Oregon History Timeline for May 2019

 

1919 (100 years ago)

The rural schools of Oregon Township held a fair at Woodman’s Hall (located on the 2nd story of the 1898 Netherwood Building on Janesville Street). Afternoon and evening events were held at the fair including the serving of a cafeteria supper. Prof. Hintzman of the U.W Madison gave a lecture during the afternoon, entitled “The Individual and the Community.” Students from the surrounding rural schools displayed articles they had made for the Dane County Fair and presented a variety of music, readings, and dialogues, etc. One of the many dialogues was entitled “A Ghost in the Kitchen” performed by Howard and Raymond O’Neill, Henry Byrne, Florence Seely, Florence Pierce, and Eva Bethel.

The OHS Senior Class presented a production of the comedy drama “The Camouflage of Shirley” at the Olson Opera House. A “social dance” lasting until mid-night followed the play.

The cast included Joyce Pasley, Shirley Chandler, William Sweeney, Lillian Hanan, Catherine McWilliams, Marguerite Ozborn, Henry Sholts, Dorothy Manson, Dorothea Schuler, Ethel Murphy, Frances Tipple, Paul Barry, Nyna Criddle, and Bernice Cady.

Dan Benson returned from Verona and will again assist at the William Dunn Barber Shop.

 

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Gov. E. L. Phillipp appointed C. W. Netherwood as one of the commissioners of Harvey Park, better known as part of Camp Randall

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A Public Meeting Announced: “A meeting of the businessmen of the village, the village council, and others who may be interested, is called to meet at the Village Hall, Friday evening May 9 at 8 o’clock, for the purpose of considering ways and means for providing an honor roll of the boys of this vicinity who served in the army and navy.”

 

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The idea for a war memorial to honor WWI veterans originated in 1919 when residents of the community formed a Memorial Association. Along with the Village of Oregon, the Towns of Oregon, Rutland, Dunn and Fitchburg, also joined in raising funds. Residents contributed amounts of 50¢ to $25. A total of $16,00 was raised and the monument became a reality and was dedicated in 1920.

The following note about a military memorial appeared in The Oregon Observer: “To the people of Oregon and vicinity; the work of soliciting subscriptions for the soldiers’ memorial to be erected in this village is now under way. Solicitors report that there is a generous response to this most worthy cause. Everyone is invited to contribute. Don’t wait for the solicitor to call on you but go to him with your contribution. The following persons have charge of the soliciting: Town of Dunn, Nick Keeley and Randall Dick; Town of Rutland. Arthur Chandler and Erford Turner; Town of Fitchburg, H. A. Stone and Ed White; Town of Oregon, Arthur Sholts and Carl Nelson; Village Oregon, G. L. Booth and E. F. Kramer.”

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1969 (50 years ago)

OHS Senior, Mary Oelmann, won an “A” rating at the state forensic contest. Her original oratory entry was titled “Poverty- Our Internal War”.

 

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Roland Cross assumed a new position with the Oregon School District. He was named Assistant to the Superintendent in charge of Instruction. For the past 15 years he had served as the elementary school principal in the District.

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Erfurth Car Care Center offered a “completely automatic” car wash for 75 cents.

The Squire Clothing Store in downtown Oregon was offering “formal rentals” for the coming prom.

Neighbors came together to help the Don Johnson family with spring planting and farm work.   Don had earlier in the year suffered a heart attack and continued to be hospitalized. Some of those helping were Bill Wendt, Howard Severson, Leslie Jensen, Lyman Anderson, Dan O’Brien, Keith Thornton, Arlie Denton, Merlin Marshall, Melvin Riese, Clifford Riese, Ralph Bergeland, Robert Straub, Herb Wendt, Donald Sr. and Jr. Doyle, Mike Doyle, Leland Frautschy and son Russell, Don Wendt, Herman Stampfli and Harold Wilke. Others that helped later were Carl Weaver, Mark O’Brien, Ollie Haarklau, Ken Hageman, John Stone, Roger Lawry, Bob Lawry and Bud Johnson.

 

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Reigning over the 1969 Prom were (King), Randy Lawry and (Queen) Patty Dukerschein. (Princess) Sue Barry and (Prince) Jeff Sholts accompanied the Royal couple during the Grand March.

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Emmett “Shorty” Erfurth announced had he has sold his Shell Service Station on North Main Street to Charles “Chuck” McMannes.

A new C & P Food Center opened at 114 North Main Street formerly the Oregon Supermarket, now the site of the Firefly. Staff of the store were Clem Heinzel, manager; Bob Kopp, meat manager; Nellie Thornton, clerk;June Heinzel, clerk; and Eleanor McClure, clerk. Carl L. Payne was the president of the area C & P Food Centers.

Oregon retail stores announce that they will be open until 9:00 p.m. on Mondays to accommodate shoppers. They will also continue to be open on Friday nights until 9:00 p.m. The businesses that plan to be open for the expanded hours are Lawson Rexall Drugs, House of Home Fashions, The Squire, Peterson & Cusick Hardware, and Larson Paint & Wallpaper.

Father Charles Monroe announces that HMC Church will have a Saturday evening Mass starting, May 24th.

 

1994 (25 years ago)

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was performed for family and friends by Mrs. Deegan and Ms. Anderson’s fourth grade classes.

Scott Rohde and his wife, Michelle share duties as co-presidents of the Jaycees for the coming year.

Oregon’s Odyssey of the Mind team won first place at the state competition in Stevens Point (Division I, K-5). They will head to the World Finals in Ames, Iowa. Members of the team were Drew Baryenbruch, Oliver Messing, Andy Grover, Rachel Manley, Jerad Grimm, Emily Grover, and Vanessa Paster. The team coaches were Julia Grimm, Karen Young, and Penny Paster.

The Village Board considers a sidewalk master plan. Soden Drive was noted as being near a school, but lacking sidewalks the full length of the street.

OHS musicians selected to play in the Honors Project sponsored by Wisconsin School of Music were Sarah Halverson (violin) and Ben McIntosh (trombone) in the Honors Orchestra and David Skogen (percussion) in the Honors Band.

OHS pop vocal group, the Oregon Sound Company, under the direction of Tom Mielke and assisted by Susan Leigh, received a starred first rating for their performance at the State Music Festival. They performed “Listen to the Music” and That Rainy Day”.

Jamie Castello and Ryan Glassmaker were crowned Queen and King of the Prom.

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Atty. Charles Cell is honored by the Dane County Natural Heritage Foundation for his donation and efforts to preserve a portion of Story Brook Farm.

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On Friday afternoons a group of volunteers meet at the Senior Center to make crocheted, knitted, embroidered, painted and sewn items for the Annual Senior Center Bazaar. Those included in the group were Mary Blabaum, Caryl Farrell, Dorothy Alling, Evelyn Leslie, Cleo Ringhand, Marge Hoppman, Elllen Broadway, and their teacher, Dorothy Tauchen,

Badger quarterback, Darrell Bevell, was the guest speaker at the Annual Athletic Booster Club’s dinner and fundraiser. He commented on the 1993 season and the Rose Bowl victory.

Foxboro holds a grand opening for the layout of their new 18-hole golf course.

 

2009 (10 years ago)

Stormwater management continues to be an issue at Village Board meetings, especially at the Bergamont development and on Soden Drive.

With the return of spring, BrouxNellie’s Diner requested Oregon Planning Commission’s permission to create a larger outdoor dining area.

Brittany Musumeci and Joe Stetzer were named Queen and King of the OHS prom. The theme was “Midnight Masquerade”’.

Eighty-one OHS students attended the Annual Engineering Expo at the U. W. Madison, accompanied by math teachers David Ebert and Tracey Rosemeyer.

Highlighting OHS Orchestra students were Danielle Gervasi (violin), Stephanie Wille (violin), Logan Bewick (cello) , and Keith Peter (cello).

OHS students participated and won an automotive skills competition held at Madison Area Technical College’s open house. The team’s prize was a 2003 Saturn L-Series. The event was attended by over 1,100 students from high schools across southern Wisconsin. Oregon’s team included Andrew Walter, Casey Normington, Joe Ruelle, Jake Bachim, Brett Christensen, and Jessie Cordts.

A group of area citizens known as Friends of Liberty Pole Hill were working to restore the historic site in honor of those who fought in the Civil War and since. The site, located on State Hwy. 92 between Brooklyn and Dayton, was the place where area men were mustered in to fight during the Civil War.

The School Board voted to approve online/internet courses during the 2009-10 school year.

Hillcrest Bible Church installs a new head pastor, Rev. Eric Vander Ploeg.

OHS senior, Ben King, shot a round of 75 in golf competition at the WIAA Division 1 regional meet, qualifying him for a berth at the sectional meet.

The following personnel employed by the Oregon School District retired in 2009: Judy Baker, Marsha Biddick, Pat Fenner, Joseph Burmeister, Pat Wachtl, Elizabeth Karls, Alan Kuehl, John Lappley, Marcia McDermid, Steven Spiwak, and Marcia Taugher.

A couple of months ago, Kim Manny Brown, OHS English teacher, was recognized as a recipient of the Herb Kohl Education Foundation 2009 Fellowship Award for her “superior ability to inspire love of learning”. Both she and the school district were each awarded $1,000 for innovative educational projects.

Shannon Anderson becomes the new assistant principal at Oregon High Schools.

 

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The Lincoln Street Historic District was dedicated.   The district consists of five houses located on West Lincoln Street, representing residential homes of the late 19th Century, Queen Ann style.

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The Oregon Area Historical Society is pleased to host the authors of Wheel Fever. Hope you can join us– get the inside scoop on the book that’s become so popular with Wisconsin bicyclists.

Wheel Fever is the first book to describe the complex and fascinating history behind the popularity of bicycling in Wisconsin and what was behind Wisconsin’s first bicycling boom. The book is about the origins of bicycling in Wisconsin and why those origins still matter.

Nick Hoffman and Jesse Grant will describe this history that includes disputes about who should be allowed to ride, where they could ride, and even what they could wear. Nick and Jesse have been sought after speakers since the release of their book and we are pleased that they will be able to join us. Copies of their book will be on sale at the meeting.

The authors will also talk about our own Bicycle Factory here in Oregon (1890-1900). The building still stands near the water tower.

Jesse Gant and Nicholas Hoffman

About the authors: Nicholas J. Hoffman is Chief Curator at the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton, Wisconsin, and has written articles for the Wisconsin Magazine of History. His lifelong interest in Midwest history led to a master’s in history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A native of Hillsboro, Wisconsin, and an avid cyclist, he enjoys exploring the state’s landscape on two wheels.

Jesse J. Gant is a PhD candidate in history at UW-Madison. During the 2014-2015 academic year, he is working as a Public Humanities fellow with the Wisconsin Humanities Council and the UW Center for the Humanities. He has research and teaching interests in nineteenth-century United States history. A native of Janesville, Wisconsin, he has written for the History News Network, the Indiana Magazine of History, the Wisconsin Magazine of History, and other venues. Jesse is a committed cyclist who divides his time between Madison and Saint Louis.