In Celebration Of The Twentieth Anniversary
Of The Lakengren Property Owners Association
And
In Appreciation To All Who Have Participated In
The Collection Of Material
LAKENGREN (Lock-N-Grin), A Viking Name Meaning “Lake Of The Emerald Green Hills,”
Is A Very Picturesque Community With Trees, Lakes, And 22 Miles Of Roads Winding Over Rolling
Hills. It Is A Planned Private Residential-Resort Development Conceived By Mr. Ed Wrenn,
President Of American Realty Service Corporation (ARSC), Governed By A Covenant, An Unpaid
Nine Member Board Of Trustees Elected By The Members Of The Lakengren Property Owners
Association (Three Rotating Each Year) And A General Manager Hired By The Board Of Trustees.
The Development Of 1,561 Acres Built Around An Impounded Lake (Lake Lakengren) Of
207 Acres, Approximately Two Miles Long With A Shoreline Encompassing 9 ½ Miles And A Depth,
Which Varies From 4 To 60 Feet Averaging 15 Feet Throughout. Lake Lakengren Is Fed By Paint
Creek, A Watershed Ratio Of 27-1 And Numerous Springs.
The Water Stored In The Lake Is Controlled By A 300-Foot Concrete Spillway, Which Empties
Into A Flume 850 Feet Long With 10-Foot High Walls. The Water Then Continues Down Paint Creek.
The Lake Can Also Be Manually Lowered By Opening A 36-Inch By 36-Inch Gate Valve At The Base Of
The Dam. The Earth Works For This Dam Represent 2,400 Feet Of Embankment, 20 Feet Wide At The
Top And 400 Feet Wide At The Widest Point At The Base Of The Slope. The Department Of Natural
Resources (ODNR) Inspects It On A Regular Basis And It Must Be Maintained According To Their
Regulations At Our Expense.
The ODNR Was A Constant Watchdog Over The Building Of The Dam, With Mr. Ed
Cummins, ARSC Construction Engineer And Cisle Construction Company Of Cincinnati, The
Building Firm. The Engineer Was On The Job Site Most Of The Time. The Heavy Equipment Worked
24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week. Every Time Mr. Cummins Left The Site, Upon His Return He
Inspected Every Inch Of The Work Done During His Absence. If He Detected One Shovel Of Dirt
Instead Of Clay, It Was All Removed And Re-Done In Clay. Lakengren Has One Of The Best Dams In
This Part Of The Country With The Highest Quality Of Clay And No Soil.
After Completion Of The Dam, Artesian Wells In The Basin, Surrounding Tile Ditches And
Paint Creek Filled The Lake Within A Short Time. In The Summer Of 1970 The Lake Was Being
Stocked With Fish And Enjoyed By Property Owners For Fishing, Boating And Swimming.
Recreational Amenities Include Six Smaller Stocked Lakes, A 4,500 Square Foot Outdoor
Filtered Swimming Pool Holding 176,000 Gallons Of Water During A Single Cycle Period, A
Children’s Pool And A Bathhouse. There Is Also A Marina With Boat Launching, Boat Docks, Fishing
Tennis Courts, Shuffleboard, Horseshoes, Softball Diamond And Two Playgrounds For The Children.
There Are Public Access Areas, Some With Fireplaces, Tables, Picnic Shelters, And Boat Docks.
A Beautiful Clubhouse (Valhalla Lodge) Has A Snack Bar And A Sand Beach For Lake Swimmers.
Buses From Two School Districts Transport The Children To And From Eaton And Preble
Shawnee Schools.
Rural Carriers Deliver Mail To Mailboxes At Each Driveway. Phone Service Has Always
Been Available From The Beginning With Party Lines; Private Lines Are Now Available. Weekly Trash
Pick Up By An Independent Company, Which Charges Each Customer A Quarterly Fee, Is A Necessary
Service. Cable TV Is In The Process Of Being Installed. Several Newspapers Are Delivered Daily.
Guards At The Main Entrance Admitting Owners And Their Guests To The Development
Provide Security. A Security Car Patrols The Development And Is Helpful In Directing Fire Or
Emergency Vehicles From Eaton And Camden When It Is Necessary. Communications With The
Preble County Sheriff Is Available Via Two-Way Radio.
The Exact Date When The Development Was First Conceived And Put Into Action Is No Longer
Known. Because Of This Uncertainty, Many Interested People Began To Look Back And Ask When
Did This Start; Where Did It Begin; Who Were The Planners And What Steps Were Taken To Accomplish
This?
Records Have Been Shuffled And Lost, People Who Were In Charge Have Moved On And
Records Stored In The Valhalla Lodge Office Were Destroyed In The January 1988 Fire. This Has
Made The Task Of Gathering Information Difficult. However, There Has Always Been An Interest In
Maintaining An Accurate History Of Lakengren, Specifically By The Board Of Trustees And A
Historical Committee, Functioning Since The Early 1980’S, To Carry On The Search.
An Article Appearing In The May 15, 1991 Register-Herald, Eaton, Read, “About 50 Eaton
Area Residents Attended An Informational Meeting Thursday, May 18, 1966 In The Eaton City
Council Chambers To Hear About A 950 Acre Lake And Housing Development Which Is Proposed
Southwest Of The City.
The Area Being Considered Is About 3 Miles Southwest Of Eaton, And
Bounded By Ohio 732 On The North, Winters Road On The West, Paint Creek On The East, And
Would Go South About Two Miles To Longman Road, All East Of The Sugar Valley Community. A
Representative Of Developmental Services, Inc., Said The Entire Project Would Actually Be A Town,
Which Would Have Its Own Police Protection, Commercial Area, And Governing Body Formed From
Lots And Homeowners. Fire Protection Would Be Furnished By Eaton And Camden Departments, As
They Now Serve The Area.”
In The Summer Of 1967 An Interested Developer Looked At Two Sites – Preble County And
Brookville, Indiana. Brookville Was Considered The More Desirable But The Federal Government
Had Already Bought The Land.
In The Summer Of 1968 U.S. Land Development Co. Optioned The Land Being Considered
In Preble County, Then Allowed The Option To Lapse.
In January 1969 Topographical Maps Were Reviewed. Mr. Ed Wrenn, President Of
American Realty Service Corporation (ARSC), Decided To Locate A Development Southwest In
Preble County. He Owned The Company With No Stockholders, But With Many Diversified
Interests. Lakengren Would Become The Seventh Of Eight Developments For ARSC In Ohio And
The 52nd Throughout 19 Other States Since 1945.
This Location Was Chosen To Satisfy A Need In A Market Area Surrounded By Cincinnati,
Columbus, And Indianapolis, With Dayton Falling Within This Radius. There Was A Source Of
Water, Paint Creek, Crossing Ohio 732 Southwest Of Eaton In Preble County Which Seemed To Be
A Promising Location For Such A Development As Lakengren.
An Engineering Crew Flew Over A Site Farther South Of The Present Southern Boundary And
Located An Ideal Site For The Dam; Which Had To Be The First Consideration. The Proposed Entrance
Would Have Been Located On Sugar Valley Road. Approximately 400 Acres Of The Woodland
Trail Boy Scout Camp Were Needed; However, They Refused To Sell At Any Price. The Desired
Procurement Would Have Made Lakengren At Least Twice The Present Size.
A Second Site For A Dam Was Located Just South Of The Present Dam, But The Owner Refused
To Sell.
The Third Site Is The Dam Location That Now Exists. If This Site Had Not Been Obtained There
Would Not Have Been A Lakengren And This Could Be “The Story Of Where We Almost Weren’t.”
Two Men From ARSC Contacted The Property Owners Who Would Be Involved And Other
Leading Citizens In The Community But They Did Not Receive Much Encouragement.
The Idea Lay Dormant For A Time When Two Promotional Men From The ARSC Approached
The Preble County Commissioners. They Were Referred To The Preble County Engineer. He Was
Familiar With Such Problems As ARSC And Other Developers Had In Various Parts Of The Country
And Were Prepared With Requisites And Standards For Such A Development.
The County Engineer Insisted That This Was The Only Way The County Would Work With
Them. At This Point, They Left Without Agreement; However, They Returned At A Later Date And
Agreed To Work With The County Officials Under The Conditions Set Forth.
Gasper Township Had No Zoning Ordinance But It Was Discovered That The Northeast
Portion Of The Planned Development Was Within The Three Mile Radius Of Eaton City Limits Which
Allowed The Eaton City Commission And Townspeople To Voice Their Opinions Or Opposition To The
Site. The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) And The Eaton Zoning
Committee Oversaw Zoning Regulations. They Must Approve And Sign All Mylars (Developmental
Maps) Before Each Map Could Be Recorded. This Was A 12-Member Committee And Each Member
Had To Be Contacted Personally And Sign The Document Before Witnesses.
Each Of The 19 Landowners Was Contacted And An Option Was Taken On Their Property.
Legal Process Was Commenced And A Local Attorney Finalized All The Land Deals Within One Day,
The Final Day Of The Second Option. The Farms Were Optioned First In January 1969 And Payment
For The Farms Was Made And Recorded In June 1969.
Good Farmland In This Area Was Selling For $150-$200 Per Acre. Most Of This Was Not
Good Farmland; It Was Scrubby Wasteland. Three Farms Were Purchased For Trade; 1,561 Acres
Were Purchased With An Average Cost Of $600 Per Acre.
One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000) Was Borrowed From Melon
National Bank In Pittsburgh, PA. For The Purchase Of The Land. The Loan Was A Secured Real Estate
Loan That Was Fully Paid, Plus 10% Interest, Within The First Year Of Development. Lakengren Was
The Costliest Of All The ARSC Developments To Date.
Preble County National Bank Of Eaton, Fifth
Third Bank Of Cincinnati And Westinghouse Credit Corp. Of Philadelphia Were The Financial
Institutions That Handled The Finances For 2,200 Lots Of Which 2,161 Were Offered For Sale.
An Ohio State Attorney In Columbus Finalized All The Deeds And Contracts Pertaining To
Covenants And Restrictions Within The State Legal Department Basic To All ARSC Developments And
Modified Them Per Community. A Gentleman Of Fredericksburg, Va. Represented ARSC With The
Federal Government For The Finalization Of All Matters Pertaining To Housing And Urban
Development (HUD).
The Concern About Proper Road Construction, Presented By The County Engineer, Has Been
Rewarded As The Roads Have Proven To Be Satisfactory For The Most Part. The Drainage And Side
Ditches Were Properly Completed But Have Suffered From The Sewer Installation, Building
Construction And Erosion.
Most Important Was The Requirement Of A Covenant With Every Person Who Made A
Purchase Of One Or More Lots About Those Regulations. It Became Apparent That The County
Commissioners Would Apply The Original Covenants And Act Immediately.
At This Point, It Was Necessary To Comply With The County, State And Federal Procedures
To Meet All The Requirements. First, They Must Go To The MVRPC To Present Their Case. The
MVRPC Deferred, Using Arguments That Were Not Then Nor Ever Would Be Enough For Users Within
Lakengren To Justify A Sewer Project Of Such A Proposed Size And Expense.
The Preble County Health Department Would Not Be Involved, So It Was Necessary To
Contact The Ohio State Health Department For Approval Of The Water And Sewer Drainage.
Under Supervision Of The State Health Department, 28 Pits Were Dug To Accommodate
Drainage. These Were Called Perk Tests And Were The Deciding Factor In The Testing For A Septic
System. Thirty-Three Acres Were Allocated For Future Sewer Systems.
The County Commissioners Then Drew Up A “Paper Of Points” Pleading That The
Lakengren Community Merited A Sewer System Because Its Population Potential As A Water
Recreational-Residential Development. Fortunately, The Local Officials Were More Accurate Than The
MVRPC. After Receiving State Approval Of The Sewer, It Was Necessary To Go To The Chicago
Office For The Same Procedure Through The Federal Authorities. After Approval In Chicago In 1975
A Federal Grant Was Received Toward The Project.
Lakengren Utilities, Inc., A Privately Owned Company, Constructed The Lakengren Water
System In 1969 And 1970. The System Consisted Of Two Wells, High Service Pumps, Filter System,
Water Tower And Approximately 40 Miles Of Water Mains. This System Was Purchased From
Lakengren Utilities, Inc., In March 1989 And Is Now Operated By Lakengren Water Authority.
Two Original Roads In The Development (Gasper And Winters) Were Closed. “The Bridge”
On Gasper Road, Near The Junction Of Lake Lakengren And Lakengren Cove, Was Either Removed
Or Is In The Bottom Of The Lake.
Most Say It Was Removed. County Officials Would Not Permit The
Closing Of Longman Road; Therefore, A Group Of Lots Considered A Part Of The Basic Plan Is Outside
The Perimeter. This Is The Location Of The Modern Sewer Plant.
The First Sales Office Was A Tent On Ohio Route 732 Near The Present Entrance. After
Roads Were Cut, The Tent Was Then Moved A Short Distance South On Lakengren Drive. Later A
House Was Built On Erickson Drive To Be Used As A Sales Office.
At The Height Of Sales And Construction, ARSC Employed A Manager, Assistant Manager,
Office Manager, Three Office Clerks, One Commercial Artist, 10 Men In The Demolition Crew, Five
Heavy Duty Equipment Operators, Six Bush Hog And Mower Operators, Two Surveying Team Of Four
Men Each, Five Carpenters, 12 Others Employed In The Construction Of The Lodge, Eight Cement
Workers On The Spillway, Two Janitors, And 45 Salesmen.
These Salesmen Worked Directly From The Sales Office Seven Days A Week. Weekends
During The Summer Were Picnic Days – Sometimes Hot Dogs And Soft Drinks Or Fried Chicken With
The Trimmings. Approximately 1,000 Prospective Buyers Participated Each Week. Boiler Shops
Consisting Of Telephone Sales Personnel Were Operated In Cincinnati, Richmond, And Three In
Dayton. Promotions And Incentives Totaling $50,000 Per Week During The Height Of Sales Were
Given, Including Small Transistor Radios, Television Sets, Stereos, Mink Stoles, Etc.
Another Promotion Was Dinners At Good Restaurants With A Party And A Sales Pitch; The Salesmen Sold A Dream.
By 1970 The Swimming Pool, Lodge And Recreation Areas Were Nearing Completion And
Being Used.
Lakengren Property Owners Association (LPOA) Was Organized Under The Laws Of Ohio
On June 16, 1969 When The Development Was First Commenced. At Its Inception The Incorporators
(Lakengren, Inc.) Chose Temporary Trustees To Conduct The Affairs Of The Association Until Such
Time As The Development Was Completed And Sold-Out And Permanent Trustees Could Be Elected By
The Entire LPOA Membership.
Temporary Trustees From Lakengren, Inc. Were K.D. Lauer,
Richard W. Wrenn And R. Leroy Allen (Allen Was Replaced By Thomas M. Boone, Jr.), All
Official Of ARSC.
In Just Over 2 Years (1969-1971) All Construction Was Completed And All Lots Were Sold
Once. Lakengren Was No Longer “Little Less Than An Engineering Dream.” “Operation Count
Down,” Launched By The Lakengren Sales Force Set A Target Date For Sell-Out Of The Development.
“As Soon As The ‘Sold-Out’ Sign Is Hung Out An Election By All Property Owners Will Be Held For
The Purpose Of Electing A Board Of Trustees For The LPOA And Lakengren Will Become A Closed
Community,” Announced Developmental General Manager, Ken Lauer
.
This Goal Being Met, On Friday, October 1, 1971, The LPOA Held Its First General Election
In Valhalla Lodge For The Purpose Of Electing A Nine Member Board Of Trustees.
An October 4, 1971 Meeting Between The Newly Elected Board Of Trustees, American
Realty Service Corp. And Lakengren, Inc. Was Held At Dowlar’s Café, Eaton, Ohio.
Mr. Lauer Stated That Pursuant To An Agreement Between Lakengren, Inc. And The LPOA,
Lakengren, Inc. Has Executed Certain General Warranty Deeds Conveying Parcels Of Real Estate To
The LPOA, Those Being The Community Area Including The Lake, Dam, Basin, And 22 Miles Of
Surfaced Roads As Well As Another Tract Specifically Reserved For A Future Sewage Treatment Plant.
He Indicated The Sum Of $182,728.48 Was On Deposit In A Savings Account In The Name Of The
LPOA, Which Represented The Total Amount Of Dues And Initiation Fees Collected To Date. He Also
Indicated That This Amount Would Be Released And Turned Over To The Treasurer Of The LPOA Who
Would Be Elected Later In The Meeting.
Mr. Lauer, Retiring President Of Lakengren, Inc., Then Said He Would Entertain
Nominations For The Office Of President Of The LPOA Board Of Trustees. The Newly Elected
President Would Assume The Chair To Proceed With The Conducting Of The Election Of Other
Officers. In Open Ballot, Mr. Earl Beck Was Elected President.
President Beck Received Nominations For Vice President, Secretary And Treasurer. All
Motions For Candidates Were Dully Made; Seconded And Unanimously Elected To Office.
After It Was Determined All The Promises Of ARSC Had Been Met, The Newly Elected LPOA
Board Of Trustees Assumed Control Of The Operation And Management Of Lakengren On Tuesday,
October 5, 1971. The First Meeting Of The LPOA Board Of Trustees Was Set For 7 P.M. On
October 7, 1971 At The Sales Office Of The Development.
In The 20-Year History Of The Property Owners Association, Lakengren Has Been The Fastest
Growing Community In The Area With An Increase Of Approximately 25 Houses A Year (50 In Some)
With 19 Under Construction This Summer – 1991. By August 191, 532 Homes Were Completed;
406-Full Time, 101-Part Time, 13-Rentals; And 12-Vacant For A Total Of 551 Houses Of All Shapes And
Sizes From “A” Frames To Stately Two To Four Level Homes.
The Tax Value Of Lakengren Property When It Was Farmland In 1969 Was $99,000; In 1976
The Valuation Was Approximately $7,500,000 And In 1985, $12,000,000. Figures For The 1991 At
Not Available At This Printing; However, The Revenue To The County Taxes Alone Makes Lakengren A
Valuable Asset.
In 1984 The 413 Registered Voters Of Lakengren Made It Necessary To Establish A New
Precinct, Known As Gasper 2, For Lakengren Residents, The Lodge Being The Voting Place. In May
1991 Registered Voters Totaled 642.
A Maintenance Barn Was Constructed Below The Dam In 1972, At A Cost Of $11,000.00 To
Provide A Work Area And Storage Space For Tools And Some Equipment Necessary For Maintenance;
Mowing Equipment, Trucks, Bulldozers And A Snow Plow. (Snow And Ice Removal From The Roads
Was Begun In March Of 1974.) And Of Course A Home For The Stray Dog Who Found A Home There A
Few Years Ago.
Funds For The Operation And Maintenance Of Lakengren Are Required From Dues And
Assessments Paid Annually By LPOA Members.
Two Major Expenditures In Lakengren History Have Inflicted A Burden Upon Its Financial
Condition, The Fire At Valhalla Lodge On January 8, 1988, Being One. The Restoration, Which Was
Completed With A Grand Opening On September 24, 1988, Caused Expenditures That Had Not Been
Anticipated. Insurance Covered A Large Part Of The Restoration Expense; However, There Were New
Building Codes To Which We Had To Conform, There Was A Rent To Pay For An Interim Office, Which
Was Located In An Empty House On Thor Drive, And The Furnishings For The Restored Lodge. The
Clubs Mostly Underwrote The Furnishings And Volunteers Who Donated Many Hours Of Hard Work
Did Much Of The Work Cleaning Up.
Secondly, The Dredging For Silt Removal From The North End Of The Lake, Begun In The
Summer Of 1990 Was Completed In June 1991. This Project Caused A Difference Of Opinion
Among The Membership Regarding The Expense And Immediate Necessity. It Turned Out To Be A
Greater Expense Than Was Estimated. In Addition To The Dredging, A Reservoir Had To Be
Constructed On Leased Land, Graded, Seeded And Later, Due To Orders From The ODNR, The Reservoir
Had To Be Re-Vamped.
Previous To This, There Have Been Other Projects For Silt Removal. The First Was In The
North End Area By An Outside Contractor. Other Removals Of Silt At The North End, Marina And
Several Dock Area Around The Lake Were Done With A Dragline And Trucks Purchased By The Board
Of Trustees And Operated Be Lakengren Employees.
Seeing The Need Of A United Effort, In January 1973, John Norton, Former General
Manager, Contacted The Other Real Estate Lake Developments In Ohio.
His Idea Was To Have Meetings To Discuss The Problems Of Such Developments And Hopefully Fine Some Solutions To Some Of The Problems We Shared.
There Were Several Meetings Of This Group, “Real Estate Lakes Luncheon,” Then The Idea Lay Dormant For A Time. Greg Watling, Also A Former General Manager,
Created Interest In Another Organization And The Ohio Lake Communities Association (OLCA)
Was Formed.
Twenty-Four To 27 Organizations Are Active In This Association, Lakengren Being
One, Which Meets Semi-Annually At Different Lakes To Share Mutual Interests And Information.
Lakengren Has Been Host To These Groups Several Times With The Ladies Auxiliary Serving The
Luncheon.
Lakengren Is A Proud Community. Just Drive Around The Development And You Are
Impressed By The Modern Well-Built Homes, Landscaped Yards With Beautifully Cared For Flower
Beds, Trees, Shrubs And Beautiful Lake Lakengren.
The Lot And Homeowners Are A Cross Section Of The Midwest. Many Retired People Have
Located Here And Contribute Their Talents And Expertise, Along With The Many Younger Residents, To
Projects Undertaken In The Community And County. There Are Working People Living In
Lakengren Who Travel As Far A Cincinnati, Dayton, Greenville, Hamilton, Indianapolis,
Middletown, Richmond And Wright-Patterson AFB To Their Places Of Employment.
Growth At Lakengren Has Proceeded At A Steady Pace. Yes, It Is A Growing Community
And Experiences Growing Pains; However, Few People Would Deny That The “Lakengren Story” Is
One Of Success. It Is A Wonderful Place To Live With Loving And Caring Neighbors, A Source Of
Pleasure And Enjoyment To Many People Who Call It “HOME.”
“When Ed Wrenn, A Real Estate Developer Came, He Started With A Dream Which Became A
Stark Reality And Planted A Dream Within Us.”
Lakengren Sewer
Preble County Sewer District #1
In The Beginning Waste Water Treatment And Disposal Was Handled On An Individual Basis,
By Use Of Septic Tanks And Various Aerobic Treatment Devices, And Followed By Tile Fields And
Leaching Beds Being Installed. A Larger Aerobic Unit Served The Lodge.
In 1973 Causes For Concern For The Maintenance Of A Healthful Environment For The
Residents Of Lakengren Led To The Authorization By Preble County Commissioners To Advance
Funds For Engineering And Legal Expenses To Make A Study And To Prepare A Special Report Which
Was Compiled By M.M. Schirtzinger And Associates, Limited Consulting Engineers Of
Chillicothe, Ohio. The Report Outlined The Type, Size, And Location Of The Necessary Facilities,
Which Would Adequately Provide A Complete Sewage Collection System And Treatment Facility For
Lakengren, And Would Provide Steps And Procedures To Construct The Sewage Facilities, As Well As
A Suggested Method Of Financing The Needed Improvements.
Preble County Sewage System – District #1 Was Established In 1975. The County
Received A Federal Grant For One And A Quarter Of A Million Dollars To Put In A Central Sewer
System For Lakengren.
The Sewer Project Forged Ahead And Was Expected To Be Completed And Ready For Use By
September 30, 1976.
In The Fall Of 1976 Kenneth Crowell Resigned As Manager Of Lakengren To Become
Manager Of The Sewer Plant. He Remained As Manager There Until He Retired In December 1979.
John Kellenbarger Became Manager Of The Sewer Plant From 1979 Until His Retirement In 1989.
Tom Barnes Now Oversees The Sewer System.
Lakengren Water Authority History
Lakengren Utilities, Inc. (LUI), A Privately Owned Company Constructed The Lakengren
Water System In 1969 And 1970. The System Consisted Of Two Wells, High Service Pumps, Filter
System, Water Tower And Approximately 40 Miles Of Water Mains. Lakengren Utilities, Inc.
Started Charging $5 Per Month Per Property (Houses And Vacant Lots). Later The Charge Was Raised
To $20.42 Per Quarter. In 1988 LUI Billed $50 Per Quarter. In 1986 LUI Declared Bankruptcy And
A Bankruptcy Trustee Operated The System For Approximately 2 ½ Years.
In Early 1988 The Lakengren Property Owners Association Offered To Buy The Water
System From The Federal Bankruptcy Trustee. The LPOA Board Of Trustees Did Some
Negotiating For This Purchase During 1988. In December 1988, The Preble County Common Pleas
Court Judge (At The Request Of The LPOA) Established The Lakengren Water Authority (LWA) As
A Political Subdivision. The LPOA Board Of Trustees Appointed Three Trustees For The LWA On
December 15, 1988 To Complete Negotiations For The Purchase To Administer The Water System
After The Purchase Was Completed. The Trustees Appointed Were: Charles Cook (One Year Term),
Hal Yoder (Two Year Term) And Paul Beaver (Three Year Term).
After Many, Many Negotiations With The Bankruptcy Trustee, And Reviewing And Changing
Many Documents With The Attorneys, Bond Counsel, Trustees And Underwriters, The Water System
Was Finally Purchase On March 15, 1989. On This Date, All Documents Were Signed And
$1,150,000 Of 25-Year Tax-Free Revenue Bonds Was Issued. The $1,500,000 Was Used As Follows:
–$75,000 – Purchase Of The Water System And Valid Accounts Receivable From The Bankruptcy
Trustee.
–$135,500 – Repayment To The LPOA For All The Legal Fees, Professional Evaluations And
Expenses.
–$108,000 – Reserve, Which Includes The Final Year Cost Of Bond-Principle And Interest.
–$156,500 – Reserve For Improvements And Repairs.
The Bonds Were Sold To Private Investors, Though Not One Of The Bonds Were Purchased By Any
Member Of The LWA Board Of Trustees. Star Bank, Cincinnati Is The Bond Trustee.
The Lakengren Water Authority, A Political Subdivision, Is Subject To The Provisions Of The
Ohio Revised Code, Section 6119.
The LWA Board Of Trustees In April 1989 Hired An Office Manager And An Operations Manager.
The LWA Board Of Trustees Also Established New Water Rates. It Was Determined That Every
Property Owner Should Pay $32.50 Per Quarter To Cover All The Capital Costs Of The Water System
And The Related Debt Costs. It Was Also Determined That Every Homeowner Should Pay And
Additional $39.00 Per Quarter For The Water System’s Operating Costs. Beginning In July 1991
Homeowners Were Billed Monthly Instead Of Quarterly. The Monthly Rate Being Billed Is $10.84
For Availability And $13.00 For Water Use.
In 1989 The LWA Board Of Trustees Decided To Install Meters At All Homes. In 1990 All New
Home Taps Included The Installation Of Meters. During 1991 Meters Are Being Installed At All
Homes Built Prior To 1990. After All Meters Are Installed, All Homes Will Be Billed Monthly On A
Meter Basis.
Since 1989 Major Improvements Have Been Made To The Pumps And Casings At The Well Field.
During 1990 The Complete Filter System Was Repaired And The Filter Media Was Replaced. In July
1991 Major Repairs Were Completed On The Interior And Exterior Of The Water Tower.
The LPOA Board Of Trustees Appoints The Trustees Of The Lakengren Water Authority For Threeyear
Terms. The Appointments Are Based On The Recommendations Of The Remaining Two LWA
Boards Of Trustee Members.
The LWA Trustees And Their Terms Of Service Are As Follows:
Charles Cook 12/15/88 To 12/15/89
Hal Yoder 12/12/88 To 12/15/90
12/12/90 To Present With New Three Year Term Expiring 12/15/93
Paul Beaver 12/15/88 To 7/31/90
Dan Hild 7/31/90 To Present With Term Expiring 12/15/92
Since The LWA Is A Supplier Of Water To The Public, The LWA Is Subject To All The Regulations Of
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Hundreds Of Tests Are Conducted Every Week,
Month, Quarter Or Year To Insure Good, Safe Water Quality. To Date, All Testing Has Been Very
Favorable As Compared To The EPA Standards.
The Lakengren Water Authority, Being A Political Subdivision, Is Subject To Audits By The State Of
Ohio. The LWA Also Has A Certified, Independent Audit Done Each Year.
From March 15, 1989 To The Present Time, The LWA Has Made Timely Payments Of Bond Interest
And Principal And Has Met All The Reserve Requirements As Specified In The Bond Issue.
LPOA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The First LPOA Board Of Trustees Was Elected October 1971. Some Were Quite Shocked
When, Preparing For This Election, They Found The Lakengren Property Owners Association, Inc.
Had Been In Existence Since June 1969.
The Officers Were:
President: K.D. Louer
Vice President: Richard W. Wrenn
Secretary-Treasurer: R. Leroy Allen (Replaced By Thomas M. Boone, Jr.)
Assistant Secretary: Gertrude Austin
On October 4, 1971 The New LPOA Board Of Trustees Officers Were Elected:
President: Earl Beck
Vice President: Howard Muth
Secretary: Fred J. Bolle
Treasurer: Harold Yoder
John Kellenbarger
Lucille Morefield
John W. Norton
Carl Noffsinger
O.O. (Bud) Miller
This Board Hired John W. Norton As The First Manager In February 1972. Norton Then
Resigned From The Board And Ted Gay Was Appointed By The Board To Replace Him.
LPOA SECURITY
Newsletter 11/10/71
“(First Elected Board) Kept The Same Guard As Used By American Realty. They Are Bound
By The Preble County Sheriff And Are Authorized By Him To Make Arrests When They Deem It
Necessary. The Security Guard Will Not Only Maintain A 24 Hr Watch At The Guardhouse, But Will
Make Spot Checks All Over The Property. We Have Instructed The Guards To Be Very Strict At The
Gate, No One Will Enter The Property Without A Paid-Up Membership Card, Current Automobile
Sticker Or A Valid Guests Pass. Until Complete Rules And Regulations Are Prepared, Driving Laws
Within Lakengren Will Be The Same As Those In The State Of Ohio. For Example, Posted Speed
Limits Will Be Enforced, No Minors Will Operate And Type Of Vehicle Including Auto, Motor Bike,
Etc.”
Security Chiefs (1971-1991) Have Been:
Ken Strange
Fred Tipton
Randy Payne
Greg Shiverdecker
Bill Williams
ORIGINAL PROPERTY OWNERS
The 19 Original Landowners Were: Gordon Berkshire, Richard And Myrtle Eck, Eleanor
Howard, Tom Howard, Harriet Heckman, W.C. Hubbard, Harriet Lohrey, Everett Mann,
Herman Pfeiffer, Everett Poos, Paul And Vera M. Proeschel, Elza Ratliff, Willis Ratliff, John
Schoenling, Clarence And Evelyn Taylor, Carl Thomas, Jay Unger, And Charles And Mildred
Wright.
Homesteaders Who Lived Here Before Lakengren Was Developed And Are Still Residing In
The Same Home Are: Myrtle And Richard Eck, Faye And Von Ratliff And Clarence And Evelyn
Taylor.
THE LAKENGREN CLUBS
As Lakengren Celebrates Its 20 Years Of Existence, There Are Some Things That Property
Owners Need To Be Reminded Of. Each Year Near The End Of March, They Open Up Their Checkbooks
And Shell Out Their Yearly Membership Dues. In Exchange, They Receive For Themselves And Their
Family A Little Card, Automobile And Boat Stickers, Which Entitle Them To All Of The Rights And
Privileges Accorded Members Of The LPOA (Lakengren Property Owners Association) In Good
Standing. Having Accomplished This Yearly Ritual, They Sit Back With A Satisfied Feeling, Knowing
For A Certainty That Come Summer, They Can Expect The Grass Along The Roadways In The
Community To Be Periodically Mowed, The Lakes Will Receive The Required Treatment, The Manager
And His Support Staff Will Be Available When Needed, The Security Force Will Be At Their Assigned
Posts Around-The-Clock, And When The Winds Of Winter Unleash Their Fury, The Road And Snow
Removal Crews Will Do “Their Thing.”
These Are Just A Few Of The Services, Which Are Guaranteed To LPOA Members. But There
Are Many Important Services Which The Once-A-Year Membership Dues Do Not Begin To Cover, But
Nevertheless Services Which Property Owners Have Come To Expect. These Are Services, Which
Would Fall In The “Essential” Category, And Services, Which Would Cost “BIG BUCKS” If The
LPOA Had To Pay For Them, And Would Double Their Membership Dues. These Services Are
Performed And Paid For By The Clubs Within The Lakengren Community Whose Members Volunteer
Their Time And Talent To Enhance Life For Them. They Are Called “Unsung Heroes.” Who Are They?
What Do They Do?
They Don’t Snort Fire, Nor Do They Hide In Dungeons, But The LAKENGREN DRAGONS
Are A Formidable Force To Be Reckoned With When It Comes To Rolling Up Their Sleeves, Flexing Their
Muscles And Tackling Any Task Around Lakengren. The Dragons Are An Outcome Of A Meeting,
Which Was Spearheaded By Former Lakengren Manager, Jack Block (Deceased).
This Organization Meeting Was Held In The Fall Of 1979; Its Stated Purpose Being To Make The
Community Of Lakengren A More Desirable Place To Live Through Such Programs And Projects As
Promoting Fellowship And Recreation Under Which The LPOA Must Operate.
The First Elected Officers Were:
Ed Shively, President; Bill Story, Vice President; Don Volkert, Secretary-
Treasurer; Howard Muth, Executive Advisor; Fred Tipton, Sergeant-At-Arms.
During The Past 11 Years, This Group Of Dedicated Men Has Rendered Immeasurable Service
To Lakengren.
To Name A Few, They Have Initiated A Yearly Jack Block Fun Day As A Memorial To
The Person Who Was Instrumental In The Organization’s Beginning. Jack Block Served As The
LPOA Manager From April 23, 1979 Until His Death On June 18, 1980. This Special Day Is An
Occasion For Lakengren Members And Their Families To Get Together For A Fun-Filled Day Of
Fellowship.
The First Annual Jack Block Fun Day Was Held On Saturday, July 22, 1980 At The
Beach And Lodge Area With About 500 People Participating In The Festivities. In Addition, The
Dragons Are Responsible For Semi-Annual Clean-Up Days (May And October) When The Fellows
(Aided By The Ladies) Put On Their Walking Shoes And Old Working Clothes And Get Into The Ditches
And Ravines To Clear Out The Debris That Is So Carelessly Discarded.
Other Accomplishments Include
Building New Docks Around The Lake In 1979, 1980 And 1981, Building New Restrooms At The
Marina; Building The Rick Krohn Ball Diamond At The South End Of The Lake; Remodeling Kitchen,
Restroom And Storage Room At The Lodge; Repairing And Painting Fence And Dragons At The Main
Entrance To Lakengren; Painting Pools And Restrooms At The Pool Area; Furnishing Picnic Tables For
Recreation Areas; New Jackets For Life Guards; Flags In The Lodge And At The Main Entrance. As An
Added Function, The Dragons Maintain A Resource Pool Of Various Talents To Undertake Jobs For
Property Owners, Which Are Often Considered Too Small For Contractors. Money Earned From These
Jobs Is Returned To The LPOA Is Goods And Services Wherever Needed.
As The Dragons Celebrate 11 Years Of Service To The Lakengren Community, They Salute The
Following Deceased Members Whose Efforts Can Never Be Forgotten: Jack Block, Jim Ledford,
Dave McCoy, Paul Winkler, Paul Cook, Gordon Doty, Harlan Hatch, Roy Reigelsperger, Charlie
Black, Howard Muth, Bill Hamby, Bill Storey, And Don Hileman.
In 1972 And Early 1973, Much Thought And Speculation Was Given To Starting An
Organization Make Up Of The Ladies Who Reside At Lakengren. As A Result, 10 Ladies Met And
Formalized This Group, With Mary Reigelsperger And Evelyn Taylor Designated As Acting
President And Acting Treasurer Respectively. In November 1973, The Ladies Officially Organized
What Would Be Known As The Lakengren Ladies Auxiliary Functioning Under The Sponsorship Of
The Board Of Trustees. Since Its Original Inception, This Group Of Ladies Has Sponsored
Fundraising Projects, Which Have Enabled Them To Purchase Much-Needed Items For Lakengren.
To Name A Few: Folding Tables And Chairs, Along With Numerous Other Accessories For The Lodge
Such As Stainless Steel Flat-Ware, Dishes, Coffee Makers, Roasters, Shower Room Accessories, Coat
Racks, Speakers, Clocks, Sweepers, Step Ladders, Roman Shades For The Entire Downstairs And Part
Of The Upstairs Area Of The Lodge. In Addition, The Auxiliary Purchased A Mimeograph Machine For
The Office, Which, For A Time, Reaped Dividends In Reproduction Of The Viking Newsletter.
An Ornamental Gate Was Purchased For The Lodge Stairway, and Storm Doors For The Guard House,
Along With TV Sets For The Guard House. The
Ladies Donated $1,000 Towards The Construction Of Restrooms At The Marina. Ceiling Fans Were
Purchased And Installed In The Lodge, Which Results In Conservation Of Energy In Winter And
Summer. These Are Just A Few Of The Tangible Items, Which This Group Has Furnished; However,
There Are Many Items And Services, Which Cannot Be Measured In Dollars And Cents. In Recent
Years, The Auxiliary Has Established A Food Closet For Distribution Of Food, Clothing And Other
Items To Those Lakengren Families Who Have Met With Adversity Through Unemployment,
Unexpected Medical Expenses And Circumstances Beyond Their Control. In Addition, In The Event
Of Death Of A Resident, The Ladies Lend Whatever Assistance Is Needed Including Insuring That
Sufficient Food Is Supplies To The Bereaved Family.
As New Residents Move To The Lakengren
Community, The Auxiliary Has A “Welcoming Committee” Who Make A Personal Welcoming Visit
To Acquaint New Families Of The Many Services And Social Activities Available To Them.
The Success Of The Lakengren Ladies Auxiliary Has Been Due, In Large Part, To The
Unselfish Leadership Of Those Who Have Served As Presidents. From Its Inception,
The Following Have Served: Mary Reigelsperger (Acting-1972-73); Mildred Crowell (1973-74); Laverne
Mikesell (1975); Lena Johnson (1976); Doe Zarley (1977); Jeanette Vorhis (1978); Dorothy
Shipley (1979); Janet Kaylor (1980); Linda Hodler (1980-81); Helen Winkler (1981-82); Helyn
Hickman (1982-83); Linda Hodler (1983-84); Virginia Wehrley (1984-85); Elsie Young (1985-
86); Dorothy Frick (1986-87); Carrel Horine (1987-88); Past Presidents Alternating (1988-89);
Lena Johnson (1989-90); Teresa Krohn (1990-91).
Tis Said That Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder. If True, It Is A Sheer Delight To Behold The
Many Beauty Spots In And Around The Lakengren Community, Which Are The Creation Of The
LAKENGREN GARDEN CLUB. Organized In October 1977, By Anne Yoder, This Club Has 12
Charter Members. The Club Has Landscaped The Front Mall, Pool Area, Marina, And Bluebird
Cove And Is Doing Some Tree Plantings At Thor Lake. They Have Planted Over 1,000 Daffodil
Bulbs At The Mall, Lodge And Marina And Each Spring Plant 50-60 Dozen Marigolds At The Lodge,
Marina, Pool And Bluebird Cove Along With The Barrels At The Lodge.
The Mall Entrance To
Lakengren Was Accomplished Between 1978 And 1982 At A Cost Of $6,278, Which Included
Planting Of 127 Trees And Shrubs, 400 Bulbs And Various Other Gardening Items Necessary For The
Maintenance Of The Area. The Club Has Established A Tree Farm, Which Is A Resource For Current
And Future Beautification Projects. For The Past 4 Years, The Club Has Purchased, Wrapped And
Delivered More Than 2,400 Seedlings (Each Year) To Students In Kindergarten Through Grade 6 In
The Eaton And Preble Shawnee School Districts And Planted An Evergreen At A Designated School
In Each District For Arbor Day. In Addition, The Group Has Sponsored The “Yard Of The Week” And
“Lot Of The Week” Contests For 13 Years To Encourage Property Owners To Beautify Their Property
And Take Pride In Lakengren. Along With Don And Mary Reeves, The Club Has Started The
Lakengren Bluebird Trail. In 1985, 57 Environmental Workbooks Were Purchased For Teachers
To Use In The Eaton And Preble Shawnee School Districts. Money For The Projects Is Generated By
Card Parties, Luncheons, Ox Roasts (For A Period Of 10 Years), Christmas Bazaars, Sales Of
Calendars And A Cookbook. Approximately $30,000 has Been Raised since the Club’s Beginning
For These Projects. The Lakengren Garden Club Is A Member Of The Dayton District Garden Club
Of Ohio, Inc., Central Atlantic Region, National Council Of State Garden Clubs, Inc., And The
Preble County Garden Club Association. The Club Won the Distinguished Honor Of “Garden Club
Of The Year” In 1983 And 1984 By Garden Club Of Ohio, Inc., For Their Many Civic Projects At
Lakengren. But History Of The Group Would Not Be Complete Without Adding The Many Hours Of
Muscle And Sweat That Were Expended By Members In Digging, Pruning, Weeding And The Back
Breaking TLC (Tender Loving Care) That Have Made Lakengren A Very Special Garden Spot Of
America.
Anyone Who Has Ever Attended The Jack Block Fun Day Held Each July, Has Seen The “Water
Extravaganza” Put On By The LAKENGREN SKI CLUB. This Effort Does Not Come By Accident,
But Is The Result Of Many Hours Of Hard Work By A Lot Of Dedicated People. What Is Seen And
Enjoyed Are The Polished Results Of Months Of Patience, Practice And Perseverance On The Part Of
The Guys And Gals Of The Club. The Ski Club Provides A Useful Outlet For People Of All Ages Who
Want To Learn To Ski And They Set A Good Example Of Water Safety And Readily Lend Their Time And
Talent To Assist The Marine Committee And Any Other Lakengren Group With Projects Concerning
The Lakes. The Ski Club Was Formally Organized On June 16, 1981, Under The Leadership Of Kenny
And Phyllis Strange And Ed And Marsha Mullins. The Club Chose The Name “Laquanauts Ski
Team” With The Stated Purpose “To Promote Skiing In A Safe And Enjoyable Manner.” Since 1982,
The Club Has Presented And Annual Show For Lakengren At The Special Festivities Of The Jack Block
Fun Day.
The Lakengren Dragons Have Been Important Supporters of The Club; They Have
Provided Much Special Equipment And In 1985 Built A Special Ski Dock At The Marina For The Club’s
Use. In Addition, The Club Participated In Various Civic Activities To Promote Lakengren To The
Surrounding Community. These Include Parades For The Special Olympics, The Preble County
Pork Festival, And The Preble County Fair. In 1989, the Ski Club Won the Third Place Prize
Overall (Out Of Some 170 Entrants) For Its Entry In The Pork Festival Parade. One Other Event In
Which The Club Traditionally Participates Is The Annual Cane Pole Fishing Derby Sponsored By The
Marine Committee. Each Year the Club Sells Bait And Refreshments At The Event, Which Enhances
The Derby And Provides Some Additional Funds For The Club.
Throughout Its History, the Ski Club
Has Provided Its Members With An Opportunity To Learn And Practice Ski Tricks And Maneuvers
Safely, Which Might Otherwise Be Dangerous Without Proper Instruction And Supervision. It Has
Helped New Skiers Develop Their Skills While Providing An Avenue For The Experienced Skiers To
Practice More Advanced Maneuvers. As They Perform, They Are Indeed A Joy To Behold.
In April Of 1972, The Lakengren Board Of Trustees Appointed A Boating Committee, For The
Purpose Of Making Recommendations To The Board Regarding All Lake Activities. This Committee
Grew Into What Is Now Known As The LAKENGREN MARINE COMMITTEE. So When You
Hear The Enormous Contributions Of The Committee, Don’t Discount It As Merely A “Big Fish Story”
–They Are In Fact A Group Of Dedicated People Concerned With The Betterment Of The Lakengren
Waterways. They Are A “Working/Social” Group That Has Lake Activities For The Purpose Of
Fellowship, Enjoyment And Profit. And These Profits Spell Dollars And Cents To Property Owners,
With A Definite Bearing On Their Yearly Membership Dues. These Profits Are Channeled Back To The
Property Owners Association, And Are Derived From Such Projects As Pro-Bass Tournaments;
Spring And Fall Fishing Derbies; And Kids Cane Pole Derbies. In The Past Several Years, The
Marine Committee Has Purchased And Stocked The Lake With Various Species Of Fish; Made Dish
Shelters For The Lake; And Made And Posted Fish Limit Signs.
Ask Any Property Owner What Enticed Him Or Her To Relocate To Lakengren And The One
Most Singular Factor Was The Lure Of The Lake And The Fun Of Water Sports.
Whether It’s “Deck The Halls” Or “Deck The Trees”, Come December Property Owners Can
Enjoy The Handiwork Of The LAKENGREN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMMITTEE. This
Committee Evolved In The Late Fall Of 1990 By Nancy Erbaugh Who Wanted To Spruce Up
Lakengren For The Holidays. To Get Started, She Sent Out Christmas Stockings With Numerous
Volunteers To Ask For Donations Towards The Project. As A Result, The Committee Was Chartered At
The January 11, 1991 Board Of Trustees Meeting. To Help Finance The Project, Aside From
Individual Donations, The Small Group Held A “Light The Lights” Dance, Raffled A Cash Gift
Certificate, Held The First “Pictures With Santa” Day, And Is Currently Selling Lakengren
Sweatshirts, T-Shirts, Hats And Visors. As A Result Of All The Efforts Put Forth, A Lighting Ceremony
Was Held Before The “Light The Lights” Dance To Light The Front Entrance Mall. The Guests Of
Honor Were Clarence And Evelyn Taylor, One Of Lakengren’s First And Original Families.
Mr. And Mrs. Taylor Were Given The Privilege Of Throwing The Switch On The First Holiday Display Of Lights.
There Also Were Several Trees Donned In Orange Ribbons To Show Support For The Troops In Desert
Storm. A Special Poster Was Put Up In The Lodge Listing Lakengren Loved Ones Who Were Serving
Their Country As Well As An Orange Wreath Placed On The Mantel. In Addition, The Group Has Taken
On The Task Of Sponsoring The LPOA Children’s Halloween And Easter Parties.
“All Work and No Play” (You Know the Rest). So, When The Work Of Supporting The
Lakengren Community Is Done By Day, Residents Find Time For Play And Relaxation At Night. One
Of The Most Enjoyable Avenues For This Play Is To Enjoy A Game Of Cards With Friends. This
Purpose Is Served By The LAKENGREN CARD CLUBS. This Group Now Consists Of Evening
Bridge, Euchre, Double Deck Pinochle and Single Deck Pinochle Which All Meet One Night A
Month. There Is Also A Weekly Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Group.
Former Lakengren Manager, Rick Krohn, Organized The First Card Club, Which Was
Euchre, Sometime In The Fall Of 1982. They Met One Friday A Month. The Next Card Club Was
Single Deck Pinochle Started By Dottie (Deceased) And Ed Frick, In Late 1984. They Met On The
Third Thursday Of Each Month. On January 9, 1987, Dottie And Ed Frick And Loraine And Charles
Adams Started Double Deck Pinochle, Which Met On The First Friday Of Each Month.
On January 8, 1988, The Lodge Burned And All Activities Were Suspended Indefinitely. The
Euchre Club Met Several Times and the Catholic Church In Eaton. Some Of The Card Clubs Met In
Private Homes Until The Lodge Reopened. On Friday, September 30, 1988, The First Card Game
(Euchre) Was Held Back In The Remodeled Lodge.
On May 25, 1989, Marge And Buzz Gullion Started The First Bridge Club, Which Met On
The Fourth Thursday Evening Of Each Month. On June 19, 1990, The Gullions Started The
Afternoon Bridge Club, Which Met Every Tuesday At 1:00 P.M.
On Thursday, August 30, 1990, The Card Club Members Held A Meeting At The Lodge.
They Wrote A Charter And List Of Rules, And Asked Marge Gullion To Present Their Proposal To The
Board Of Trustees. It Was Decided That The Purpose Of The Card Clubs Would Be Fellowship And
Service. After Approval Of The Charter By The Board Of Trustees In September 1990, The Card
Clubs Started Their Regular Meetings On October 5, 1990. These Clubs Are Open To All Property
Owners And Their Guests.
An Effort Has Been Made To Cover All Of The Current Clubs Operating Within The Lakengren
Community. However, The History Of Lakengren Cannot Be Complete Without Citing Efforts, Which
Have Come From Clubs, Which Are No Longer Active. An Example Is The LAKENGREN TEEN
CLUB. For A Time, This Group Of Youngsters Helped With Jack Block Fun Day And The Clean-Up
Projects Sponsored By The Dragons. These Youngsters Fearlessly Climbed Ladders and Decorated
The Lodge For Our Annual Christmas Festivities. They Also Donated Their Time And Talent To Bring
Christmas Carols And Cheer To Shut-Ins At A Nursing Home In The City Of Eaton And They Have
Collected For The Heart Fund And Jeremy’s Kids (Muscular Dystrophy Association). We Cannot
Forget These Willing Workers.
Another Now Defunct Club That Was Active In Lakengren For A Time Was The LAKENGREN
BOOSTERS CLUB. They Did A Lot To Enhance The Image Of Lakengren In The Immediate Area As
Well As In The Surrounding Community. They Sponsored Out Participation In The Rose Parade And
Pork Festival. In Addition, They Sponsored An Annual Arts And Crafts Show That Served As A
Vehicle Through Which Local Talents Were Able To Display Their Wares. Funds From Such Projects
Were Used To Sponsor The Miss Lakengren Contests, Which Were Featured Attractions At The Jack
Block Fun Day.
Following The Devastating Fire, Which The Lodge Suffered In January Of 1988, The Task Of
Rebuilding And Refurnishing Was Quickly Undertaken By All Of The Clubs In Lakengren. No One
Group Can Take Total Credit For This Successful Effort; It Was The Combined Efforts Of The Entire
Community, Which Pooled Their Resources And Efforts To Accomplish This Seemingly
Insurmountable Task. The Lakengren Lodge, As It Stands Today, Is A Testimony To The Camaraderie
And Caring That Has Made Lakengren A Community That Has Stood The Test Of Time For These Last 20
Years.