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FACT: Untrue. In his 1955 Will, Captain August Petersen described his intentions for the construction of a swimming pool for the benefit of the people of Braintree. Captain Petersen did not require that the Petersen Pool be limited to a leisure-type pool. Article 8 of his Will states: 

    “The principal and any accumulated income is to be used for the 

      construction of a swimming pool and necessary incidental buildings and

       equipment…with the said swimming pool to be named “THE PETERSEN 

       MEMORIAL POOL”, and to be identified as such by a suitable plaque 

      indicating that it was provided as a memorial to Sadie A. Petersen and 

       Captain August J. Petersen.” (emphasis added to the original)

Captain Petersen had confidence that the people of Braintree should decide the quality of the swimming pool facility. His Will contains no limitation that the pool should only be for leisure swimming involving a  shallow, four foot deep pool. When given the choice, the people of Braintree should build a swimming pool that meets National Federation of High School (NFHS) standards, thereby, reflecting a high standard of quality for our athletes while meeting the recreational needs of many stakeholders in our community, such as seniors, children and swimming enthusiasts.  The construction of a NFHS-quality swimming pool best honors the memory of Captain Petersen and his wife, Sadie, and their generosity.

FACT:  Wrong. Captain Petersen’s monies were not a gift. In his Will, Captain Petersen created a restricted  charitable trust which required that the Town of Braintree spend the Petersen Trust’s funds for the construction and operation of a swimming pool and necessary incidental buildings and equipment. In addition, the Trust required that, if the Trust’s monies were insufficient for building and operating a swimming pool, the  Petersen Trust’s funds must remain unspent until such time as there were sufficient monies to construct the pool. (The Will of August J. Petersen, Article 8, para. 3)  Importantly, the Town of Braintree accepted the terms of Captain Petersen’s Trust. 

Instead of waiting to secure full construction design and funding for the Petersen Pool project, the Town of Braintree spent approximately $1.5 Million of Petersen Trust monies for engineering plans and site work for an athletic complex, requiring that the developer would secure the construction financing. The proposed Petersen Athletic Complex includes 1.5 ice rinks, a pool and a synthetic turf field. In its financial disclosures regarding the Trust, the Town has not apportioned pool-only expenditures. The Town of Braintree has violated the Petersen Trust’s terms by expending Petersen Trust funds before financing was secured and spending Trust monies on non-swimming pool-related expenses.

FACT:  Nope. The definitive standard for high school competition pools is defined by the National Federation of High School’s (NFHS) swimming and diving rules under which the BHS Swim & Dive Team operate. The NFHS rules do not recognize “Junior Olympic” as a regulation standard.  

FACT:  Absolutely wrong.  The  BHS Swim & Dive  Team  cannot swim competitively in  a non-NFSH-approved  swimming pool.  It has been incorrectly stated that the only downside to using a non-NFHS regulated pool is a loss of points in competition.  The use of a non-NFHS swimming pool for competition is an automatic disqualification, meaning zero points.  

FACT:   Absolutely, untrue. Participation in the BHS Swim & Dive Team has been so popular that the BHS Swim & Dive Teamis a “cut” sport, whereby students must try-out and be selected. During the 2019 fall season (pre-COVID 19), approximately 70 students tried out and only 45 students were offered spots on the team. It is the Petersen Pool Advocates’ goal that, with the construction of a NFHS- qualifying pool in Braintree, the team’s ranks will be able to expand for meeting the demand. With an in-town pool, parents will no longer have to transport their athletes out-of-town to rented pools.  

FACT:   The opposite is true.  The new pool  would generate cash.  By ensuring the the pool meets NFSH standards, the Town can out the pool to other school districts, private organizations , and community groups for events (e.g., birthday parties, fundraisers.  By having a properly designed swimming pool, the pool will be safe and better meet the needs of all our community stakeholders--seniors,  Braintree pride means quality!