Clover Hill Swimming Club
Encyclopedia
The Clover Hill Swimming Club in Millington
, New Jersey
, was a swim club operating in the late 1950s and 1960s in the suburban New York City
metropolitan region.
Clover Hill Swimming Club, Inc. was incorporated in New Jersey on October 6, 1961 (Filing number:3019855000) as a privately owned and operated corporation for the purpose of returning a profit to its stockholders by constructing and operating "beach, swimming, tennis or recreation areas on the plan and form of a private membership club" in what was then called Passaic Township. When Clover Hill began operations in 1963, about 250 families held memberships and the total zoning capacity of the built club was fixed at 400 families. During the period of construction and for some time thereafter, there was displayed at the entrance to Clover Hill a large sign (8' x 4') which read:
The club was centered on a 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) lake filled with water from the club's well. The lake bottom was covered with stones, with white sand covering the 300 feet (91.4 m) beach, extending out into the water. The late had a 224 feet (68.3 m) dock and a deep water float. Bleachers overlooked 25 meter swim lanes. The club's swimming teams competed with other clubs. Other amenities typical of swim clubs, such as tennis facilities and a playground, were available. In the early 1990s the adjacent land was developed as a suburban neighborhood. The clubhouse was torn down and replaced by picnic facilities and the docks were removed as part of the neighborhood's development. The land and facilities of the old swim club are now managed by the neighborhood homeowner's association.
The club was the defendant in a landmark 1966 civil rights
case, Clover Hill Swimming Club V. Robert F. Goldsboro. The club was sued by an African American
veterinarian who said he was denied membership because of his race. The club claimed that because it was private it could pick its own membership, despite the fact that the club advertised at the entrance to Clover Hill and in newspapers that it had a policy of open membership. The Supreme Court of New Jersey sided with the plaintiff.
Millington, New Jersey
Millington is an unincorporated area within Long Hill Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07946. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 07946 was 3,000...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, was a swim club operating in the late 1950s and 1960s in the suburban New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
metropolitan region.
Clover Hill Swimming Club, Inc. was incorporated in New Jersey on October 6, 1961 (Filing number:3019855000) as a privately owned and operated corporation for the purpose of returning a profit to its stockholders by constructing and operating "beach, swimming, tennis or recreation areas on the plan and form of a private membership club" in what was then called Passaic Township. When Clover Hill began operations in 1963, about 250 families held memberships and the total zoning capacity of the built club was fixed at 400 families. During the period of construction and for some time thereafter, there was displayed at the entrance to Clover Hill a large sign (8' x 4') which read:
The club was centered on a 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) lake filled with water from the club's well. The lake bottom was covered with stones, with white sand covering the 300 feet (91.4 m) beach, extending out into the water. The late had a 224 feet (68.3 m) dock and a deep water float. Bleachers overlooked 25 meter swim lanes. The club's swimming teams competed with other clubs. Other amenities typical of swim clubs, such as tennis facilities and a playground, were available. In the early 1990s the adjacent land was developed as a suburban neighborhood. The clubhouse was torn down and replaced by picnic facilities and the docks were removed as part of the neighborhood's development. The land and facilities of the old swim club are now managed by the neighborhood homeowner's association.
The club was the defendant in a landmark 1966 civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
case, Clover Hill Swimming Club V. Robert F. Goldsboro. The club was sued by an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
veterinarian who said he was denied membership because of his race. The club claimed that because it was private it could pick its own membership, despite the fact that the club advertised at the entrance to Clover Hill and in newspapers that it had a policy of open membership. The Supreme Court of New Jersey sided with the plaintiff.