Oregon History Timeline fro August 2016
100 years ago (1916)
The Camp Fire Girls were entertained at the Vaas cottage on Lake Mendota by Marie Vass. Those attending were Frances Tipple, Joyce Pasley, Bulah Hadley, Lillian and Helen Hanan, Helen Shampnor, Dorothy Madsen, Catherine McWilliams, and Marguerite Ozburn.
Fincher Bros. reported that the cost of a Ford touring car had taken another tumble and now can be purchased for $360.00, plus the cost of freight from Detroit. Up to the first of August of 1916, they had sold sixty-four vehicles. Other models available were the Ford Runabout for $345.00 and the Ford Sedan for $634.00.
Improvements were being made to the home of William Fincher on North Main Street. The porches were enlarged and the house was given a coat of stucco.
Jake Starry forwarded to the Observer a letter he had gotten from his brother Frank Starry who was serving in Co. D. of the 3rd Infantry near the Mexican border. He told of a three mile hike in 120 degrees temperatures and the arrival of about 35,000 troops at Camp Wilson, located near San Antonio, Texas. Later his unit was expected to make a two day, 32 mile march to a shooting range at Leon Springs. Staying there for ten to twelve days, they would then make their way to the U.S. Mexican border. He also related how several of the troops would sleep on the tops of the bathhouses and other secure places to avoid poisonous rattle snakes and tarantula spiders.
The Oregon baseball team won over New Glarus 5 to 4. The two home runs by Alex
Anderson and Ted Elliott contributed to the winning score.
It was noted that a real estate deal had been reached between W. N. Gillette and C. D. Robinson. W. N. Gillette will become owner of the old hotel near the depot. The present owner, C. D. Robinson, had recently used the building as a sale barn; however, Gillette plans to demolish the building and build two residences on the site in the near future.
Prichard & Cusick were advertising the newest in cook stoves, The Florence Automatic Blue Flame Oil Cook Stove. This “economical luxury” was described, as most the powerful, most safe, most beautiful, with a sanitary leg base, no wicks, no values and providing an intensely hot blue flame.
The Village Board appointed a committee consisting of Bently, Dreher and Booth to select and purchase seven ornamental posts for the village’s future electric lighting system.
The Library Report for the year ending June 30th included the following statistics: Total number of volumes: 1928; total number of borrowers 551; and the total number of books lent during the previous year: 7,146. The librarian was Nellie Ozburn.
50 years ago (1966)
The Chamber of Commerce held a “Moonlight Sidewalk Bonanza” replacing the previous Annual Maxwell Street Day. Marv Jensen and Don Fritz headed up the retail arrangements for the event and Paul Kohlman and Elving Kjellstrom were the Rotary members organizing the fish fry.
Following a survey, orders were given to the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company to install automatic signals at the crossing of West Netherwood Street and the rail road tracks.
Bon Don Beauty Salon announces that James Bossingham, a recent graduate of the Academy of Beauty Culture, has joined their staff as a hair stylist.
The Observer noted that the housing development of Madsen Circle, located near the corner of Hwy D and Netherwood Road had grown in the past three years to fifteen homes. The development had been started by F. E. Madsen in 1963 when he had built three homes there.
Dave Mandt became the area distributor for Texaco products under the name of Mandt Oil Co. Francis West will be diving the bulk oil truck for the company.
Karl Ahrens of Waukesha, Wis.was appointed Junior High School Principal; a new position created by the Oregon School District.
The Oregon Fire Dept. held their annual picnic for the firefighters, their wives and children. Some of those acting as chefs for the chicken barbecue were Lloyd Bavery, Don Doyle, Bob Manion, Dick Andersen, Jay Bossingham, Neil Denton, and fire chief, Don Bunnell.
Sterling Drive held a celebration upon the completion of their street’s improvements; curb and gutter, blacktop, sidewalk and mail boxes. Chuck Copeland provided accordion music for an old-fashioned street dance. Eighteen couples, along with their families and special guests, Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Brown attended the event which had been organized by Del Lindholm. Later the fun of the dedication was continued when Cletus Brown held the “official inspection” of the street mail boxes by leading one of his steers along the rows of boxes. Sterling Drive was the first new street on Oregon that had to comply with the new requirement of curb line delivery rather than door to door delivery
The family of Lloyd Kellogg welcomed AFS student, Patrizila Jori who had arrived here from Milan, Italy.
The Southside Birthday Club met at the McGill home on Washington St. Grace DeWalt was the hostess. Taking honors at cards were C. A. Meister, Mrs. G. Freitag, Mrs. Angus Owen, Mrs. L. Kvammen,Mrs. Wayne Sholts, Mrs. John Diederich, Mrs. Sam Hoffman and Mrs. James Hanson.
25 years ago (1991)
The Oregon Fire Dept. purchased a used van as a temporary solution to a new regulation that required fire fighters to be inside a vehicle, seated and belted when responding to a call.
The Oregon Observer Sesquicentennial Youth Essay Contest winners were Michelle Carey for an article about People’s United Methodist Church; Megan Hoffman for her entry about the WWI Monument; and Jared Larson’s entry about Oregon’ railroad system
Attorney Jack McManus sold his 500 acre farm to the DNR.
The Chamber of Commerce held Maxwell Days Sales both downtown and at the shopping plaza. Areas for individual garage sales were provided room in the downtown area of the Monument and South Main Street. Across from the shopping plaza Chub’s Restaurant sponsored a tractor pull and music by the “Southern Boys”. Ending the day downtown, the Oregon Fire Dept. sponsored a 50’s and 60’s dance with music by “The Classics”.
Oregon School District Director of Transportation, Jim Olstad, completed the school bus routes for the 1991-92 school year. The District works with 12 private contractors operating 22 buses and 5 vans.
Maria’s Pizza now offers a home delivery service.
Members of the Equi-Pals 4-H Club win Grand Champion awards at the Dane County Fair. Kelllie Frye, won Grand Champion in Saddle seat Pleasure and Saddle seat Showmanship, riding her horse, RHS Surprise; Carrie Lang won Grand Champion Saddle seat Showmanship and Saddle seat Equitation, riding her horse GTF Risky Business, Emily Woge won Grand Champion Horseless Horse Showmanship and Wendy Wipperforth, Grand Champion in Western Equitation.
The Oregon School District hired Dr. Michael J. Meissen as the new Oregon High School Principal.
Eric Peterson’s Foxboro Golf Club starts its expansion project. Nine more holes will be added to the course.
The Oregon School District, having an increase in enrollment, has had to locate some classes at the Methodist Church Education Building.
10 years ago (2006)
The weather in August of this year brought 100 degree heat advisories.
This past month SHOTIME Soccer Series Camps were held for 4th though 9th grades and 9th though12 grades, drawing nearly 200 participants. Helping with the camps were former Oregon High School alumni, Jared Kuehl, Jerry Schleinz, Cody Alberti, Kyle Krueger, and Kory Raisbeck.
Jeff Olson and Peter Tossot, part of the Celtic music group, Rising Gael, recently performed at the OHS Performing Arts Center.
The Oregon Straw Hat Players presented a production of the Broadway musical, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. The cast of 44 included Pat Hetland (Widow Douglas) ; Nathan Fosbinder (Tom Sawyer); and Alex Smith ( Huck Finn).
The first Oregon Triathlon drew nearly 300 participants.
Oregon native, Alyssa Grover, was crowned Miss Wisconsin 2006.
The Village Board, on a nearly unanimous vote, rescinded its letter of withdrawal from the Oregon Area Fire/EMS District leaving the door open to further negotiations for a regional approach,
The Rose Garden Family Restaurant (formerly The Waterfall) closed.
Bergamont held a block party and grand opening. There were public tours of the development and golf course. The center of the activities was located the next to their temporary clubhouse.
Oregon’s population was estimated at 8,535 as of January 1, 2006 The Village has grown nearly 14% since the census of April 2000.
Chester Ace was awarded the Championship in the 14 year old class for sheep showmanship at the Wisconsin State Fair.