dailu nebraskan
monday, September 25, 1978 lincoln, nebraska vol. 102 no. 17
Modern chimneysweep has Dickens of a cleaning job
By Mary Fastenau
A chimney sweep is a character trans
ported from the world of Mary Poppins
and flying umbrellas. A man who dances
across rooftops, dressed in tophat and tails.
A lucky man, "as lucky can be."
Russell (Rusty) Dodworth is a chimney
sweep and a lucky man who combines nos
talgia and reality and loves every minute of
it.
Chimney sweeping is the latest addition
to Dodworth 's list of professions.
Dodworth is ready to be cast as a turn-of-the-century
chimney sweep in his black
suit and tails. He waves his black top hat
with a smile that could only come from a
man who loves what he is doing.
"I like to just sit on top of a roof and
look at the chimneys around me," he
explained. "It is just like a forester would
look at trees or a boot black look at shoes
on a rainy day."
Dodworth smiles a Mary Poppin's
smile, nods his sandy brown head and
admits you have to be "a little foolish" to
crawl on roofs in tops and tails.
Waves top hat
He said there is a "method in his mad
ness" as he waves his hat from the rooftops
to every passer-by. He said he is trying to
establish himself as part of the neighbor
hood. The 40-year-old sweep said his actions
are good publicity. For example, he said
if a family is driving down the street and
the children see a funny man atop their
friends' house, they are going to demand
an explanation and a performance on their
rooftop.
Instead of an umbrella, Dodworth uses a
1949 van to get around. The van is painted
a metallic rust color with 'Town Chimney
sweep" and a silhouette of a chimney
sweep adorning its side.
Dodworth admits technology has taken
its place in the chimney sweeping business.
From the back of the van emerged a
large red barrel which Dodworth intro
duced as his soot vacuum. The arm of the
machine is a large black rubber hose which
he said fits inside the fireplace.
Wire brush
Dodworth then produced a large round
Red tape delays credit
Full-swing operation of ASUNs credit
union may be delayed because of red tape
concerning the deposit of student activities
money, ASUN President Ken Marienau said
Friday.
Miles Tommeraasen, UNL vice chancel
lor for business and finance, has decided
to not transfer the student activities
account, which holds the money for all
student organizations, from a bank to the
credit union, Marienau said.
Although the union is sufficiently
insured and "everyone says we're clear,"
Marienau said, Tommeraasen did not want
to make a decision involving a major
change on campus.
The matter probably will end with the
business affairs committee of the NU
Board of Regents, Marienau said.
In the meantime, some deposits have
been made by students and one fraternity
which can be used to begin making loans,
Marienau said.
inside monday
Midnight madness hits downtown:
Balloons, belly dancers and bed
races are among the third annual
Lincolnfest activities page 6
Outer limits: Mueller Planetarium
show, "Imagaination" appeals to
science fiction fans page 8
That's life in the Big Eight: Big Eight
Conference football teams lived
up to their reputation this week
end 10
. f' ig s.V u
TiS I ' v n- r? ia let
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hotoby Marie Billingslev
Rusty Dodsworth, the 'Town Chimneysweep," says his profession keeps him
hicky, despite the intrusion of chimney cleaning technology.
ional "scandiascope. This piece of equip
ment is a large, steel bristled brush at
tached to a rope with a 15-pound lead ball
on the end.
He said he drops the ball down the
chimney Juid retrieves it, then repeats the
process. He said this method had some
limitations with curved chimneys.
wire brush which he attached to fiberglass
poles. He said he puts the poles up the
chimney to loosen the debris. The poles are
flexible enough to bend to the contours of
the chimney, he said.
Dodworth admitted he does most of his
cleaning from inside the house. He said he
likes to climb on the roofs but does not
want to take risks because of his wife, Jean
and son, Cameron.
When he does make a rooftop appear
ance, Dodworth often uses the more tradit-
Safety is one of the main reasons for the
revival in chimney sweeping, he explained.
According to the January February
1978 issue of The Mother Earth flews,
there were 40,000 chimney fires in the
United States last year which caused an
estimated loss of $23 million.
Dodworth explained that the reason for
the fires was a buildup of creosote, made
from wood tars. He said this substance
builds up in the chimney and is highly
combustible.
The kit also includes follow-up confer
ences and advice Dodworth said.
Dodworth said he got into the chimney
sweeping business by ordering a kit. He
explained that two men from Connecticut
became interested m sweeping chimneys
and decided to develop a program. Their
kit, known as the "August West System"
sells for $1,385 and includes all the tools a
chimney sweep will need.
Many professions
The bespectacled eyes twinkle as he tells
of his life in the Merchant Marine from
1957-68 and his trips around the world.
For nine years he said, he lived on a 38
foot cruiser which was anchored ;ji Man
hatten. The diplomas and licenses that decorate
his walls reflect the changes in his life. He
has been a cab driver in New York City,
piano tuner, chauffer, disc jockey, public
relations man, notary public and newspap
er reporter.
Dodworth explained that while in New
York City, he was the editor, publisher,
printer, photographer, reporter and make
up editor for a newspaper that was written
for and by nine to 16-year-old children.
He said the paper, "Mother Goose
News." folded after one issue as did his
magazine "The Overground Press," which
lasted two issues.
He was noted by Congressman Jonathan
B. Bingham in the Congressional Record
for his innovative ideas and newspaper
columns in the New York Voice and
Murray Hill News.
Dodworth said he just seems possessed
with an extra amount of ambition that
keeps him changing and keeps him 'lucky
as can be."
Dodworth has decided that "in this
whole wide world there is no happier
bloke" than a chimney sweep and idea
collector.
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PNoto by Mark filiiingsiey
A "motorcycle mama" sorority pledge splashes her way through die water hazard during die first annual Phi Psi 500
Tricycle race Saturday sponsored by Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Winners of die event were members of Delta Gamma
Sorority.