User:Bethcopines/Bethco pines

'''Bethco Pines, later known as "The Pines" was a private swim club and recreation area created by Bethlehem Steel Company on the shores of the Quemahoning Reservoir in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. '''

History of Bethco Pines
The Quemahoning Reservoir was built from 1911 to 1913 in order to provide adequate and continuous water supply to large steelmaking operations in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Manufacturer's Water Company, a Bethlehem subsidiary, managed the reservoir and hundreds of acres of picturesque land immediately adjacent to the reservoir. For many years, Bethlehem maintained the Quemahoning and surrounding areas, including Bethco Pines, as private areas, not open to the public. Bethco Pines was developed as a recreational area for Bethlehem supervisory and management personnel sometime in the late 1940's. Bethco was known to be in full operation as a recreation area by 1947, and continued to be used until 1993.

The Facilities
The most prominent feature of Bethco Pines was the incredibly beautiful natural setting...the facility was situated on a small peninsula that jutted into the seven-mile long reservoir, surrounded on all sides by the rolling Laurel Mountains. There were the three large heated outdoor pools, located immediately adjacent to the reservoir shoreline. These consisted of one olympic-sized pool, suitable for competitive swim meets, a deep well diving pool and a shallow childrens pool.

A large lodge contained indoor viewing areas where parents could watch their kids in the pool areas, along with a bar and dining areas. Separate bathhouse facilities provided changing areas, and contained a snack bar concession area. Picnic pavilions were scattered throughout the grounds. Recreational facilities, including childrens playgrounds, shuffleboard and horseshoe pits were part of Bethco from the beginning. In 1976, tennis courts were added to the facility. On occasion, an "Ox Roast" structure would be utilized to roast a side of beef.

Bethco's Heyday
Bethco Pines opened from Memorial Day through Labor Day every year. The busiest days were typically holidays, including the Fourth of July, at which time the company sponsored fireworks displays over the Quemahoning. Bethlehem Steel held regular "departmental Picnics at Bethco, days when the facility was closed to all but members of specific departments and their families. For many years, Bethco sponsored a competitive swim team that competed in the Mountain Swim League.

The End of Bethco Pines
In the early 1990's, Bethco ceased to be managed by Bethlehem Steel, which by that time had dramatically reduced steelmaking operations in the area, and closed much of it's operations in the area. The facility was leased for several years to a private group and operated as "The Pines". After "The Pines" closed in 1993, the recreation area remained unused and unmaintained for a decade.

In 1997, the Manufacturer's Water Company began the process of selling the Quemahoning reservoir and surrounding acreage to the [Cambria-Somerset Authority]. In 2003 the Cambria-Somerset Authority leased the site to a religious camp, "Summer's Best 2 Weeks" (SB2W), in exchange for the camp developing new public recreation areas at the Quemahoning. SB2W tore down all of the Bethco facilities, most of which had fallen into serious disrepair over the preceeding decade.