Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1909 — PICNIC SEASON OPENS NEXT SUNDAY AT CEDAR LAKE. [ARTICLE]

PICNIC SEASON OPENS NEXT SUNDAY AT CEDAR LAKE.

The picnic season at Cedar Lake opens next Sunday, when the first Chicago picnic excursion runs down there. The resorts on the east side of the lake expect to do a big business during the auto races, as the track comes in from Crown Point, a little north and east of the Cedar Point hotel, and anywhere along tjie road leading from there to Lowell is a good place to view the races—-providing the room is not all taken when one gets there. Ray’s roadhouse, as one of the east side resorts is called, is situated right on the northeast corner where the race track turns to go south to Lowell. A hill on the east runs almost down to the corner, where a sharp turn is made to the south, where another hill is to climb, after which a straight shoot and an easy grade runs direct to Lowell. This turn near the roadhouse is said to be the most dangerous on the entire course, and if there arenot a few machines upset and mixed up with the barbwire fence and trees on the west it will be something very miraculous. Contrary to general belief, the roadway is not banked at the corners to allow making the turn at high speed, but it is left just an ordinary turn in the highway. These races are “road” races, not track races, and the drivers of the cars must take their chances. Ray is seeking to pocket a few honest shekels during the races besides that derived from the sale of the amber colored fluid which flows so freely all about the lake for those who have the price, and has put up a “grandstand” over his south porch where perhaps 75 to 100 persons can be seated. It is point in the course, and with the absolute certainty that the guests need not suffer from thirst it is likely these seats will all be gobbled up by the first detachment of spectators arriving on the scene. Anywhere along the west side of the road south to the top of the hill, however, Is a good place to see the race and to reach It easiest from the west side of the lake, one should take a boat to the “White City Pavilion” f£om J which it is but a short walk. The boatmen anticipate some difficulty in handling the crowds who wish to get over to the east side, but there will be probably 12 to 15 of these power boats, and they can make the round trip in a very few minutes. The Monon trains will probably stop at the south end of the lake also, and it is not far for one to walk from there over east of the race course.