.  And, even though there is no swimming allowed in the Yellow Breeches from Borough Park, on occasion, you'll see people wading in or kids jumping in from the Fairview side.  (I do not recommend either of those actions, by the way.)  Unless you are fortunate enough to have your own pool, or get invited to a friend's pool, residents of New Cumberland have to head out of town to to take a dip.  So, where can we go swimming?

No swimming is allowed in the Yellow Breeches from Borough Park.

The Lemoyne Pool was totally revamped for the 2010 season.  Admission ranges from $3-$10, depending on what time you go.   Age 3 and under are free. Residents and non residents can purchase pool season passes.  The pool is handicapped accessible, features slides, a tot area and much more.  For more information click here to go to the Lemoyne Parks & Recreation website.

Lemoyne Pool

The Hampden Pool is a little further up the road.  Admission rates are $7-$13 depending on when you go, who you go with, and your age.  Kids age 2 and younger are free. Yearly memberships are available.  Features of the Hampden pool include a 550,000 gallon pool, tot pool, 120 foot slide and much more.  For more information about the Hampden pool, click here.

Hampden Pool

A favorite of my family's is the Boiling Springs Pool.  It's a  longer drive, but it's worth it.  This natural spring fed pool may be a little chilly, but on a hot day, you'll appreciate the coolness.  They have a total of 4 pools with varying depths, along with 3 water slides.  Admission ranges from $4-$12, depending on your age and when you go.   Age 3 and under are free.  Like the other pools, they offer a season pass.  Six times during the 2012 season, they offer  "$5 Fridays."  To find out when "$5 Fridays" happen, or more information about the Boiling Springs Pool, click here.

Boiling Springs Pool

If you are looking to get back to nature and take a dip in a lake, take a drive out to Gifford Pinchot State Park to use the Quaker Day Use Area Beach.   However, swim at your own risk, because the state no longer provides life guards.  This is an odd swimming area.  It is comprised of a grassy area along the lake, with a concrete wall that just drops down into the water.  A small chain link fence tops the wall  and has occasional gates through which you can enter to get into the water.  There is a children's play area near the beach, as well as a snack bar, changing rooms and picnic area.  Admission is free.  For more information about Quaker Day Use Area at Pinchot Park, click here.

Quaker Day Use Area at Gifford Pinchot State Park.

The municipalities of Camp Hill and Mechanicsburg have their own pools, too.  However, to use those pools you must  be a resident or live in one of the adjoining municipalities.  So, if you are from New Cumberland, you are out of luck.
Click here for link to Camp Hill Pool.            Click here for link to Mechanicsburg pool.

Camp Hill Pool

Mechanicsburg Pool

Even though New Cumberland does not have a pool, we have our choice of several places to swim in the immediate area.   We're on the cusp of summer, find a pool you like and dive in!

A Fish Tale

Last Friday afternoon, I was meeting my son after school, when I saw his technology education teacher, Mr. Faranov, loading some things into his car.  I spoke with him and he told me he was going to release the fish into the Yellow Breeches that day.   Soon my son, Jacob, came strolling out and told me he wanted to go to the park and see the fish released.  We had a little bit of time before we had to get my younger kids from the Hillside, so I said, "Let's go!"

Brook Trout Eggs

Releasing 'the fish' is a big deal.  Mr. Faranov and his students raise the brook trout from eggs to fingerlings in a tank in their New Cumberland  Middle School classroom.  They take care of them by feeding them and monitoring tank quality.  Then when the time comes, he, along with some students take the young fish to be released into the Yellow Breeches Creek at New Cumberland Borough Park.

Andre Faranov, or 'Mr. Faranov,' as he is know to his students,  has been participating in the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom project every year for the past four years.  It all started in the fall of 2008 when he was awarded a grant from the PA and Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited.  This is a statewide program made possible through a partnership between Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Brook Trout in Aquarium in Mr. Faranov's New Cumberland Middle School classroom.

We drove to Borough Park and met Mr. Faranov near the large pavilion.  Jacob assisted him in carrying the fish over to the banks of the Yellow Breeches.  Mr. Faranov scouted out a favorable location to release the fingerlings.  The best area, he told us, is a spot that allows for the small fish to escape and hide from predators.  After a short search, he found a good spot, a rocky area, with a fallen tree nearby.  Jacob and Mr. Faranov scaled the steep bank with the bucket.  They simply reached into the bucket with a net, scooped up a few fish, and released them into their new environment of the Yellow Breeches.  And off the swam the fish into their new home.

Jacob and Mr. Faranov carrying the fish to be released.

The next time you are at Borough Park,  fishing or trying to catch a glimpse of a fish, it just might be one of many that Mr. Faranov and his students have raised and released over the years. 

Releasing Brook Trout into the Yellow Breeches Creek at New Cumberland Borough Park.

New Cumberland Circa 1922

I was cleaning out my attic, and I came across a bunch of old posters that my husband had saved from his younger days.  I started unrolling them to see what they were.  I found the much younger Rolling Stones, quite a few Budweiser Girls, and then I discovered something that looked a little out of place.  This was a different type of poster, the paper was a better quality, as well as longer and wider.  I unrolled it, and much to my amazement, I found this treasure.

1922 Map of New Cumberland Borough

A 1922 map of New Cumberland.  It belonged to my husband's grandfather.  It shows the boundaries of the borough in 1922.  There are some interesting differences.  It looks as if the original northern border ran along what is now Beacon Hill Road and Sixth Street.  Also, as you can see, there were no housing plots or streets in the area between Fifth and Beacon Hill Road.

Area above Brandt Ave between Fifth Street and a Private Road (that road is now known as Beacon Hill Road.)

Look closely along Sixth Street, you can see a chalk mark for the original Borough Line.

While most street names appear to the the same as they were 90 years ago, one street name has been changed.  What is now known as Poplar Avenue, was listed as "Popular Avenue" on this map.

Poplar Avenue used to be Popular Avenue.

Another difference is in the area at Market & Third.  On this map, that area has grass plots.  Now that area is used for parking.

Parking areas on Market street used to be Grass Plots.

Borough Park was not yet in existence yet as of 1922.  The topography of the that area and Yellow Breeches Creek has been changed since this map was made.  I heard that the landscape of Borough Park had been  altered at some point, and this map seems to confirm that.  As you look at the map below, you can see that the Yellow Breeches was split into two.  That upper branch of the creek goes through what would probably be the ball fields today.

Area that is now Borough Park.

Also, if you look at the picture below, you can see that the neighborhood next to borough park had not been plotted out for houses yet.

Neighborhood above Borough Park

Another contrast is the area of Hillside Road and Hillside Drive, both of which run above Poplar Avenue.  Originally, it was laid out as one street know as Hillside Avenue.  This avenue ran parallel to Poplar to the creek side border of the borough. The landscape of the area probably prevented them from completing this street as planned, as Hillside Road pretty much runs right into the side of a hill.  Now, we have Hillside Drive which juts up over that hill off of Hillside Road.  The original parcels along Hillside Avenue appear to be much larger than those plotted currently along Hillside Road.

 Hillside Road and Hillside Drive have replaced the planned Hillside Avenue.

The area now known as Memorial Field appears like it was originally divided  with residential lots, but later it was changed to designate that area "Play Grounds."  Those playgrounds are now known as Memorial Field.  You'll notice that the "Play Grounds" were as smaller area, too.  Rosemont Avenue originally ran straight through Memorial Field, crossed over Fifth, and eventually intersected with Poplar. Somewhere along the way, someone decided to make the playgrounds larger and eliminate a good portion of that street.

Originally, Memorial Field was much smaller and Rosemont Avenue was much longer.

It's pretty interesting coming across a piece of history like this.  This map allows us a little glimpse back in time to how things used to be and makes us wonder how some things got changed.  Below is a map of how things actually are in the same area of New Cumberland in 2012.

2012 Map of the same part of New Cumberland.