Northwest Indiana Real Estate

'Paper champ' is positive for cardboard craftsman

June 7, 2009
By Jeff Manes, Post-Tribune correspondent

"They took all the trees, and put 'em in a tree museum

And they charged the people a dollar-and-a-half just to see 'em

At a glance

For more information about the Great Cedar Lake Cardboard Boat Race, call 374-6157, 374-4444 or visit the Web site www.cedarlake summerfest.com .

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone

They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot"

-- Joni Mitchell

In April, Boston has its Marathon. In May, Kentucky hosts the Derby, and Indianapolis the 500.

But there is another race that takes place on the Fourth of July right in our back yard you might not recognize -- The Great Cedar Lake Cardboard Boat Race.

It is an honor to feature one of the sport's all-time greats for this column -- three-time winner Ken Rasmussen. Eat your heart out, Bill Rodgers, Secretariat and Helio Castroneves.

Rasmussen, 38, grew up in Harvey, Ill., and attended Thornton Township High School. He and his wife, Mary, have three children ranging from 3 to 20 years of age. They've lived in Cedar Lake since 1990.

* * *

I realize a good portion of Cedar Lake's population has Chicago roots. Why did you choose to live near the Lake of the Red Cedars?

"When we came here 20 years ago, it was dirt cheap," Rasmussen began. "It was the best place for a young, struggling family just starting out. For quite a few years, we rented this house with an option to buy. I have three 25-foot-wide lots in front here, plus another one in back."

You're not the first person I've interviewed who lives atop one of these precipitous slopes overlooking the lake. What a view through the white oaks and black walnuts. I love it that you've left your property in its natural state. Beats mowing grass; it's beautiful.

"Yeah, I might plant a few wildflowers."

What do you do for a living?

"I'm a union carpenter out of the cabinetmakers' local in Chicago. I started out as a cabinetmaker, but the pay scale is almost one-third lower than an outside carpenter.

"I work for a general contractor, James McHugh Construction Co. My son also is in the trade, but it's slow downtown (Chicago) and he's out of work. We're praying for the (2016 Summer) Olympics. We build the high-rises; I've got my swing-stage card."

Explain.

"I can go out on suspended scaffolding."

What's the highest job you've been on?

"About 600 feet."

That's getting up there, brother.

"Hey, anything over 60 feet is death. There's definitely a rush to it when the wind picks up."

You mentioned your son; does your father also wield a claw hammer and wear a nail pouch above the Windy City?

"No, for the past 35 years or more, my dad has worked in the press room for the Chicago Sun-Times."

Ken, enough small talk. Can you win the cardboard regatta again?

"I hope so; there are cash prizes this year."

Tell me, Champ, how'd you get into the sport?

"The first year they had the cardboard boat race, about eight years ago, I just happened to stumble upon it as a spectator. I thought it was the greatest thing; I was hooked. I build at least two boats and as many as four every year; my son and oldest daughter have always participated."

As you know, it's about 250 feet between those buoys; contestants have to circle them twice. In 2006, you were clocked at 3:10, while furiously paddling "These Colors Don't Run" to victory. In '07, you and "Red White and Blue" flew at 2:52. And last year, in the kayak-like "Stars and Stripes," you crossed the finish line in an incredible 2:48.

"I also have the record for the Most People in a Boat category -- 18."

Which pontoon was that?

"Either the pirate ship or the 'Yellow Submarine;' I'm not sure. I can make one of my canoe-type racing boats in a day. The big pontoons are a little more involved. I've got a big pop-up tent I keep them in now. One year, it rained on July 3 and ruined my boats because I hadn't waterproofed them."

Explain the strict rules in cardboard boat racing.

"You can use some wood for blocking, but not for floatation. Absolutely no Styrofoam, foam rubber or plastic pipe. They don't want you to use paint below the waterline, but you can use candle or surfboard wax for waterproofing -- nothing commercially bought, like Thompson's. I've found Crisco shortening works well, and it's pretty much biodegradable."

What about a 50-horse Merc?

"No gas or electric motors, but you can make a paddle wheel or use a sail. But you gotta remember, you have to able to turn. It's not just a straight run.

"One year, the police department made like a 14-foot rowing skiff; it had the outriggers with the big 8-foot-long oars. Looked great, but they couldn't turn.

"Remember Cleo? She also looked great in that sexy gold outfit and shades. But they DQ'd her because all she did was munch clumps of grapes and sip wine while her two slaves waded in the water, pulling her along."

Any mishaps for you through the years?

"The time the wind caught us when we were in one of our big pontoons and took us out too deep, the poles wouldn't touch the bottom of the lake. We just kept heading out to sea."

Ken, you love living in Cedar Lake, don't you?

"I'll live right here forever, unless Dean White wants to give me a bunch of money for my property. This was always such a nice place for poor people to live. It always amazed me that I was able to raise my family here by the lake."

* * *

Each year, I look forward to standing on the pier while covering the Great Cedar Lake Cardboard Boat Race on the Fourth of July.

To the west of me, speedboats, sailboats and cabin cruisers bob in place as their riders clap for the cardboard crafts.

To the east of me, a melange of spectators clad in tank tops and flip-flops form a line along the shore, with Lake of the Red Cedars Museum as their backdrop.

And it all looks like a panoramic postcard from another era as good people like the Rasmussens partake in the great race.

Contact Jeff Manes at jeffmanes@sbcglobal.net.

Sailing, rowing, steam-powered vessels part of Cedar Lake's history

By Scott Bocock
Board member and volunteer with the Cedar Lake Historical Association | Sunday, June 07, 2009 | (No comments posted.)

Photo courtesy Cedar Lake Historical Association From rails to waves: About 1930, passengers regularly boarded boats at the pier after arriving at the Monon Railroad depot on Cedar Lake's midwestern shore. For a small fee, they were carried to various places along the lake. NWI Photo Store

During Northwest Indiana's warmer months, a variety of watercraft can be seen at Cedar Lake. Sailboats, rowboats and jet-skis are joined by pontoon boats that move leisurely on the lake. Even in the earliest days, boating was important at Cedar Lake.

The Potawatomi Indians skimmed the lake's surface in their canoes, while hunting and fishing. They might have also used the lake for recreational purposes. In 1837, the Hervey Ball family arrived at Cedar Lake. Timothy Ball would later write about an Indian canoe found and taken by his family in this same year, in his book, "The Lake of the Red Cedars." Although it is only a brief mention of this canoe, it demonstrates the significance the lake and canoes to the Indians.

Sailboats are still common types of vessels at the lake. Probably the earliest sailboat launching on Cedar Lake, occurred in 1838 or 1844. H. H. Horton of New York, rigged a large rowboat with a sail and a rudder. He and his nephew Timothy Ball sailed the lake. By the 1850s, sailboats were prevalent at the lake. One of the largest was a double-masted schooner with a cabin and an upper deck that served up to 100 passengers. Shipbuilder Obadiah Taylor of Cedar Lake was hired by Adelbert Palmer of Creston to construct this vessel in 1859. It was launched that same year, but after a few seasons, it was no longer seaworthy, and it was stranded at Cedar Point. In 1881, a Captain Harper would launch his boat the "Night Hawk."

By about 1900, Norwegian and French boat clubs formed along Cedar Lake's southeastern shore.

One club was organized by some Pennsylvania Railroad officials who were in charge of the depot in Crown Point.

The advancement in technology would bring other watercraft to Cedar Lake. By the 1860s, steam-powered boats became a common sight. In 1882, the Monon Railroad hired a Dr. Robert Hunter to maintain a steamer that could accommodate up to 40 passengers at once. Eventually, electric-powered boats like Mark Reed's "Dispatch," populated the lake. Soon, gasoline engines would power boats.

In the early 1900s, the Lassen Family came to Cedar Lake, as did boat enthusiasts from Chicago. The Lassen's "Dewey Line" met visitors at the Monon Railroad depot at the lake's midwestern shore. For a small fee, visitors were transported to various places on the lake.

At Cedar Lake now, a similar pattern still exists. The Cedar Lake Yacht Club continues to organize regattas. Many people launch their boats at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources boat launch. Others rent watercraft from Pine Crest and North Point. There is no doubt, boating remains important to Cedar Lake.

IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Lake of the Red Cedars Museum
WHERE: 7308 W. 138th Pl. also known as Constitution Ave.
WHEN: Tour 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday through September or by appointment.
FMI: Call (219) 374-6157.

Cedar Lake business offers residential maintenance, cleanup

By Sharon Porta
Times Correspondent | Sunday, April 26, 2009 | (No comments posted.)

While the housing crisis has hurt many businesses, Kleen Sweep is not among them. After many years of handling maintenance and cleanup of commercial businesses, Thomas Lesh has expanded his business to include residential cleanup.

"For years, we have taken care of businesses, handle graffiti, power wash and repaint. And when a business moves out, we go in and clean it up," said Paula Reno, the company's CFO. "So about six months ago, we just decided to partner with investors and banks that are foreclosing on properties to offer the service residentially. Investors buy the home as is and we go in and clean it up."

The condition of the homes varies, but Reno said the previous owners always leave something behind.

"Nine out of 10 times there are things there that need removing," Lesh said. "We take a truck, load it up, bring it back here to sort and salvage."

Because the company is not in the resale business, they have been making donations to families that have lost items, victims of floods and fire and the Salvation Army.

"We don't really want to sell the items. We make our money doing cleanup," Lesh said. "We have a huge building and thought that instead of throwing it away, we would find people who need it. We are getting all kinds of things that people need -- especially now in these hard times."

Crews move into the homes and handle everything from painting and plumbing to general maintenance. Services include cleanup of the property, removing old furniture or garbage, pressure washing when needed and hiring professionals to repair dry wall, carpentry and landscaping.

"Some of the houses are in pretty bad shape and some are not," Lesh said. "But this end of the business has been pretty good."

Kleen Sweep even has a sister company, Astro Realty, to handle the sale of the homes once they are in good shape.

"We still offer all of our commercial services, like parking lot sweeping, snow removal, lawn care and more, "Reno said. "And with this, we're really able to help people who are losing or who have lost their homes."

Kleen Sweep
Location: 13501 Morse St., Cedar Lake
Phone: (219) 374-4296
Owner: Thomas Lesh
When opened: 1985
Number of employees: 10
Type of business: Parking lot sweeping, snow removal, lawn care, residential and commercial clean-up
Web site: www.kleensweep2000.com