Events
Oregon Area Historical Society
Events
Tuesday, June 17 is our Annual Ice Cream and Pie Social.
We’ll start serving treats at 6pm and the Oregon Community Band starts at 7pm.
Join the Oregon Area Historical Society at Sounds of Summer on Tuesday, July 29. The Society will be selling concessions to support our local history.
Notes from the Museum
Greetings Oregon Area Historical Society followers! My name is Heather Young. I am the publicity coordinator for the OAHS and museum, update the website and Facebook, member of the Tuesday Crew and the current Board President.
In this section of the homepage, I will share future events, summarize past events, talk about interesting bits of history and touch on things going on at the museum.
Happy May Oregon!
We just wrapped up another successful Wax Museum with RCI. What is a Wax Museum? 5th graders at Rome Corners Intermediate School research a historical figure culminating in a presentation to their classes in full costume as the historical figure. We love working with the 5th graders for this project.
Speaking of getting dressed up, the mannequins are all dressed up in their spring/summer attire, as are the American Girl dolls on display.
We came into possession of some more piano rolls for our player piano. My new favorite roll is On Wisconsin! Visit the museum to give it a listen!
Our next event will be Culvers Night on Monday, June 2nd. You have an easy dinner assignment for that night. Just stop by Culvers between 4 and 8pm, get your dinner and help OAHS raise funds. Win Win!
After the Culvers Night will be our much anticipated Ice Cream and Pie Social on Tuesday, June 17th with the Community Band. Serving starts at 6 and music starts at 7. We are looking for volunteers and pie/cookie/bar makers.
Remember to stop by the museum. We are open every Tuesday from 10-3 and the first Saturday of the month from 9-12. We start our Open Every Saturday in June. The museum is also available by appointment. Just give us a call and we’ll schedule a tour!
I think that’s it for now.
-Heather
This Month in History
100 Years Ago – May 1905
Junior-Senior Banquet
The Junior-Senior Banquet was held in the high school gym on May 2nd at 6:30 p.m. It was attended by the juniors and seniors, the School Board, the faculty, and Mr. Donald McGill. The banquet, consisting of four courses, was served by Miss Linehan and the Sophomore girls. The Freshman girls waited on the tables. A table was attractively formed in the shape of the letter ‘S’ in honor of the Seniors. Emmett Fincher served as toastmaster.
Helen Hanson and Betty Collins presented each Senior with a rose as a token of the friendship between the two upper classes. Flashlight pictures were taken by Mr. McGill, after which dancing continued until 11:15 p.m.
The Junior Prom
On Thursday evening, the high school gym was the scene of the annual Junior Prom. The grand march was led by the Prom Queen, Helen Fincher, and her partner Lloyd Chapin.
The gym was beautifully decorated with Senior colors, green and white, with rainbow hued clusters of wisteria and morning glories.
Punch was served from an old-fashioned well by two small girls dressed as flowers. Music was furnished for the evening by Joe Mae’s orchestra from Madison.
Opera House Changes Ownership
The Opera House is now in new hands as of last Thursday when W.H. Dunn purchased the building and moving picture equipment from D.I. Criddle. The purchase also includes the building occupied by Fred Campbell as a barber shop.
Mr. Dunn expects to make some improvements in the place. He will operate the moving picture shows and will bring some good productions here. The first picture under the new management will be shown Saturday and Sunday nights, “Man from Hell’s River” with Rin Tin Tin, the giant wolf dog. There will also be a two-reel comedy.
Highway 13 Updated
The graveling on Highway 13 between Madison and Oregon is just being finished, and oiling commenced.
Portland Hotel Renovated
The interior of the Portland Hotel has been thoroughly renovated and redecorated and is again doing business under the management of Mr. and Mrs. J. Olsen.
Oregon Baseball Team Trounces Knights of Columbus Team of Madison
The Oregon team trounced the Madison Knights of Columbus team to the tune of 13 to 3. Considering that it was the first game of the season, Oregon played a good game. With Elliott in the box for Oregon, they will make a strong bid for the championship this year.
75 Years Ago – May 1950
Windstorm
Last Friday this area was in the midst of a severe windstorm which raised havoc with roofs of barns and houses, blew down sheds and trees, twisted electric and telephone wires and put electric service out of commission for two and a half hours. The wind continued in severity all day and at one time the gale reached 84 miles and hour. Reports of damage to farm buildings are still coming in. While no fatalities or injuries have been reported in the immediate vicinity the damage to property is quite severe.
One week later:
During our recent big windstorm, the roof of Don Bates new garage was blown off. A number of his friends, including Earl Gransee, Norman Champion, Gene Nelson, Dr. L. S. Kellogg, Jay Larson, Kermit Wagner, Bob Hammel and Glen Champion, gathered at the Bates home Sunday to replace the roof. The group worked all day on the job and Mrs. Bates served them both dinner and supper. She was assisted by the wives of the men. The affair proved of great assistance to Mr. and Mrs. Bates and also was much enjoyed by the whole group.
Twenty-Eight Students Finish High School
The Oregon public schools will complete the year’s work this week. Examinations are about over and the closing event of the school year will be the commencement exercises at the high school gymnasium on Friday night beginning at 8 o’clock. Twenty-eight students will complete their high school careers and receive their diplomas.
The class has chosen for its motto, “No Gains Without Pains”, the class colors are yellow and white, and the class flower is the yellow rose.
The graduates are:
Betty Baker, Russell Bavery, Rae Bethel, Carol Booth, Lois Campbell, Darrell Chard, Betty Ann Culb, Dale Culp, Margaret Dvergedal, Elizabeth Feggestad, Kenneth Hagemann, Wallace Hegge, Jr., George Johnson, Harold Jones, Lawrence Kivlin, Carol Lawry, Duane Miller, Rita Mooney, Rodney Nedlose, Dick Nesbit, Dave Peterson, Edith Pollow, Joan Seldal, Ralph Sholts, Jr., William Smith, Lois Spink, John Swenson, and Mary West.
Engagement Announcement
Mr. and Mrs. P.H. Dvergedal have announced the approaching marriage of their daughter, Margaret, to Ronald L. Erfurth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Erfurth. The wedding will take place in the Memorial Chapel of the First Lutheran Church, Stoughton, Saturday, June 3. A reception in the Fellowship Hall for wedding guests will follow.
My Appreciation
During my stay at the hospital, I received many fine things from the home people in Oregon. It makes me wonder if I have done my bit along with my many friends and neighbors to help make our village what it is today. I want to extend my thanks to each and every one for the fine cards and gifts and hope I can aid and assist anyone in like circumstances.
Geo. McElroy
50 Years Ago: May 1975
Downtown Fire Siren
Civil Defense chairman, Harold Wendt, announced that the big CD siren on top of the fire station will soon no longer be used for local fire calls, but will be used by the county for Civil Defense warnings. A long, continuous tone on the big siren for three minutes or more means tornado warning, and the regular up-and-down siren sound for a continuous period of time means enemy attack. The CD siren will still be tested on the first Wednesday of the month.
Everyone Loves a Parade
During Summerfest for the past several years, the Oregon Chamber of Commerce has staged a beautiful parade to highlight the three days of celebration. Some of the finest marching units available have been brought in and paid for by local businessmen.
Last year, the Oregon High School Band with the cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Competition of Bands, bringing into the Summerfest parade nine top notch marching bands from Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
This year’s parade will be the biggest and best ever. Word has been received that there will be 14 bands from Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The Zor Nomads and other colorful units, floats, horses, and beauty queens are scheduled to participate.
A souvenir book is being prepared with pictures of the bands, parade, and field drill schedules. There will be a special page directly opposite of the Oregon High School band which will be titled “Friends of the Oregon High School Band” listing names of everyone who has made a donation to the event.
Mother-Daughter Banquet at St. John’s
The 27th annual Mother-Daughter Banquet was held at St. John’s Lutheran Church Sunday evening, April 20th. A delicious Swiss steak dinner was prepared and served by the Men’s Club of St. John’s. There were 210 mothers and daughters in attendance.
Corsages were given to the oldest mother Mrs. William Champion and to the mother with the youngest daughter, Mrs. Leonard Borozinski. Special recognition was given to Mrs. Richard Haynes for her past duties performed while president of the Women of St. John’s. A Mother-Daughter response was given by Mrs. Immanuel Peterson and her daughter, Mrs. Scott Miller, Jr.
The program featured the Oregon High School Madrigal Singers and cartoonist, Boro, of Madison Newspapers.
Reunion Held at Brooklyn Lutheran Church
About 400 people attended the reunion ceremonies at the Brooklyn Lutheran Church on Sunday. A potluck dinner was served, followed by movies depicting the history of the church. Former Pastor Berthelson led communion services on Saturday evening. Pastor Peterson was unable to attend. Many floral tributes were received from other congregations. Mrs. Batterman, altar chairman, decorated the sanctuary in red and white geraniums.
25 Years Ago: May 2000
Are Nitrate Levels Too High in Dane County Groundwater
Nitrate levels remain high in Dane County groundwater, according to the latest Dane County Regional Planning Commission report. More than 25 percent of private wells tested in the county exceeded the federal drinking water standard for nitrates – nitrogen, according to a water quality report issued by the RPC in 1999.
“We have a groundwater crisis in Dane County”, supervisor Brett Hulsey said. “We need to come up with a drinking water protection plan.” The Dane County RPC do nice reports, but they have no teeth. They’re toothless tigers. When’s the last time the RPC said no to a new development?”
Dane County Supervisor Lyman Anderson disagreed. “We don’t have a groundwater crisis in Dane County. What harm do the nitrates do? Nobody’s ever been able to tell me.”
“Pregnant women and infants less than six months of age should not drink water that exceeds the federal nitrate standard,” Dane County Conservationist Kevin Connors said. High nitrate levels in drinking water have been associated with a blood disorder in infants called methemoglobinemia (“blue baby” syndrome).
Many experts believe long-term nitrate exposure may increase the risk of cancer, according to another RPC report issued last year.
“Private well owners should test their water regularly. Private wells pose more drinking water concerns because they are not nearly as deep as municipal wells,” Connors said.
Senior Center Turns 20
Anne Dybis uses a walker to help her move around. But when she’s at the Oregon Area Senior Center, Dybis parks her walker by the wall.
As a member of the center’s adult day program, she plays volleyball with ballons, does aerobics, takes Tai Chi classes, and plays Bingo three days a week.
“Coming here helps me to be younger,” she said. “You’re always on the go, always doing something. When your home, you do word puzzles and read the newspaper. Here, we do all different kinds of activities. It’s special because it gets me out of the house.”
Oregon’s senior center will celebrate 20 years of helping seniors stay active and independent on May 15-19.
“A big challenge for seniors is to stay independent. Our mission is to help people stay in their homes for as long as its safely possible,” said the centers assistant director, Susie Utynek. The center refers caregivers to people’s homes to help with cooking, cleaning and other chores. The adult day program, which Dybis attends, gives seniors a chance to socialize and exercise three days a week from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It gives seniors a chance to socialize. A lot of them live alone in their homes and need socialization. That’s why we have this as a social model.
The center also provides lunch five days a week both on site and home delivered. “It’s a very filling lunch. It’s definitely their big meal of the day,” Utynek said.
The center’s programs are free and open to the public.
Street Talk
In celebration of the Senior Centers 20th anniversary, what would you describe as the greatest contribution, either to you personally or to the community?
Caryl Farrell – Oregon Volunteer – It’s a great place to come and socialize and volunteer. I come two or three times a week.
Doris Schnabel – Oregon retired, sitter – I enjoy coming to meet different people. They have a lot of nice things going on.
Lyle Nelson – Oregon, retired – It gives me something to do. I heard there’s something on the schedule and came down. There’s a good band today. I like that and of course I love to see Susie.
Mildred Davis – Brooklyn, retired – It helps me as well as the community, especially the incapacitated to be able to enjoy another one’s company. We waited a long time for this and here we are celebrating 20 years.
Marv Severson – Oregon, retired/village trustee – I think it’s the best thing that happened in the world. I enjoy goings- on. It’s got a lot of participants and a wonderful director. It’s just like home for a lot of people. I’m so happy with it. It shows what you can make out of an old building.
Margaret Maier – Oregon, retired- People are all friendly. I have a good time over here. I like the gift shop; I like to shop there.
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