REMEMBERING HOPEDALE POND....

    I grew up on Hopedale Pond. Every morning, when I woke up I would look out my bedroom window on 89 Dutcher Street to greet the glorious vista of sky and water. It was more inviting to me in the lazy, hazy days of summer than in the cold, dark, dank days of winter.

    In the summer, when I was 5, my big brother, Bud Sadler, was the lifeguard at Hopedale Pond. I became his shadow and would follow him to work as often as he would allow. He was my hero and showed me his love and respect for the water, which brushed off on me. He used to tell the story that he threw me in and I swam like a fish and I am still swimming today. Can you remember having to wait a whole hour after eating before going in - morning, noon and night ?

    It is in our genes. My mom grew up on an island in Westport, Maine. She never did a lot of swimming, but was determined all her children would learn to swim.

    I'm sure we all remember our beloved coach Mr. Carl Miner. He certainly helped us with our strokes and our diving. Once again I think of Janet Heron and Joan Cardarelli and their fancy diving. We are talking about front flips, jackknives, swan dives and we even made up some fancy dives we were not supposed to do and Mr. Miner would tell us to cool it.

    What a great safety method we had back then in those good old days. Do you remember how we had to check in and out of the Bathhouse. I remember the 3 girls that had that job: Nancy Miner Gannet, Cynthia Clarke and Nancy Ryan Scarnato. I cannot forget our winters on Hopedale Pond. It was in my early teens before I learned to skate well enough to join my classmates on the ice. Do you remember the caramel popcorn balls? Yummy !!!! How about " Crack the Whip" ?

    As we continued into our teenage years we went back to the summer programs at the pond. First we got our Junior Life Saving then Senior Life Saving certificates. Some of our swimmers went on to be Lifeguards and a few of us helped Mr. Miner with the little children. Mr. Miner believed in starting them at an early age !

    As graduating seniors we all had to write our future goals. My goal was to be a P.E. Teacher ( with a major in swimming ). Part of my dream came true, I did become a Swim Teacher and I still enjoy teaching today.

    After my third child was born, I became a Water Safety Instructor (American Red Cross ) and directed the Swim Program at Mendon Town Beach. I can remember taking a group of competitive swimmers to Hopedale Pond for a Swim Meet. We won !