What is Fanny Chapman?
1.
Fanny Chapman Memorial Swimming Pool History
In the early 1920's, there were few places to swim in Doylestown. On a hot summer day, one might find a shallow pool along one of Bucks County s rocky creeks, a muddy farmer’s pond, the Delaware Canal or the Delaware River.
There were a few private pools. William Mercer, younger brother of Henry, designed and built a beautifully tiled pool behind Aldie, the family mansion in Doylestown. Mrs. Mercer frequently invited friends and neighbors to bring their children to play and swim in this little pool. It was during this time that Mrs. Mercer realized that the children needed a larger place to swim, and probably discussed the idea with her husband.
One day during the summer of 1926 as William Mercer was walking up the 2nd fairway (then the 5th) at the Doylestown Country Club, he found the perfect site for a pool on land belonging to Mr. and Mrs. John B. Lear. When Mercer explained his plan to them, the Lears donated 1 ½ acres for the pool. The pool was to be a memorial to Mr. Mercer's favorite aunt, Fanny Chapman, who had died two years earlier at age 78.
The pool was to be governed by a Board of Trustees, and all operating expenses were to be paid for from membership fees and income derived from the Mercer endowment fund. Members of the first board were: Charles C. McKinstry, Chairman; Frederick H. Clymer, Secretary; J. Carroll Molloy, Treasurer; Elsie Ross; and Jane Watson.
Mercer's original plan called for the pool to be 40 x 75 feet, but prior to construction the dimensions were changed to 40 x 120 feet. Construction began in April and after two hectic months of work; the Fanny Chapman Memorial Swimming Pool was opened to the public on a membership basis on June 21, 1927. The pool has been serving the community ever since.
One of the most important periods in the history of the pool came in 1956, when the original deed of trust, by which the pool was established, was dissolved and all the pool assets were transferred to the Borough of Doylestown. The Board of Trustees became the Board of Managers and the Borough of Doylestown now appoints its members.
The Mercers continued their interest in the pool throughout their lives. In 1959, Mrs. Mercer donated two more pools, the present diving pool, and the upper instructional pool, in memory of her husband, William R. Mercer, who died in 1939.
In 1975, a four-year, $200,000 renovation and modernization of Fanny Chapman pools was completed. It included many improvements. Renovated locker rooms, the lighting and public address systems, Olympic quality diving equipment, and the terrace rest area, are highly visible elements of the pool today. Less noticeable, but equally important were the replacement of virtually all of the pool s piping, filtration, and chlorination equipment. No tax dollars were used for any of the work.
In 1994, a fourth pool - the children's wading pool - was added to our complex.
And, in 1997 a complete renovation of the upper pool once again took place bringing it into compliance with standards recommended by the State.
Fanny Chapman continues to be a memorial to all who care about our children and our community.
My children are only 3 and 5 and after only 1 year of participating in the Fanny Chapman programs, my 5 year old can "swim" without my help and my three year old tries to swim underwater.
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2.
A living hell on earth. This a place where life comes to die. When employed at Fanny Chapman, your life is taken over by the place. You eat, sleep, breathe, shit, and drink this place. Coming in high or drunk is pretty much the average, and it's the only place where you can ask your manager if it's cool if you get high in the woods before the head manager gets back. The basement is the equivelant of a bar. If you haven't had a beer down there, you probably haven't worked here. The managers office is like the red light district of amsterdam. Everyone hooks up, breaks up,gets fucked up, gets knocked up, and wakes up the next morning to go teach lessons, and do it all again the next night. If your a patron to this pool, we have a nickname for every one of you. From hot mom to snorkle bitch, we've got you all pinned. Because once we are done filling eachother in on the events of the night before, all we have to do is talk about your ugly asses that we have to stare at in a bathing suit that doesn't even fit. Thanks for your membership, but seriously fuck off. We have things to do, beers to drink, drugs to do, girls to fuck, relationships to fuck up. See you next season. Thanks bitches
Guard: @ Fanny Chapman Hey where is the head manager?
Manager: I think he left
Guard: Oh is it cool if i go smoke behind the pump house?
Manager: ummmm.........yeah just don't get caught, and save some for me
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