DONALD MCGILL
Donald McGill was a familiar face and prominent figure around Oregon for many years serving as Postmaster, Village Clerk/Treasurer, and member of the People’s Methodist Church since 1902. He was a member of the Oregon Masonic Lodge since 1922, where he received the highest honor of 33rd Degree Mason. Mr. McGill was meticulous in researching and recording history; including compiling and publishing a history of the Methodist Church and another of the Oregon Masonic Lodge. Perhaps in the same vein of preserving history, Don became a prolific photographer. We are benefactors of his many photos of the village; as well as of family, friends and neighbors who gathered at the McGill home for various events. Those of us who attended school in Oregon will surely remember having our class pictures taken as we lined up in front of the Red Brick School. Many of those pictures, compliments of Mr. McGill, adorn the pages of our Class Yearbooks.
A lifelong resident of the Village of Oregon, Donald was born in 1888. He attended school here, graduating in 1907. On a reed organ – one that you pump with your feet — Don began playing the organ as soon as his feet could reach the pedals. He had no formal instruction on the organ, learning instead by observation and endless hours at the keyboard. An accomplished organist, he spent a lifetime playing organ for churches, the Masonic Lodge and even the Madison Civic Symphony.