Residents desiring to visit Lawco Lake today, for the formal opening, should have no trouble in reaching the location.

Route 75 is taken at Hecla and followed to Lawrence Furnace. At Lawson’s store at Lawrence the motorist should turn to his left, travel the side road for a mile and pull up directly at the pond. Signs direct the route from the main highway.

Ironton Tribune, 26 June 1932, Sunday, Page 3.

The formal opening and dedication of Lawco Lake at Lawrence will be held today and a brief but interesting and appropriate program has been prepared for presentation this afternoon. Members of the Lawrence County Fish and Game Association and their guests are to "make a day of it" at the Lake and a large attendance is expected.

Swimming floats and diving boards are in place at the lake and today will formally open the outdoor season there. Boats will also be available but there will be no fishing, the being closed to anglers until the fall season at least. Bath houses have been erected, a refreshment stand is operated and scores of picnic parties will spend the greater part of the day at the Lawrence site.

Though the opening will be held all day, the real festivities will come in the afternoon, with a flag raising and program at 3 p. m. The dedication address is to be delivered by Dr. W. F. Marting of Ironton, with invocation by Rev. Barton of Lawrence. The lake flag will be raised upon conclusion of Judge Marting’s remarks.

Members of the association and their friends have formed many picnic parties and a gala time is expected during the afternoon and early evening.

Lawco Lake is still in its infancy but evidence is already present that it will soon be one of the show places in southern Ohio as officials of the fish and game association are looking into the future and planning further development. Plans are now being made to increase the width and depth of the dam, providing many more acres of water.

Cleaning up of the grounds and putting the site in first class condition was completed Saturday and Lawco will be in it best dress for today’s festivities.

Ironton Tribune, 26 June 1932, Sunday, Page 4.

Lawco Lake at Lawrence was formally opened and dedicated by the Lawrence County Fish and Game Association Sunday afternoon and hundreds of residents, including members and their guests, were present to hear the dedication address of Dr. W. F. Marting of Ironton and participate in the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" as the flag was raised. Many picnic parties were held at the site and there was swimming and boating.

Formal opening of the lake brought another milestone in the hopes and plans of the Fish and Game Association and improvements will be made steadily throughout this year. Fishing is not permitted at present but the lake has been well stocked and should be an anglers paradise during next spring’s fishing season. The lake was thrown open Sunday for the exercises but hereafter will be private to members and their families and several of the former plan the construction of cottages on sites overlooking the body of water.

Lawco Lake covers 30 acres of ground and work on the dam is now being made so that an additional 20 acres will be provided before winter. The dam is ever receiving attention and is being widened and raised. Land 100 feet back from the water’s edge has been leased by the organization and will be kept clear and beautiful. A picnic ground will also be provided. Dressing rooms are already available and when the fish and game club plans have been completed an ideal outdoor spot will have been provided. The state has cooperated in stocking of the dam and the county has more than cooperated in the grading and leveling of roads.

President Ot Schweickart presided at the opening program and he called upon Rev. Barten of Lawrence for invocation. Dr. Marting was the next speaker and he pointed out that there’s something in God’s sunshine that is needed by every human. He compliments the present state administration for its cooperation and help in the development, pointing out this is one thing that former administrations did not accord. He predicted beauty and facilities at the lake would increase daily and in the not far-distant future it would be one of the beauty spots of the entire southern end of the state.

Lawco is under lease to the Lawrence County Fish and Game Association, of which Ot Schweickart is president, Dean T. Bush and Ralph Mittendorf, vice president, and Lee O’Leary, secretary-treasurer. Directors also include H. H. Stephenson and C. A. Sloan, Paul Meehan, C. H. Kelly, Cecil Bales, Dr. T. F. Browne, Edward Holtzapfel and H. C. Pendry.

Ironton Tribune, 27 June 1932, Monday, Page 5.