Swim club in race-bias case is sold at auction

The Huntingdon Valley swimming club where a racial-discrimination controversy erupted a year ago was sold Thursday in a bankruptcy-court auction.

After several hours of competition among five bidders, Valley Club went for $1.46 million to Congregation Beth Solomon of Northeast Philadelphia.

An attorney for the synagogue did not return a call about the proposed use of the 10.5-acre property, which operated as a private swimming club for 55 years before going into bankruptcy in November over legal bills and other liabilities.

The club's woes began June 29, when 56 black and Latino children from Philadelphia's Creative Steps day camp visited in the first of what was to be a series of arranged swimming trips. But after regulars of the club, which had no black members, complained, the deal with the day camp was revoked, a $1,950 check was returned, and a national racial protest ensued.

The club was hit with lawsuits - from the family of one child and the U.S. Justice Department - and a state Human Relations Commission investigation. All are pending, and another lawsuit on behalf of other children has been discussed.

Terry P. Dershaw, the club's bankruptcy trustee, said the revenue from the sale would be parceled out to claimants after the court cleared the transaction, which should happen within a month.

The Justice Department requested before the auction that special consideration be given to any bidder planning to use the pool as a public accommodation. Dershaw said no objections were lodged to the sale to Congregation Beth Solomon, though the synagogue's plans for the site remained unclear.