Oregon History Timeline for March 2018

1918 (100 yrs. ago)

James Sheil purchased the tools and equipment of W. B. Bentley and has rented the Bentley’s building where he plans to carry on the garage business and serve as the local agency for Mitchell cars. Mr. Bentley will devote his time serving as the county distributor for Mitchell cars, making his headquarters in Madison where he has arranged to have a show room in the Ritter Garage.

Arthur Paulson moved to the John Anderson house on West Street. The house had been recently vacated by Anderson when he moved to his farm south of Oregon.

D. L. Criddle and John Oswald were selected as section patrolmen for the state trunk line highway in Dane County. Criddle will have the section between Madison and Oregon and Oswald between Oregon and Stoughton. The trunk highway lines are to be kept in repair by the patrolmen. Each will receive $125.00 per month and will have to furnish a team and wagon.   After the highways are repaired and oiled by the county, they will be turned over to the patrolmen to be kept in good condition.

Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Cusick and their family moved to Oregon, occupying the Kerwin home.

Mike Crotty and family have moved back to Oregon after residing for several years in Okee. Mr. Crotty will be the foreman of the local section [railroad] crew. The family is occupying the Pat Sweeney house on the Village’s north end.

  1. F. Kramer sold his partly burned house on Second Street to Martin Hanson for $600.00

Wm. Dunn has stored his household goods and with his family has moved into the James Lavin house where they will make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Lavin for the time being.

Miss Marie McGill has organized an Order of King Heralds Club. The Order is a missionary organization connected with the Junior Order of the Standard Bearers. Fifteen children joined the Order and elected the following officers: Kenneth Benson, president; Helen Fincher, treasurer; and Bernice Hillstad, secretary. Mrs. Dan Benson is the superintendent.

The First National Bank of Oregon gave notice that they had received another shipment of new Oregon currency and that it will be on exhibit in the north window of the bank for the next few days. The bills are in $10 and $20 denominations with the ten dollar bill having an engraved likeness of William McKinley and the twenty dollar bill with the likeness of Hugh McCulloch.

Pupils who have recently entered the Oregon Grade School were Elwyn Hanson, Mae Cusick, Gertrude and Henry Byrne, Ruth Genske, Roy Nelson, Helen Crotty, Helen Cusick and Charline McWatty.

Eight girls in the 1919 Class have volunteered to do housework of various kinds. The proceeds given for their work were used to support the war efforts though the purchase of Thrift Stamps.

Farmers were reminded to purchase their tobacco seed. The Brittingham & Hixon Lumber Yard had Comstock Spanish or Improved Connecticut Havana seed for sale.

Area farmers could get their seed corn tested by High School students in the lobby of the First National Bank of Oregon.

 

50 yrs. ago (1968)

The OHS players gave a performance of the musical “Bye Bye Birdie”. Members of the cast were Kathy Bossingham, Chris Kowing, Barry Zuercher, Paul Hanson, Sherri Navis, Ted Pasell, Mary Oelmann, Sue Barnowsky, Keith Knutson, Rosemary Smith, Joyce Smith, Denny Nielsen, Dick Kapusta, Anne Byrne, Jeanie Halverson, Sue Tracy, Shirley Anderson, Kathy Lippert, Barb Miller, Jim Wolf, Russ Bentley, Don Alme, Linda Borchardt, Bill MacLeod, Nancy Brickner, Vicki Smith, and Mary Fulller. The production was directed by Marvin Olsen (music), Mrs. Karen Fox (stage), Richard Churchill (orchestra), and Sue McManus (student director).

With only one entry vying for the position of “Miss Oregon”, the Chamber of Commerce committee headed by Norman Champion, decided to extend the entry deadline by one week. At least ten entries would have to be received for the Chamber to consider continuing   the pageant. In the end fourteen entries were received, so everything was in line for holding the pageant scheduled for April 27th.

The Oregon Board of Education was informed that the driving simulator, rented through the CESA with four other schools was a success, allowing time for the scheduling of instruction for more students. It was noted that as of September 1st a driver’s ed course will be mandatory for those between the ages of 16 and 18 prior to their taking a driving test for a license.

Oregon bowlers are champions at the Madison Bowling Association Tournament. Members of the team were Les Dalsoren, Don Johnson, Bud (Robert) Johnson, Jack Ricker, and Ivan Christensen. The team bowls for Dean’s Milk at the Oregon Bowl.

A Grand Opening was held at the Tuloma LP Gas and Fertilizer dealership (present day location of Bergey Jewelry). Ray Emling was the area manager. Other staff members were Mrs. Roland Indermuehle, (area clerk); Jerry Bollig (bobtail driver); Reger Ytsad (manager); and Orlin Wethal (salesman).

Al Joyner announces that he has opened a new photo studio at his home in Madsen Circle.

Lappley Implement celebrated its 70th Anniversary (142 Janesville St., current location of Badger Body Shop). They were dealers for Allis-Chalmers and New Idea implements. E. F.(“Erv”) Lappley was the proprietor and Don McGaw, his service manager. Their anniversary special was the giving of a new Maytag automatic washer or dryer with the purchase of any major farm or Industrial equipment such as a tractor, baler, combine, etc.

Village President, F. E. “Steve” Madsen, throws the switch on the new pumping station. This addition to the Village of Oregon water system will pump up to 1,000 gallons per minute into the village mains as compared to the 32 gallons per rminute now in use at the Village Hall. It was commented that this should take care of he water situation in the village for some years to come.

Career Day was held for OHS students. The event was arranged by the school guidance department and co-chaired by James Smith and George Bartelt. Over 50 area businesses were in attendance. About 30 stayed for the banquet-lunch served in the cafetorium. The keynote speaker at the luncheon was Harold Polzer, personnel director at Oscar Mayer and Co.

The Oregon Women’s Club elected the following officers for the coming year: Mrs. :Rex T. Duter, president; Mrs. A. L. Keenan, first vice-president; Mrs. Jack Manus, second vice-president; Mrs. Paul L. Keenan, recording secretary; Mrs. Thomas Jones, corresponding secretary, Mrs. Brad Liddle, treasurer and Mrs. John Benedict, assistant, treasurer. The club traces its history back to 1922, when Mrs. Ernest Shellestead was elected the first president

Special award winners were recognized at the Annual Athletic Banquet. Winners were John Dahlke, cross country captain; Dave Decker, cross country most valuable; John Rowley, wrestling captain; Doug Strander, wrestling most valuable; Joe Palmer, football captain; Nick Brashi, football most valuable; Bob Maier, basketball, captain; Tom Appel, basketball most valuable; and Jim Anderson “The Kissling Hardness Award’.

 

25 yrs. ago (1993)

The Village of Oregon’s Economic Committee was organized for the purpose of identifying future goals and sites for commercial and manufacturing development . Jerry Luebke was elected chairperson of the committee.

The OHS Pompon Squad placed fifth in the Division of Champions at the WACPC State competition in Stevens Point. Squad members included Tina Gefke, Sara Rounds, Kristi Hendrickson, Gwen Stark, Lainie Smith, LIsa Barroilhet, Alesha Paxton, Jenny Gefke, Tammie Hendrickson, Angela Brashi, Nicole Laver, Angie Genin, Angie Harelson, Kristin Woodworth, Tanya Gnewuich, Amanda Larson, Lisa Wagner, Angie Smith, and Jessica Taylor.

The OHS basketball team with their 69-63 victory over Sauk Prairie, shared the Badger Conference title with Fort Atkinson. Leading scorers were Neil Harbort, Mike Tryggestad, Tim Caya, Chris Mitchell, and Ryan McGary. Later in tournament play, the team’s season came to an end when they were defeated by Monroe 55-52. They ended their season with a 15-7 record.

The street extension of North Perry Parkway to Park Street has been put on hold because of extra costs which included getting an U.S. Army Corp of Engineers permit allowing the village to build in a wetland area.

The new Oregon Middle School located at 601 Pleasant Oak Drive holds an Open House and tours of the new facility. State of Wisconsin Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Herbert Grover dedicated the school.

The 5th graders of the Brooklyn Elementary School prepare for spring with a production of “The Inside Pitch”. . .a program of the history of baseball. The 4th and 5th grade chorus will participate in the production. Some of the students making plans for the production were A. J. Bisek, Laura Schut, Justin Gray, Mike Neuman, Molly McGrath, Sarah Stanford, Lisa Anthony, Katie Wyss, Stephanie Frautschy, Anna Filipeck, Devon Hugdahl.

The Chamber of Commerce changes the format of its annual pageant from selecting a “Miss Oregon” to the selection of an “Oregon Ambassador”, therefore opening it to both young men and women, making the contest more inclusive.

 

10 yrs. ago (2008)

The Icebergs, the combined girls hockey team from McFarland, Stoughton and Oregon, finished their inaugural season with a record of 14-5-0. They were ranked as this year’s 10th best program in the state. Shaun O’Hearn was their first year head coach.

The Village Board gave its unanimous approval to proceed with the Oregon Community Sports Arena, future home of the OHS hockey team . Approval came after almost three years since it was first proposed.

Patricia Wilkening, Kitty Haas, and Sandy O’Malley, first grade teachers at the Netherwood Knoll Elementary, announce their retirements at the end of the school year. Collectively the three have worked 96 years in the district.

The Oregon Chamber of Commerce created a committee to assist downtown businesses in coping with the the reconstruction projects scheduled for the spring and summer months. Erika Weidler of Firefly Coffeehouse volunteered to chair the committee.

Three OHS wrestlers, Eric Walsh, Jake Kluever, and Christopher Hans, advance to the State Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament in Madison.

Longtime Oregon residents Roger Lawry, Jay Winter, and Dave Mandt, celebrated more than 40 years of bowling and golfing together.

American Players Theater member, David Daniels, works with students of the Oregon Middle School, (4th thru 8th. graders), who were preparing for their performance in April of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors”

Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive, Director, Marechiell Santos-Lang was appointed Commissioner for the Community Development Block Grant Program of Dane County.

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