Mother Nature hasn't cooperated for Splash Day 2015, but the Tamaqua community swimming destination opened Wednesday for its 115th year.

"We had some people yesterday and today," said Matt Stanek, assistant manager on Thursday.The Howard D. Buehler Memorial Pool at Tamaqua Bungalow Park has been drawing visitors to the North Ward recreational venue since 1900.Even though the sun was nowhere to be found Thursday and temperatures were cool, eight swimmers braved the unseasonable weather to take a dip."We're hoping for better weather next week," Stanek said.The special site was chosen as the ideal spot for summer frolic as early as the late 1800s.Situated at the extreme north end of Catawissa Street, Bungalow Park rests proudly in a laurel-covered nook of Locust Mountain.The site boasts a magnificent oasis of mountain springs and evergreens, and the park can't be seen from anywhere else in town.According to local historical accounts, the community's multimillion dollar park can trace its origins to a 1900 spring-fed mudhole.The Bungalow's humble start began when James Turk, former superintendent of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, joined with three friends, Tamaqua merchants George Haefeker and Harry and S.G. Seligman, to build a summer cabin with an out-of-town feeling.Turk's original summer cabin or bungalow was erected near Farber's Spring.Not much is known about early use of the site since it was in private hands.It apparently wasn't used very long because by 1913, the cabin was abandoned and then torn down. Almost immediately, youngsters claimed the serene spot, recognizing its spring-fed dam a natural swimming hole, even if somewhat muddy.The earthen dam proved to be so popular that, in the 1920s, the Tamaqua American Legion Post took it on as a community betterment project. They installed the original bathhouses at the south end and playground equipment and a few tables on the west hill.Later, the Tamaqua Rotary Club built a wall around the dam, cementing part of the dam floor and installing protective rails for the children. The club also constructed newer bathhouses using lumber obtained by dismantling an abandoned Scout camp north of the park.By 1935, the Bungalow Boys Club and the Tamaqua Civic Improvement Association were organized to help promote the site.A $110,000 overhaul was undertaken through Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration government programs, including the paving of the entire pool. Many of those improvements are still visible today: the small bridge and the low perimeter wall and the steps leading to the picnic grove, all made of mountain stone.Others also made major contributions to the park's development, including the Tamaqua Lions Club, the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission, Tamaqua Borough, Reading Anthracite, and numerous scout troops.The complete written history of the site includes extensive details of various groups and individuals.But none shine brighter than the golden heart of cafe owner Howard D. Buehler.A childless bachelor, Buehler passed away on July 16, 1968, at age 65, and surprised the town by bequeathing the bulk of his remaining estate to pool improvements to benefit the children of the community.About 1975, some $260,000 was turned over to the borough by Miners National Bank trustees on behalf of Buehler.No one knows for sure what prompted Buehler to be so benevolent.But his generosity helped to establish Tamaqua Bungalow Park as one of the finest picnic, swimming and recreation areas in the region.It's a place so special that even on a very cool, non-summerlike day, eight people showed up to swim.