Oregon History Timeline for August 2019
Compiled by the Oregon Area Historical Society
100 years ago (1919)
The firemen were called out when a small blaze started from an overturned oil stove
in the rooms occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Leuffy over the opera house.
Before the department arrived the fire had been extinguished.
Shown in Photo: Fire equipment with Shorty Erfurth
Arthur Alling sold to J. C. Thornton & Son two purebred Holstein heifers. These will be a part of the foundation for a herd of purebred Holsteins, which the Thorntons expect to build.
Burdette Ace met with an accident while delivering for the Sweeney Grocery Store. As he was getting out of the wagon the horse jumped, throwing Burdette out on his head and shoulder, rendering him unconscious. He recovered nicely and will be around soon as usual.
Dan Clark was quite badly bruised and injured when he was thrown from his wagon when his team ran away on the road west of town.
John Feeney met with quite an accident in Madison when his auto was struck by a streetcar. The auto was quite badly wrecked but the occupants of the of the car were fortunately not hurt.
The foundation for the soldier’s memorial was put in. The memorial will stand almost in the center of the village square, the most conspicuous point in the Village. It is expected that the granite shaft will be here in a short time. As far as is known Oregon is the first town in the State to erect a memorial in honor of the soldiers and sailors of the World War.
The Oak Hall Ladies Aid scheduled a basket social in the Oak Hall Church.
The program will include talks by Arthur Lacy and Elmer Peterson about their overseas experiences during World War I.
Sgt. H. R. Madsen returned home after spending a year in France and Germany. He was cited for distinguished conduct during the Meuse-Argonne drive where he continually remained on duty often during severe shell-fire and airplane bombing.
There were a few hours delay in the mailing of the Observer caused by a breakdown of the gas engine while the papers were being printed.
Jas. Cusick, John Litel, and John Cusick bought the E. H. Lyons farm of 395 acres in the Town of Oregon. The farm was formerly known as the Ole Egner place. The sale included the live- stock, farm products, machinery, etc.
50 years ago (1969)
The Oregon A & W Root Beer stand (768 North Main Street) was offering a free gallon of root beer with an order of 10 regular hamburgers.
The Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Penny Days” in the downtown square. The Rotary Club reported 443 fish fry dinners. sold. The cotton candy machine was a popular stop with nearly 2,000 treats being served. The three day event also included a chicken barbecue, ball games, a donkey baseball game, tug of war contests, in addition to many of the local businesses offering “Penny Days” sidewalk specials.
The Brooklyn Boosters beat the Oregon Chamber of Commerce members 3-1 in the Donkey Soft Ball game held during “Penny Days”.
The new Jaycee donated park shelter just east of the swimming pool was dedicated. Following the dedication there was a chicken barbecue and dance. (The shelter was later dedicated in memory of James Lease.)
As Oregon expands new street improvements are progressing. The streets that are set for improvement are Nygaard Street, Burr Oak Avenue, Florida Avenue, Park Street, and portions of Oak Street, Kennedy Drive, and Veldor Street. Other street projects scheduled to be completed are those on Monroe Street, and North Main Street from Netherwood to Richards Road.
The Oregon District School Board awarded Baird & Company the 1.6 million dollar bond purchase for building a new elementary school to at the end of Soden Drive.
Van and Shirley’s Restaurant on South Main Street advertises home cooked dinner meals.
The Home Talent Baseball Team ends its first season in the western section of the area wide Home Talent League with a 2-4 record. Members of the local team were Gregg Judd, Denny Burns, Rick Olson, Jack Ricker, Tom Stamm, Wayne Payne, Jim Fralish, Ed Lemke, Denny Johnson, Lowell Hanson, John Vincent, Ron Stamm, and Bud Johnson. Two of the Oregon players, infielder Jack Ricker and catcher, Lowell Hanson will go on to play in The Home Talent League’s All-Star Championship Game when it plays the Southern Section.
Members of the “20-25” Card Club will celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a trip to Niagara Falls. Members of the club were Mr.and Mrs. Erwin Lawry, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Bossingham, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Freitag, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Steinhauer, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Ace, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sholts, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Champion, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ellis, Mr.and Mrs, Orrill Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Albertson.
Champions in the Oregon Golf Tour League this year was the team of Paul’s Supermarket. Members of the team were Paul Kohlman, Rich Mandeville, Marv Jensen, Richard “Andy” Anderson, and Earl Frye. Golfers interested in joining the league next year were advised to contact Jay Winter or Pat Swinehart.
25 years ago (1994)
Ginger’s Dance School celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
Shown in photo: Kristin Woodworth, Mary Katic, Dena Schneeberger, and Ginger Gefke.
The Oregon Area Senior Center opens a gift shop. Dorothy Alling , Dorothy, Tauchen and many others were responsible for initiating the shop. They will handle a variety of items, including embroidered pillowcase sets, baby sweaters, lace doilies, potpourri containers, etc. all donated.
The 2nd Annual trip to Washington, D. C. was taken by 46 eighth grade students plus 5 teacher chaperones.
The Red Dino Class of Kurious Kids Academy took a field trip to Maria’s Pizza to find out how pizza is made. Ben Johnson tasted a slice of pepperoni while Kristin Anne and
Andrew Verheist and other classmates look on.
Hollywood Video (787 North Main Street) holds a Grand Opening. If you rent two movies on Saturday you will receive a free two liter bottle of Pepsi.
The Chamber of Commerce announces that Judy Darrow will be their new representative.
The Village Board proposes that a series of informational meetings be held about the need for a larger library and a presentation of a possible design for a new $900,000 building.
Paula Ace, a five-year member of the Oregon Headliners 4-H Club, exhibited the Grand Champion Wether at the Dane County Fair. The 122-pound lamb was purchased by Woodman’s for $10.25 a pound.
The Oregon Women’s tug-of-war team qualified for the World Championship competition in Upsaala Sweden. Members of the team included Diane Donahue, Dena Kuebli, Amy Brueschar, Helen Lucas, Shelby Richardson, Mary Jo Anderson, Mollie Christensen, Kathy Wells, Deb Swenson, Terry Meissen, and Carla Patterson.
10 years ago (2009)
The Village Board took action to solve the Peaceful Heart’s water problem fixing a leaking storm sewer pipe beneath South Main Street and related problems due to the water damage.
Two hundred runners participated in the annual Oregon Fun Run.
Lyndsey Lopez will again compete in the Miss Wisconsin USA pageant. She came in 16th last year, just missing a spot in the final 15.
The Straw Hat Players presented a production of “Once Upon a Mattress”.
The Oregon Community Sports Arena celebrated its first year of operation. The 42,000 square foot facility served as home for the Oregon Hockey team, as well as serving the needs of other community organizations including the Oregon Alternative School.
The second phase of the downtown make over is on its way. It will involve remaking the Hitching Park and improvements to Brook and Spring Streets, the Village Hall parking lot and the Waterman Triangle Park.
The Brooklyn Mighty Mites 4-H club members made fleece blankets to be given to children in the Madison area hospitals. The project was called Project Linus. Club members were Paige Blumer, Nikita Crubaugh, Kylee Blumer, Francesca Ruth, Taylor Martin, Kajal Russell, Josie Ruth, Flaviana Ruth, Garish Russell, Chioe Crubaugh, Robert Ruth, Lydia Russell, Anita Russell, Mariahi Martinl, Gracie Joyce, Nidhi Shah, Danielle Rockwell, Claire Joyce and Rachel Rockwell.
Dan Huebsch is the new OHS Girl’s Golf coach. Returning letterwinners were Marisa Koch, McKenzie Parks, Linde Sundell, Morgan Pechauer, Megan Whip, and Abby Busler. They were to go on to take top honors at the Wisconsin Dells Invite.
Jackie Simpson, a former two time U.W All-American, has become head volleyball coach at OHS, replacing retiring coach Stan Eddy.
The Boy’s Soccer Team had an early season win over Sauk Prairie 3-0. Returning letterwinners for the OHS team were Taylor Johnston, Brian Jenn, Karl Brock, Mathias Thoma, Shane Whittemore, Trevor Scales, Jason Hinz, Alex Kaeppler, David Beers, Brian Jacobs, Ian Chtistensen, Mitch Kannal. Joshua Baker, James DeBano, Brooks McMahon, and Masees Mesdjian.
Country View Veterinary Services has received AAHA Accreditation (American Animal Hospital Association). Only about 15% of all small animal veterinary practices receives the accreditation.