This Month in History
August
The following material was compiled by Gerald Neath for the Oregon Area Historical Society from material published in the Oregon Observer.
100 years ago (1914)Wm. H. Brown of Oregon defeated Nels Quale in a 10 mile walking match for the championship of the state. The match was held at the Stoughton armory. About 100 fans from Oregon cheered him on to victory. Brown finished about 40 feet ahead of Quale with the winning time of one hour and thirty-two minutes. This was the first time Quale had been beaten in over 20 years.

A meeting of Presbyterian youth had as its discussion topic, “How and Why to Abolish War”.(Note: 1914 witnessed the outbreak of World War I)

A farm in the village was for sale by the Oregon Land Company. It was described as follows: Seventy acres in the Village of Oregon, a cement walk to farm, a good fertile soil, lays nearly level, buildings nearly new, consisting of a good 8-room house, a good barn, tobacco shed, corn crib, chicken house, well and wind mill. Price $185.00 per acre with $600.00 cash payment. Ten years time will be given on balance at 5 per cent per annum.”

E. G. Booth went to Chicago to purchase a seven passenger Peerless automobile. He had Leslie Booth drive it back to Oregon. The vehicle will be used as a “pleasure car” however, a truck body will be made for it so that it could also be used to deliver furniture.

It was noted that a party of young ladies would be spending the week at Camp Dewey along Lake Kegonsa. The party consisted of Misses Nora and Maude Trow, Mabel and Lillie Peterson, Blanche and Helen Shampnor, Charlene Wackman, Ida Green, Susie Dreher, Marcella Taylor, Margaret and Leta Litch. They were being chaperoned by Mrs. Chas. Wackman.

Miss Cornelia DeJean left for a couple weeks stay in Milwaukee and Chicago to study new fall styles in millinery. It was noted that her store would be closed during her absence.

The telephone company requested that their patrons make their calls by using only the phone numbers. It was nearly an impossibility for a new phone operator to remember the number of each patron by name; therefore it would require her to look up the number, slowing down the service to others wishing to make calls at the same time.

50 years ago (1964)

The Ray-O-Vac Company brought together some 100 salesmen and staff to Brooklyn for a National Sales Meeting. Brooklyn native and Ray-O-Vac merchandising manager, “Morrie” Anderson, arranged for the event which was held in the Brooklyn Community Building. Their four chartered buses were met between Oregon and Brooklyn by Brooklyn fire vehicles blowing their sirens. When they arrived at the Brooklyn Community Center, the Oregon High School Band was on hand to welcome them.

Oregon organized a swimming team to compete with teams in the surrounding area.. Although the team placed last in the recent competition, several were awarded individual honors: (15-17 age group) Gary Pierce placed 1st in the free style, 3rd in the breast stoke and 4th in the back stoke; Kathy Kemp also placed 4th in the back stroke; (13-14 age group) Rick Stamm placed 3rd in the free style and 4th in the back stroke, Mark Kellogg finished 3rd in the breast stoke, and Jim Anderson placed 4th in back stroke; and (10 yrs. and younger) Palm Elmer placed 1st in back stroke.

Two horses owned by Tom and Jeanne Caine of Caine’s Sunnyside Acres received honors at recent fairs. A yearling filly, “Abie’s Jeannie”, shown by Pat O’Brien, was Grand Champion at both the Stoughton and Dane County fairs. A registered bay yearling stallion, “Enchanted Hours”, was Reserve Champion in the regular Shetland division at the Dane County Fair.

The new $100,000 addition to the Brooklyn Elementary School has been completed and will be ready for use in the coming school year.

Kleen-Brite Cleaners, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Don Fritz, opens for business in the Staley building on North Main Street.

The John Black family welcomed Oregon School District’s first AFS student, Dagmar Schramm, from Graz, Austria. She will be staying with the Black family for the next ten months while attending Oregon High School.

25 years ago (1989)

A local cycling group calling themselves “The Breakfast Club” takes on their next challenge; a 500 mile mile ride across Iowa. Members of the club included Erik Kay, Bardford Marshall, Paul Maki, Ron Morken, and Nat Morken. E. Jerry Tyler also a member of the group but was out of town for this event. The ride was part of the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAG-BRAI)

Jerry Ace had the Grand Champion Wether lamb at the Dane County Fair as well as bringing home seven other trophies. Community National Bank bought his Wether lamb at the Dane County Meat Sale for a record $1,488.

Local award winners at the Dane County Fair with their horses and ponies were Donna Thornton who had the Grand Champion Western Pony Equitation; Diane Thornton with the Grand Champion Western Pony Pleasure; Amy Marshall, the Grand Champion Western Pony Halter; Carry Lange with the Grand Champion Saddle seat Equitation; Kellie Frye, the Grand Champion Saddle seat Hunt Pony Pleasure and Catherine Colburn with Fair Belle Grand Champion Training Level Test 2 – Dressage.

The OHS Summer Work Experience Program of “earn while you learn” wrapped up. Those participating in the program and the businesses they worked for were Amy Haefner (The After School Club); Tim Humberg (Old Stage Auto); Sheri Koss (Little Folks Growing Center); Lynn Powers (Chub’s Restaurant); and Todd Staffon (Community National Bank). They were under the supervision of their teachers Maryanne Olson and Colleen Schell.

The Grand Prize Winners at the Chamber of Commerce’s Maxwell Street Days were Alice Bahr (1st prize, $150); Lloyd Moen (2nd prize, $100); and Earl Harried (3rd prize, $50.)

The Oregon Bowl invited all area bowlers to stop in and try their newly installed automatic scorers.

The Oregon Home Talent Baseball Team ended a successful season with a 7-0 league record, but lost in post-season games to Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove. Members of the team included Paul Dimming, Ben Conklin, Randy Lewis, Scott Brandenburg, Dave Johnson, John Barwick, Paul Mandt, Mike Kissling, Denny Johnson, Steve Zach, Keith Olson, Paul Speth, Curt Leizer, Jeff Bretbach, Jim Rotheal, Jeff Holtaus, Mark Johnson (bat boy) and Ed Richardson.

Optometrists, Farrar, Farrar and James announced that they would be moving their Oregon office from their Dewey Street location to 185 West Netherwood Street.

The Oregon High School office personnel moved into their newly remodeled working quarters. The total cost of the project was about $20,000 and took six weeks to complete.

Eugster’s Farm Market & Petting Farm held their Grand Opening on August 19th.

10 years ago (2004)

The U-17 Soccer Team caped off a successful season, winning the Yahara Invitational in Verona and the Upper Midwest Classic Tournament in Neenah. Team members were Ty Mavis, Andrew Krenz, Nick Frautschy, Nick Schmidt, Ryan Parks, Matt Gehn, Eric Knudson, David Dundore, Marcus Thoma, Eivind Hesselberg, Drew Steinhorst, Anthony Diercks, Jared Kuehl, Kevin Pauley, Kyle Koberle, and coach Mike Gehn.

Amy Keppert left as director of the Oregon Youth Center; Charlie Wilder will fill her position.

Cindy Lou Hoesly and Gary Walker help form the 14 South Artists Group to promote area artists.

Among the winners in the Oregon Community Fun Run were Matt Sveum, Will Hoyer, and Matt Hubert (males 10k); Anne Heaslett, Deborah Mahoney, and Emmi Perrin (females 10k); Dan Schneider, Stave Klehfoth, and Ryan Breidenbach (males 5k); Jan Holzern, Tricia Nicks, and Beth Schadd (females 5k ). Fifth grader, Brent Johnson, captured his 3rd straight 1k win. There were other age group winners as well.

The People’s United Methodist Church held groundbreaking ceremonies for their new church which will be located at the corner of Hwy. CC and North Alpine Parkway. Over 75 people turned out for the service and ceremony, presided over by Pastor Howard Hintzman. Two of the congregation’s oldest members assisted in the groundbreaking, Lucille Brown (93) and Dorathea Smith (92) along with one of the congregation’s younger members, Colin Legler.

Susie Utynek of the Oregon Senior Center organized a group of women to sew donated boxes of quilt squares together into four large quilts. Those taking up the challenge of creating the four quilts were Maxine Culp, Helen Smith, Kathy Jo Dahl, Della Silbaugh, Mabel Wolf, Sharon Flynn and Margaret West.

Oregon Middle School students attended the Wisconsin Association of School Councils. Those attending workshops were Melissa Tealey, Abby Johnson, Stephanie Henn, Danl Trudell, Katie Kaeppler, Mandy Davis, Petter Tissot, Sara Padley Cali Stephens, Callistra Schmitz and Katie Richards. Their adult counselor was Melissa Mader.

About 400 people attend the Community Corn Roast sponsored by Oregon Community Bank and Trust. The event was a fund raiser for the Oregon Area Educational Foundation in addition to being an open house for the bank’s new Alpine Parkway office.


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