SPRINGFIELD TWP. — Members from the Brentwood Swim Club, whose clubhouse was gutted by a fire in July, plan on working for the next several weekends to get the clubhouse in shape for the coming swim season.

        The swim club, which has been a township institution for four decades, hopes to open on May 26, the Memorial Day weekend, say club board members.

        “We want the whole community getting behind an institution that provides a positive atmosphere and opportunities for children,” said Nancy Ziegler, a board member.

        An arson fire last summer gutted the clubhouse and caused more than $40,000 in damages.

        Members, officers and staff all pitched in and had the pool itself reopened within six days of the fire.

        Portable toilets were brought in, and part of the men's dressing room was opened.

        But the clubhouse remained closed for the rest of the season.

        On Saturday, about 20 volunteers pitched in and helped scrape down walls and flooring in the clubhouse, Ms. Ziegler said.

        Because the turnout was better than expected, some volunteers even helped out doing yard work around the clubhouse.

        “Next week, we'll be spraying the walls and ceiling with a sealer,” Ms. Ziegler said.

        While plywood is still up on entrances and windows at the clubhouse on Cottonwood Drive, parts of the roof have already been replaced and electrical work is being done.

        Insurance is covering much of that work, but there is a need for office equipment, Ms. Ziegler said. Volunteers will again wash down walls and prepare for painting.

        There is also a need to get the word out that the clubhouse is reopening, say both Ms. Ziegler and Donna Horn, another board member.

        “We don't know yet how the fire affected membership,” Ms. Horn said. “The problem is it doesn't look much different than it did the morning of the fire. We'll use our spare time to get it together for this season. There's still a lot of work to be done.”

        The swim club has been something of a recreational focal point in the Finneytown community.

        Many of the adults in the 80 to 100 families who had belonged were members when they were children. Much of the staff had been lifelong members before finding employment there.

        “We do intend to reopen,” Ms. Horn said. “We don't want our members to flee elsewhere.”

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