Oregon History Timeline for July 2016
100 years ago (1916)
Oregon held its fourth annual chautauqua; offering residents a wide variety of lectures, music, and other entertainment. To accommodate many of the activities a large tent was erected on the corner of South Second Street (Washington St.) and South Main. Musical highlights of the event included the Highland Lassies—-seven lady musicians clad in Scottish costumes singing and dancing—-the Otterbein Male Quartet, and a concert by the Royal Venetian Band. There were several lectures including “Our Flag” and “Chords and Discords” by Dr. Henry B. Burns; “Taste the Apples” and “The Country’s Two Needs” by Dr. James Harden Smith; “The Human Thoroughbred” and “How to Get Married and Stay Married” by Prof. L. H. Maus and “Community Nuts to Crack” by D. Lee Fitzpatrick. Cartoonist and storyteller, Ash Davis, presented one of the evening programs and Prof. Maus also entertained the children with games and storytelling each afternoon in the village park.
- Buskirk announced that he had opened a new ice cream parlor and confectionary shop next to the opera house. He is selling the famous Velvet Ice Cream along with high grade candies. He is also carrying cigars and tobacco. Customers were reminded that they could phone their orders in.
It was noted in The Observer: “A large number of Oregon citizens were at the depot Saturday afternoon to cheer the soldier boys of the first regiment as they passed through on their way from Camp Douglas to the Mexican border. It required three trains to carry them.”
The annual school board meeting was held. About fifty district residents were in attendance. The amount of $4,800 was budgeted for school purposes for the coming year. A proposition to furnish free text books was voted down. The clerk reported that there are 206 children of school age in the district. C. W. Netherwood was elected director of the district for the coming year.
The school board had closed the teacher contract negotiations for the coming year. The teaching staff will consist of the following; R. E. Balliette, principal; Miss Anna Turgasen, Miss Bertha Freund, and Miss Winifred Shannon, high school assistants; Miss Louise Buckley, 7th and 8th Grades; Miss Edna Sheridan, 5th and 6th Grades; Miss Clara Boyle, 3rd and 4th Grades; Miss Katherine Duren, Kindergarten; and Miss Leila Miller, music.
- B. Usher was enlarging and remodeling his home located on Second Street. The roofing was replaced and stucco placed on the sides of the house. It was noted that “it will be a neat bungalow and will be a big improvement to that street.”
The results of the local Tennis Club were: Ladies singles: June Ellis (6); Florence Tipple (4); Men’s singles: Mr. Olson (6), Morris Jackson (2); Mr. Shilton (6), and William Ozburn (2); Doubles: Mrs. Shilton and Alex Anderson (6); Neva Clapp and William Ozburn (2).
50 years ago (1966)
A Burlington railroad steam engine passed through Oregon on its way to Baraboo where it will connect with the Circus World Museum’s railcars to pull them to Milwaukee for the parade.
The Lakeland Shrine Club hosted a chicken Bar-B-Q dinner at the Sunnyside Beach Resort on Lake Kegonsa. The cost of a half of chicken with all the trimmings was $1.50.
The Northside Luncheon Group met with Miss Hazel Russell. Those scoring high at cards were Mrs. Frederick Kivlin, Mrs. Dave McAvoy, Mrs. Earl Wheeler, and Mrs. T. J. Sweeney.
Strong storms with high winds passed though the Village the night of July 10th. Oregon firefighters were called out to the Ray Manion farm after their home caught fire from a lightning strike; a large tree fell across South Main Street taking down a power pole and lines; a large oak tree fell on the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Ace causing major damage and many vehicles were blown off the roadways into ditches. The storm lasted for about an hour and half.
The annual Oregon School District meeting was held. Philip L. Peterson of the Town of Oregon was elected as a new school board member, defeating incumbent, Thomas Grady. John Black of the Village of Oregon, and Milo Schneider of the Town of Dunn were re-elected for another term. A tax levy of $637,500 was approved; an increase of $23,550 over the previous year.
Two local girl scouts, Jeanette Rydberg and Bonnie Booth, participated in a special six day encampment sponsored by the Black Hawk Council of Girl Scouts. The encampment at the Klondike Campground near Baraboo taught participants how to camp and survive in wilderness situations.
A group of volunteers from the Oregon Masonic Lodge worked on a new sidewalk and a sodding project for their new building. Those working on the project and as well as providing “moral support” were Owen Richards, Ivan Gregory, Art Schrock, Walt Subey, Don McGaw, Arleigh Staley, Bob Jenkins, Merle Richardson, Paul Damson, Ray Manion and Perry Outhouse.
The old 1895 grade school building across from the Red Brick School was in the process of being demolished.
Area winners at the Dane County Fair included: Amanda Coyle (champion fancy breed rabbits); Phyllis Klitzman (swine – grand champion Duroc gilt; breed champion Hampshire gilt); Kathy Caine (horse/pony category – champion registered pony at halter); James Swineherd (horse/pony category – champion roadster); Russell Bergeland (horse/pony category – champion grade pony at halter.) and Gary Lien (graded holsteins – Grand Champion female).
Bicyclists were reminded by the Oregon Police Dept. that bike licenses are past due. All bicycle owners in the village must have a license.
25 years ago (1991)
The Straw Hat Players presented Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “South Pacific”. David Lawver directed the production along with David Erb, the music director, Louise Uphoff, the stage manager and Paul Heinemann the producer. Julie Hustled designed the sets and Charles Uphoff led the construction crew to create them along with help from Angie Schnabel, the chief painter. Leading the cast was Judy Heinemann (Bloody Mary); David Baltes (Emile de Becque); Jace Nichols (Lt. Cable); Marge Mach (Nellie Forbush); Joel Kapusta (Seabee Luther Billis); Shanti Lall (Liat); Laura Pitt and Patrick Neuman as Emile’s children, and Paul Heinemann and John Unertl, officers.
Rev. Sam Godrey, pastor of the Brooklyn United Methodist Church, is retiring.
The Oregon Demolition Soccer Team wins the U-12 Gold Medal in the Badger State Games. The team members were Ryan Werth, Lance Reisen, Todd Vitale, Sean Bryant, Phil Sema, Dillon Ellner, Joe Viviani, Matt Eustice, Adam Hanson, Nick Pedrecine, Dan Brashi, Matt Uhlmann, Eric Kersten, Ben Olson, Derek Puls, and Chris Rago.
Nelson Ferreira, No-holds-Barred Kung-Fu Champion of Brazil, teaches a class in martial arts to about sixty summer school students.
The Village Board approved a resolution to divide the village into wards as required by state legislation.
The OHS Agriculture instructor and FFA Advisor, Steve Ziebell, promoted agriculture summer programs. There were about 48 students in the program. Those participating included Dana and Amy Marshall involved in growing crops and showing dairy cattle at the Stoughton and Dane Co. Fairs; Steve Dunn, training and showing his saddlebred horses; Troy Sherwin working for Harold Porter helping manage an apple orchard and a strawberry crop well as growing his own sweet corn; Jodi Klitzmann producing fruits and vegetables from her home garden as well as exhibiting swine-market barrows at the Stoughton and Dane Co. Fairs; Blayne Outhouse raising crops and exhibiting Swine-Market Barrows; and Billie Rygh raising and exhibiting Toggenburg goats.
Tom Mueller was appointed OHS athletic director, replacing Wayne Bell who stepped down to assume his growing responsibilities as assistant principal of the High School.
10 years ago (2006)
Next Generation Clinical Research relocated its corporate headquarters office to Market Street in Oregon.
Demonstrations were held protesting the location of new high voltage lines in Dane Co. A public information session was held by the American Transmission Co. at St. John’s Lutheran Church informing citizens about the three possible routes for the proposed lines.
The Fleming Development Corp. revealed plans for building a new clubhouse, and banquet facility for the Bergamot Golf Course.
The Oregon International Soccer Tournament drew 190 teams to the area. The tournament director, Dave Gasner, who had been involved with the event for the past 16 years, has seen it grow from 88 teams to the current 190.
The Oregon Marching Band was awarded the first place trophy at the Mid-America Band Director’s Association Championship Finals. This was the first time in 16 years that the band had won first place at the Championship Finals.
Phil Harms was appointed by the Village Board to serve the remaining term of Tom Eithun who had recently resigned.
Union Bank and Trust of Evansville held a grand opening for their new Oregon branch facility located at 883 North Main St. They were offing a seven month C.D. special at 5.67% APY.
This past month the Fusion U12 Roller Hockey Team took the Silver medal at The Badger State Games. The players were Connor Curliss, Alex Robson, Brad O’Loughlin, Sebastian Van Tassel, Clint Wilson, Kegan Roehrig, Zach Jones, Eddie Matsushima, and Kevin Gowen. Their coaches were Glenn Matsushima, Jim Mackman, and Carl Lindquist.