Sitting at 4 miles long and covering 937 acres, Big Cedar Lake is the largest lake in Washington County. In the early to mid-1900’s, midwesterners from near and far traveled to the lake to retreat from the heat and spend their summers on Big Cedar. Take a deep dive into 5 essential businesses that kept the lake magic afloat throughout history!
Left: Islands on BCL, 1918. Right: Sailers near Rosenheimer’s Resort, 1925
1. Livery Service
Imagine…
It’s 1915 and your train from St. Louis has just dropped you, your family, and many of your belongings on the platform. It’s 85 degrees, sunny, and humid. You’re in Schleisingerville (Slinger), and there’s miles of dirt road between you and your lake cottage escape. With no access to a car- how do you get to Big Cedar Lake?
Above: Country Road near BCL, 1905.
Don’t fret!
For just 50 cents, you can hire one of Kletti’s Livery men, to load your luggage and take you to your lakeside destination via horse-drawn buggy! Kletti’s was a popular service that dominated the route between Schleisingersville and Big Cedar. If your train dropped you off at the West Bend Depot, Herman Bastian’s Livery Service would pick you up at the Washington House.
2. Resorts
Throughout the 20th century, Big Cedar Lake had dozens of resort businesses scattered on its shoreline. Like the film Dirty Dancing but in Washington County!
Timmer’s Resort has nestled itself into Cedar Lake culture since its original establishment in 1882. Located just south of an active dam that feeds Little Cedar Lake, Timmer’s was known over time for its rentable cabins and elegant dining space. The business still remains on Big Cedar today.
Left: Swimmers at Timmer’s Resort. Right: Full parking lot at Rosenheimer’s Resort, 1917
A notable competitor on the lakefront was Rosenheimer’s Resort, located across the water westside. Rosenheimer family purchased “Cedar Lake Park Hotel,” and transformed it into an iconic summer destination.
They built a large circular dance hall in the 1920s, which was enjoyed widely by both resort guests and local clientele. The venue hosted many celebrity musicians through the 1930s and 40s, including Guy Lombardo, Kay Kaiser, & Louis Armstrong.
Rosenheimer’s was well-known for its lovely picnic spot, complete with a beach and giant water slide!
Other notable resorts & their amenities:
Gonring’s Hotel & Resort– Aquatic playground & enormous round dance hall
Oak Lodge Resort– Previously home to BCL Yacht Club
Stegge’s Resort– Frontage boat landing with rowboats and canoes
3. Floating Photography
Skilled photographer, Sam Levy, and his nephews began “Floto,” a floating photoshop early in the 20th century. They would dock the large floating vessel- resembling a house boat- just north of Rosenheimer’s Resort on the south end of the lake.
Say cheese!
Many of the photos he captured were used for penny-postcards, a popular commodity of the time that allowed guests to cheaply send their whereabouts to friends and relatives.
4. Cruise Boat Service
Before 1920, it was expensive for vacationers to get to the lake, which left little change to own a watercraft. If lake residents wanted to travel on water, there were passenger launches at the ready with boats to cruise the lake. Many were rowboats until the first steam and kerosene powered boats were introduced.
“Slow No Wake”
“Isy” was the first kerosene powered boat available for rides, and “Elsa” was the first steamboat. Rosenheimer’s eventually had its own steam powered boat and charged 25 cents per round trip. They called it the “Witch of the Waves.”
5. Ice Harvesting
Running to Kwik Trip for a bag of ice to throw into your cooler wasn’t always an option!
Harvesting ice from freshwater sources was a huge enterprise in the early 1900s. The depth of the south end of Big Cedar, as well as the natural springs, made BCL ice very pure & crystal clear.
Above: Ice harvesting at Hacker’s Grove- 1930s
Keeping it cool (and profitable)- all summer long!
Resorts would harvest ice in the winter- or buy it from someone who did- and store it in “ice houses” to get through summer vacation season. These were shed-like buildings with thick stone walls and a layer of straw for insulation. Ice houses allowed resorts to keep food fresh and make refreshing cocktails all summer long.
Local railroad investors also took advantage of harvesting BCL ice, taking profits by shipping it to major cities all over the midwest.
Parting Words:
Though it’s still a beautiful & elegant summer spot, Big Cedar Lake has many charming elements to its past. Without the businesses who drove the glory of before, there wouldn’t be appreciation for all the lake has to offer today.
Preserving the past, for tomorrow
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