Events
Oregon Area Historical Society
Events
2024 Events
Introduction to Genealogy – 6:30pm on Thursday, October 10
Ready to start working on your family history? Attend this talk held at the Oregon Public Library.
Recent Blog
Greetings Oregon Area Historical Society followers! My name is Heather Young. I am the publicity coordinator for the OAHS and museum. I also update the website and Facebook and a Tuesday volunteer.
Here’s another installment of “Walk Back in History: Did You Know” written by Florice Paulson for the Observer from 1987-1991. Many of these articles were made into a book that you can purchase at the museum (or get for free for becoming a member). If anyone knew Oregon history, it was Florice.
Oregon Observer
Thursday, July 12, 1990
By Florice Paulson
The arrival of the railroad in 1864 and the chinch-bug about the same time brought about a change in farming practices of our area.
The first settlers in Rome has been wheat farmers. It had been necessary to haul their grain to Milwaukee to be shipped out East via Lake Michigan. They received $0.25 a bushel. After buying supplies for themselves and others, the money in their pocket upon arrival back home was minimal.
The arrival of the railroad in McFarland had given the farmers a closer market and shipping point for their wheat, but now Oregon’s railroad was to become a huge shipping station.
The area farmers also found it necessary, because of the chinch bug that had invaded Wisconsin and was wreaking havoc with the wheat crops, to diversify their farming operation and crop rotation. (Corn gradually became the principal crop).
A southern crop was introduced by the Kiser family, who had arrived from Virginia — tobacco.
Along with the wheat crop, the main source of income prior to 1871, enough corn, oats, barley and clover were grown to feed the horses and oxen.
About 1915 alfalfa made its appearance as an important hay crop.
Following the chinch-bug epidemic and wheat could no longer be used for income, cattle began to be introduced. Joe Kiser began raising shorthorns as a hobby and was the first pure-bread breeder in the community. The Kiser brothers, John and George, on their farm on W. Netherwood Road, became well known for their continued shorthorn breeding. Poland-China hogs were also introduced in the area by Mr. Kiser.
In 1900, W.L. Ames, started the breeding of a milk type shorthorn–soon other types of dairy cattle began appearing and the creameries sprang up. Hogs also began making a more general appearance. Sheep were not too plentiful and were not of the famous Shrops earlier raised by A.O. Fox on the present site of the State Prison Farm.
There were many horses, of course, especially of the heavy draft breed. The settlers had slowly gotten away from the fine Morgans and Hamiltonians that were used for riding and carriage and buggy service and were forced to need the heavier breeds for farm work.
As is very evident, we who have been around for a “few” years, and even long before we saw the light of day, so many changes in farming operation have taken place that a book would be needed to record them all.
This Month in History
75 Years Ago – August 1949
Local News
C.A. Hanan Observes His 90th Birthday
A large number of relatives and friends came to the village hall Sunday afternoon to pay their respects and offer their congratulations and good wishes to C. A. Hanan on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
The serving table was beautifully decorated with lighted candelabra and beautiful bouquets of flowers.
Mr. Hanan was born in Rutland township and has lived in the Oregon area his entire life. He retired from farming in 1911, moved to this village and entered the insurance business from which he recently retired.
He has lived a busy life and is still deeply interested in local, state and national affairs. He reads three daily newspapers as well as several magazines in order to keep up with current affairs. He is interested in sports and follows them through the radio and newspapers. He is still active physically and mentally alert in spite of his advanced years.
Mr. Hanan has held numerous offices of public trust, including clerk of his school district, chairman of the town of Rutland, Oregon village clerk, president of the village, chairman of the Dane County Board, president of the Middleton Fire Insurance Company and for many years was president of the Dane County Fair
Dr. Lloyd S. Kellogg of Tomah has become associated with Dr. B.H. Roisum in the practice of medicine and surgery and entered the partnership on Monday. Dr. Kellogg completed his internship at the Methodist hospital. Previous to receiving his medical degree from the University of Illinois, he received a pharmacy degree from the University of Wisconsin. He spent four years in the Navy during the war and saw overseas duty. He is married and his wife and three children will come here about the middle of the month and the family will occupy an apartment in the former Cowdrey residence. Mrs. Kellogg also served in the armed services during the war.
A number of boy scouts including Gordon Johnson, Billy Larson, Hugh Thornton, Kenny and Louis Spink, Don Doyle, Don Staley, Warren Tarkenton, Richard Wechter, Michael and John Hayes and Alan Skinner spent last week at Camp Tichora, Green Lake. Ralph Sholts, a counselor of the camp accompanied them back, but is returning after a couple of days at his home here.
Return of 3,403 of War Dead from Wisconsin
The bodies of 3,403 Wisconsin war dead have been returned to hometowns for reburial since the army started the repatriation program in 1947, Capt. Gordon Lemke, adjutant of the Wisconsin military district reported Saturday.
About 2,300 more are to come before the program is expected to end Oct 1, Capt. Lemke said. If this figure is achieved, nearly 75 percent of Wisconsin’s estimated 8,390 war dead will have been returned, he added.
Col. John T. Ehler, the district’s executive officer, paid tribute to the agencies which have been aiding his office in the program. He said that the funeral directors as a matter of policy provide free professional services and use of mortuaries for repatriated dead. He also praised the veterans’ organizations for their response to the call for men to provide full military rites. Such rites require about 15 men.
James F. Burns, state service officers of the American Legion whose Milwaukee office notifies relatives in the state that a body is being returned, called attention to the tremendous sacrifice being made by veterans.
“Many of these men have worked at all hours of the day and night so that the trains and military ambulances carrying bodies of war dead would be met by a squad of men”, said Burns. “They do this work without complaint and often take time off of their jobs at their own expense”.
Random Shots
It sometimes takes years for a wife to completely and thoroughly master her husband. At first when he held her hand, it was love – but it’s self defense now. No husband is as his wife thought he was before marriage or as bad as she thinks afterwards. Before marriage he talks and she listens: during the honeymoon, she talks, and he listens; later they both talk, and the neighbors listen. A wise man keeps an open mind, a cool head and a closed mouth.
50 Years Ago: August 1974
Community News
The Dailey Brothers 3-ring circus came to Oregon for two big performances in the village park at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Oregon-Brooklyn Jaycees as a fundraiser to further their efforts for community betterment. There will be elephants, tight-rope walkers, trapeze artists, trained horses and Goliath, the world’s largest blood-sweating hippopotamus.
The Triple K Horse Show will be held on August 24th. Miss Oregon will be on hand to present trophies to the winners of various classes. The Oregon Optimists will provide food and drinks.
Kris Frye, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Frye, won the English Pleasure Horse Championship and Reserve Championship in English Horsemanship at the Dane County Junior Fair riding Coe Star’s Eastern Dawn, an American Saddlebred mare owned by Bob and Eleanor Killerlain of Belle Oakes Farm.
Schools
Classes begin on Monday, August 26th at Brooklyn and Oregon Schools. Administrators are: Superintendent Philip Helgesen; Asst. Superintendent Roland Cross; Business Manager Robert Buchholtz; Sr. High School Principal Henry Apple Asst. Senior High School Principal Cal Callaway; Junior High School Principal Karl Ahrens; Middle School Principal Ed Guziewski; Elementary School Principal James Clark and Brooklyn Elementary School Principal Gerald Zibell.
Calvin Schwenn, a bus contractor and driver, who retired after many years of service to the district was presented with a certificate of recognition by board president Ron Kneebone.
Organizations
Governor Patrick Lucey spoke to a large attendance of local citizens at the Optimist Club public forum held at the Stables Supper Club. He spoke on various subjects, notably the timetable for the extension of Highway 14 around Oregon. Among other topics, he addressed questions about property taxes and school aid, guarantees to farmers for operation of dairy plants, land use plans, information for senior citizens as to benefits available to them, and several other subjects.
Jim Clark handed over the gavel to incoming Oregon Rotary Club president, Manly Draper. Other officers are Don Bates, vice president; Larry Mahr, treasurer; and Norm Rasmussen, secretary.
A big crowd enjoyed the Oregon Fire Department’s annual firemen’s picnic at the firehouse. Youngsters got a thrill out of riding in one of the old fire trucks.
Business
The annual Oregon Chamber of Commerce Penny Days is set for Friday and Saturday August 16-17. The Maxwell Street type event will feature reduced prices of valuable merchandise for Oregon shoppers. A full program of fun and excitement will entertain the youngsters including watermelon, root beer and cotton candy for just five pennies. Youth and kiddie rides will be available with tickets at 6 for $1.00. The Rotary Club will hold an outdoor fish fry in the village park shelter on Friday starting at 5:30 p.m. The Oregon Chamber Booster Band will be on hand to entertain on Friday night as well.
Penny Days special at the Oregon A&W is a Mama Burger with French fries and root beer for 90 cents. Try A&W’s new Apple Crunch Dessert served warm with ice cream.
25 Years Ago: August 1999
Local News
School days remembered
More than 50 graduates from Oregon High School gathered at Jaycee Park Saturday to visit and recall their days of education. The class reunion included members of 15 different classes, ranging from Alta Jensen among the Class of 1928 to Dale Culp from the Class of 1950. While the majority of those attending hailed from the southern Wisconsin area, classmates traveled from as far as Blue Springs, Mo and Hemet, California to attend the event.
Reunion organizers, Eeda Lumley and Bill Sheer, were on hand to discuss the origins of the event. The two, now retired telephone company employees, often discussed getting classmates together when they saw each other at work. In 1986 they decided to pull together the get together. Because of the small class sizes, Lumley said the decision was made to include graduates of classes before and after their class of 1942. “In a small town, you get to know everyone,” she added.
Of the 35 students in ’42, Lumley said they were fortunate to have all of the men serving in the military return home without casualties. The class has lost seven in the 51 years since graduation.
“I just enjoy watching the people. Everybody is so happy to see one another and there’s always someone who shows up that hasn’t been here in a while. There’s hugging and you feel warm all over,” Lumley said.
Bears travel to and from Library
Bears were off on many adventures around the world this summer with their library buddies. As part of this year’s “Go Global: Read!” Summer Library Program, bears could be checked out at area public libraries, including Oregon, to accompany kids on their vacations. Each bear travels in a backpack or tote bag and has a journal for kids to write in, a stamp for a postcard and a travel games book.
From Oregon Public Library, Juliana Bear from the Netherlands and Bentley from Canada have both been on a camping trip in Waupaca this summer. Juliana’s trip was especially eventful when her friend got bitten by a dog and ended up in the emergency room. All is well, though, and the librarian was assured by her friend that Juliana was a big help. They also went biking and saw some awesome fireworks. Bentley is now traveling in parts unknown.
Wendts celebrate 40th anniversary.
Celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday, Aug 15, will be Wilfred and Dorothy Wendt of Brooklyn.
Willfred married Dorothy Gunnelson at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oregon August 15, 1959.
They have four children, Charlotte, Duane, Sandy and Scott. They also have three grandchildren, Jennifer, Luke and Nicole.
Street Talk
What was the highlight of your summer?
Alec Coleman Oregon Kindergarten – Doing slams like this (hanging on home basketball hoop) and Kawasaki wave runner.
Jonathan Stone Oregon Kindergarten – Boston (climbing) Bunker Hill.
Michael Coleman Oregon grade 3- I went to my grandpa’s friend’s cottage.
Eric Wanta Oregon grade 3 – Going to Fin and Feather in Bemidji, Minn, staying in the cottage and tubing and fishing. At Itaska State Park, I walked across the headwaters of the Mississippi.
Brian Dow Oregon grade 5 – I went across the Mackinaw Bridge in Upper Michigan, and I did have fun going on a wave runner my grandpa bought and my Uncle took me on. (Added brother Brennan grade 3: getting a new puppy, a Beagle named Galena).
Scottie Ziegler Oregon Grade 6 – I went and looked at a whole bunch of light houses in Iowa and Door County.
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