HISTORY

The Antietam's Pool main pool (originally Carsonia Pool) was built in 1923 by Edward Rhoads, making it over 100 years old and the oldest swimming pool in Berks County. Located on 905 Byram Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, it is also the largest pool in Berks, filling up to almost 1,000,000 gallons of water. The original filter beds are still in place.

Before the Olympic pool was buil, the main pool served as the competition pool for swimming, diving and waterpolo events. The pool measures 40 yards across, so swimmers competed in 40, 120, 200, and 440 yard events. In 1935, an invitational was held in the pool that resembled current invitationals. Local pools (South Temple (now MSA), West Reading, Kutztown, Sunnybrook and South of Penn) were asked to submit entries for the meet. In 1960, Antietam won the Dr. Frank Lawrence Summer Swimming Championship Trophy. The team was paced by Nationally ranked swimmer John Malsnee, who is a curent member of the BCSA and Exeter Twp. Hall of Fames. One year prior in 1959, John was ranked #1 in the AAU National Rankings for 11-12 50 meter butterfly and backstroke.

At this same event in 1935 diving was held. The competition was higlighted by the dives of Jimmy Patterson of Ohio. 2 years later Patterson would go on to win the 1-meter National Championship for Ohio State in 1937.

Water polo matches were also held in the pool. In 1934 the Carsonia team had a strong year. Carsonia defeated West Reading by a score of 3-1 and South of Penn pool 21-0. Both matches were held at Carsonia.

In 1969, the Olympic Pool was built. Shortly before in 1968, the Carsonia Crystal Ballroom was destroyed by fire. Proceeds from the fire insurance were used to build the Olympic Pool. The pool includes 6 lanes and is 25 meters long. Attached is a 12-foot deep diving well. The swim team started practicing here and meets were eventually held here. Originally dubbed the "Antietam Frogs", as seen in the picture below, the team transitoned to the current mascot, the Alligators later on.

In 2022, the APAC Board, parents, team, pool, and community fundraised to furnish our pool with 6 brand new state-of-the-art swimming starting blocks, making Antietam the only outdoor pool in Berks County fitted with these type of blocks.

In 2023, the team is fundraising to add an LED Scoreboard Timing System to the facility for 2024. Constant improvements are being made to our facility to make it one of the best in the area!