Torview Swim & Tennis Club

The story

It all started when…

The origin of Torview starts with the Torbank Development, which was made up, for the most part, of World War II servicemen with their families - an ideal area, but no place to swim. Torbank Association was incorporated raising funds by dances and selling refreshments at the old Ossining Armory. There was a decision at the Torbank meeting to proceed to get a swimming pool. We solicited Torbank homeowners first, but realized we did not have enough funds, so we opened it up to outsiders recommended by 3 members of the Board. The original funding was $150 per family with additions to come.

Our original pool site was 7 acres - across from Brookside Lane, where there was a pond. We started to plan and had an option on the property. We met with opposition from homeowners in tat area which led to look at properties on Stormytown Road. This site had a dirty road with property home to rabbits and deer. We decided to purchase this property, by charging members $250 per family. The club was incorporated and we went ahead with plans for a pool.

There was no water or sewers on Stormytown Road, so we hired an architect, skilled in pools, from White Plains through an architect on our board, who also asked a favor of his colleague from White Plains to give us plans for a pool much like on he had previously designed.

To get water, we drilled three deep wells and it was our source of water for both the pool and the sanitary facilities. We dammed the creek below with a pimp and used the water to fill the pool each season. This required treating the water and our director was skilled in this operation. Electricity played a big part too. We put up poles to cover our needs. The site of the pool was determined as there was rock in lots of areas that we did not want to combat. The membership was delighted, and Torview opened in 1956.

The original area was the upper parking lot where we park today. We expanded it in several stages by borrowing money from National Bank of Westchester which we repaid loans out of our yearly dues. The lower fields and parking lot was activated by bulldozing in the area and the membership responded one weekend with hoes and rakes, working it out. Also 100 lbs of grass seed was planted to make the meadow, which is still beautiful today as a ball field.

As director of the pool for many years, Steve Kosilla passed away working for us. He also was Director of Athletics at Sleepy Hollow High School. Along the way, we have had changes to our membership because of members relocating and children outgrowing our facilities. Speaking of changes, the snack bar was originally where the office is now. We expanded it to the present site.

We have had many great and memorable times throughout the years at Torview. We hope to continue with good membership and many more fond memories for our members.

Taken from an essay written by Richard B. Primps