This Month in History
April
The following material was compiled by Gerald Neath for the Oregon Area Historical Society from material published in the Oregon Observer.
1915 (100 years ago)The Oregon Concert Band was organized by Stanley Coward. Members of the band were Stanley Coward, Dallas Lamont, H. W. Clapp and Geo. Toehold, cornets; Thorval Therkelsen and Morris Jackson, clarinets; Fred Luchsinger and Alex Anderson, altos; Louis Pease and Lyman Jackson, slide trombones; Harry Taylor, baritone; Harry Dreher, B flat base; Clayton Buskirk, E flat bass; Ira Johnson, bass drum; and Raymond Comstock, snare drum.In addition to the new concert band, an orchestra of twelve has been organized. Members of the orchestra were Roy Cowdrey, piano; Wm. Dunn, Floyd Plumb, and Burnice Horton,violins; Thorval Therkelson and Morris Jackson clarinets; Stanley Coward and Dallas Lamont, cornets; Louis Pease, slide trombone; Dill Joslin, cello; Clayton Buskirk, bass drum; and Raymond Comstock, snare drum.

It was announced that the Oregon Opera House is under new management. L. F. Buskirk had purchased it from O. W. Sherman. Buskirk promises that numerous improvements will be made, including a modern heating system.

The Oregon Telephone Company reported that their new directory contained 413 names. The new directory was described as “bound in a neat gray cover printed in two colors and makes a very pretty appearance.”

C. H. Hamilton, who had operated a barber shop in the Netherwood Building for the past five years, sold his business and equipment to Dan Benson of Stoughton. Hamilton will be moving to Adams where he purchased another barber shop. Dan, who had been in partnership with William Hamlet at a barber shop in Stoughton, will be moving his family to Oregon and will be operating a barber shop here.

It’s again time for residents to get rid of their spring rubbish. However, they were reminded of a village ordinance which makes it a misdemeanor to dump this rubbish on any of the streets, alleys, or public grounds and especially on a plot of ground opposite the lumber yard office.

Area school districts held contests in spelling, rapid calculation and declamation. The event was held at the Oregon High School. Winning in spelling were Nora Grady and Emily Francis (both of Oregon); in rapid calculation the winners were Dorothea Schuler and Mary Hanson (both of Oregon); In declamation the winners were Ruth Lahrer (Fitchburg) and Gladys Henderson (Verona).

1965 (50 years ago)

The results of the spring elections for the Village of Oregon were as follows: Village President and County Supervisor, F. E. Madsen (unopposed with 276 votes); the three trustees elected were Erwin Olson, Gerald Booth, and Jay Bossingham.

Five OHS students placing first in Class A at the district music solo and ensemble contests advanced to the state competitions in Oshkosh. Barbara and Laurel Black played a piano duet; Signe Schroeder played a piccolo solo; Laurel Black, Ellice Mitchell, and Pat Pasell played in a flute trio; and Pat Pasell and Ellice Mitchell each played a flute solo.

Young area bowlers winning awards at the Madison Youth Bowling Tournament were Doug Dukerschein, Bud Frye, Debbie Frye, Kris Hansen, Nancy McManus, Diane Nyhus and Lorene Stichter.

Plans for the new 1.5 million dollar high school were revealed. It is to be located on a 43 acre site on the northeast side of the village. The target date for its completion is the fall of 1966.

Getting ready for door-to-door village mail delivery on the 7th of May, the post office named Arlen Christensen and Charles Lundey, the mail carriers.

The OHS and Junior High choristers plan for their spring concert. Those planning to participate included a boys’ quartet consisting of Terry Navis, George Wallace, Jim Bossingham, and Larry Wegger. A girl’s triple trio will also perform. Members of the triple trio were Barbara Cox, Georgia Paynter, Sue Inslee, Dagmar Schramm, Philayne Knutson, Candy McKinstry, Jackie Molony, Joan Ace, and Vicki Fink.

Remember when you could take your junk and trash to the Village dump? Winston Hughart, Village Clerk, gave notice in the newspaper that the village dump has been permanently closed. City Disposal Corp. was now taking care of the village’s garbage and trash.

Milton J. Wischhoff, Sr., retires after over 50 years in the jewelry business. His Main Street store will be taken over by the Bank of Oregon for future expansion.

At the annual FFA Banquet, Jim Amherdt won Senior Award in Agriculture for contributing the most in FFA and vocational agriculture along with his other extra-curricular activities during his high school career. George Outhouse was recognized as ‘Honorary Farmer of the Year.”

Three OHS students won “A” ratings at the state forensic contests. The winners were Shirley Lamb, Patricia Powers, and Toni Rogers.

1990 (25 years ago)

The Oregon Straw Hat Players presented a production of “Godspell”. David Laver was the production’s designer and director and Gullo Hetland the assistant music director. The cast included R. Allen Rickman (John the Baptist/Judas); Jace Nichols (Jesus); Julie Brindley Prochaska (a disciple), Jacy Catlin (the prodigal son); Joel Kapusta (the older brother). and Pat Hetland (the father)

Japanese student, Risa Sakumoto, is staying in Oregon under the Rotary International Student Exchange Program. Having arrived last August, her three host families have been Michael and Alice Seeliger, Deborah Clark and her daughter, Angela, and Arlan and Lori Kay.

The Brooklyn Lutheran Church celebrated its 40th. anniversary on Sunday, April 22, 1990. Former pastors planning to attend the event included Robert Hansen, Roland Hansen, Cyril Janrey, James McClure, and Elizabeth Druckrey Stempinski, and possibly Robert Bethelson.

Debra Bossingham, daughter of Jim and Beverly Bossingham, was crowned Miss Oregon for 1990. Master of Ceremonies, Buzz Hanson, entertained the group singing to the accompaniment of Rosalie Penniston on the accordion. The Chamber of Commerce committee making arrangements for the event included Pauline McMannes, chairperson, Peg Hanson, Buzz Hanson, Anne Timmel, Dawn Rae Grinnell, Charlie Hagstrom, Shirley Humburg, Arlene Colburn, Trish Allen, and Bob Gannon.

Oregon Junior High students, Sarah Halverson, and Steve Klein won in area zone Optimist Oratorical Contest in Madison and will advance to the district meet in Green Bay where they will compete against the 16 zone winners from throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

Local farmer, Phil Peterson, was elected board president of the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., Morning Glory Farms Region, which represents approximately 7,000 dairy farmers in states throughout the Midwest.

Harvey Bjerke became the first resident of Main Street Quarters, the newly completed assisted living residential facility connected to the Oregon Manor Nursing Home.

The Oregon Youth Soccer Association dedicated the Ward Huntoon Memorial Soccer Field, located on the east side of the Jaycee Park across from the park shelter located off of North Oak St.

The second annual community choral concert was held at HMC Church consisting of choir members from the local churches and the choirs of the Oregon High School, directed by Tom Mielke.

Six members of the Oregon Panther Wrestling Club qualified for the state meet. Those qualifying were David Krueger, Brek Burgweger; Rick Clayton, Dave Starks, Jeremy Ace, and Brad Pernot.

2005 (10 years ago

The spring elections returned Steve Staton and Eric Poole to the Oregon Village Board and elected Hans Noeldner to the board. Jerry Luebke ran unopposed for Village President. In the Village of Brooklyn Board race, Tracei Schaefer and Todd Klahn tied for the final trustee seat with 73 votes each. Schaefer won the seat by a coin toss.

The Village of Oregon and Nick Ladopoulos reached an agreement for the acquisition of 16 plus acres (located between Netherwood Road and Co. Why. C.C.) for a Westside Community Park. The purchase price of $730,000, provided the village with a total acreage of 30.55, when in the final agreement nearly half of the acreage was acquired by a donation.

Performances of “The Hobbit” were given at the Prairie View Elementary School’s Little Theater.

Ruth Klahn retired as Town of Oregon Clerk after 30 years of service. In her honor, The Town of Oregon proclaimed April 12, 2005 as Ruth M. Klahn Day.

Randy Sellnow announced that he will resign as of the 29th of April as fire chief of the Oregon Area Fire\EMS Commission. It was recommended that Lance Langer, a lieutenant for the Madison Fire Dept., serve as interim chief with the assistance of Cheryl Endicott, a citizen member of the Fire/EMS Joint Board, and Rick Andersen, who will handle administrative duties.

Arlen Milestone is honored at the annual Lions Club Convention with three certificates in recognition of his service and leadership achievements for the organization.

Drew Thompson, Bill Graff, and Karl Larson, members of the Gulf Co,, 2nd Battalion, ; 24th. Marines, 4th. Division returned home after ten months deployment, which included seven months in Iraq.

Last month the Village of Brooklyn kicked off their year long centennial celebration with a banquet, the presentation of a commemorative plaque by Senator Jon Erpenbach, musical performances and history displays. Brooklyn was first settled by Scottish and English settlers in 1855 and was incorporated as a village, March 8, 1905.


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