Oregon History Timeline for February 2020

Compiled by Jerry Neath of the Oregon Area Historical Society

 

100 years ago (1920)

A play at the Olson’s Opera House is being planned for the benefit of the Standard Bearers. The cast will include Donald McGill, Bernice Hanan, Christophina Johnson, Stanley Chandler, Chris Olson, Mrs. Floyd Patterson, Ethel Murphy, Herbert Golden, and Marie McGill.

The Standard Bearers work purely for humanitarian and Christianizing causes; supporting as they have, a Chinese missionary student and a hospital service in those countries where service is not one-tenth to what it is in our country. Every cent of the receipts go for the above worthy cause.

According to the recent surveys of the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Dane County, with 75,000 head of milk cows, leads all other Wisconsin counties.

 


 

John Gilbert & Son (doing business in the Christenson Building) advertised that with each Pennsylvania Vacuum Cup Tire purchased during the month of February one free Pennsylvania Ton Tested inner Tube will be given.

 


 

Norton Ames visited his parents Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Ames. He had just returned from Minneapolis. Following his visit, he will travel to San Antonio, Texas on behalf of the Samson Tractor Co.

 


 

Norman Champion, owner of Oregon Heating and Air Conditioning, was elected president of the Independent Sheet Metal and Air Conditioners, Madison Area Association.

 


 

The Oregon Cub Scout Den Mothers of Troop No. 350 were recognized at the Annual Blue and Gold Banquet. Those recognized were Gen Snow, Kate Beck, Mary Johnson, Jean Reece, Joyce Benjamin, Gail Kluever, Carol Robert.

Arthur R. Kurtz, Assistant Secretary of the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, was the keynote speaker at the F. F. A. Banquet.

P.T.A. Fun Night drew one of the largest crowds in the history of the event. The committee organizing the event was headed by Emmett Barger and Orrill Ferguson.

The five fourth grade classes at the Oregon Elementary School released 160 helium filled weather balloons as part of their weather unit studies. Each balloon was equipped with a post card wrapped in a plastic bag.   Anyone finding a card should send it back to the school recording where, when, and under what weather conditions the card was found.

Senator William Proxmire spoke to an assembly of OHS students, followed by a question and answer period. The senator spoke about the real opportunities that America has in the future and some of the present pitfalls that we need to avoid.

The Village storage building, a 40 by 100 feet, steel pole type structure, (now the site of new Youth Building) is taking shape. It will provide storage room for various Chamber of Commerce Holiday items and Village equipment and items as needed.

 

25 years ago (1995)

 

The First Presbyterian Church is making plans to celebrate its 150th Anniversary.
Rev. Matthew Fox, the church’s first pastor, served the congregation for almost four decades.

 


 

Shaka Smart was named January’s Optimist Youth of the month.

 


 

The Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Meeting and Casino Night at DJ’s Steakhouse on February 4th. Chuck Cell was named Business Person of the year.

St. John’s Lutheran Church plans to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. The name was chartered as the Danish Lutheran Church on February 7, 1896 but was changed to St. John’s in 1934 after which all services were conducted in English.

Cindy Peterson opens Peterson Travel in the recently completed Autumn Woods Professional Centre.

The Village Board approved a study of the Jefferson pedestrian tunnel by Gaskell Engineering Co..   The cost was not to exceed $10,500. The study would be in three phases and could be cancelled at any time. The purpose was to establish the safety of the tunnel passageway.

OHS kicked off their 4th Annual Multi-cultural Celebration. Performing at the opening was a performance by the Ballet Folkorico of Mexico. The session ended with a talk by State Representative [now senator] Tammy Baldwin, “Prejudice and Homophobia”.

A religious group, Reformed Congregation, attempted to buy land in the Town of Oregon for retreats, but were turned down. At a town meeting more than 100 Town of Oregon residents turned out to oppose the request.

The OHS student council planned a “Down on the Farm” theme for the boys’ basketball game against Monroe on February 24th.   Everyone was encouraged to get decked out their favorite farm/country apparel.

Schroeder Publications, Inc. (publisher of the Oregon Observer and other area newspapers) make plans for a new building at 845 Market Street

The 8th Annual Midwest Choral Festival was held at the Oregon High School. Over 150 choral students from five regional schools sang and studied during the day long event under the direction of guest instructor, Prof. Sharon Hanson, Director of choral activities   at the U. W. Milwaukee.

 

10 years ago (2010)

The Village Board approved spending $3,450 for ten directional signs to help people locate destinations within the village.

The Village Broad requested Mark Below, director of public works, to get Dane County to make repairs to Hwy. CC (Jefferson Street).    The road was within Dane County’s jurisdiction. However, after any overlays were made, jurisdiction would be transferred to the village.

The Oregon Middle School students rehearsed for the 10th Annual Madrigal Dinner. Heather Rattmann directed the event.

An EcoCenter is being planned and will be built next to the Middle School.

The Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce met for the Annual Awards Dinner and Meeting. The theme of the meeting was “I Love Oregon”. Marty and Debbi Verhelst of Verhelst C.P.A. were honored with the Longtime Service Award. Ray and Alice Antoniewicz and their family of A-Z Farm were selected to receive the 2009 Outstanding Business Person of the Year Award.

The 2009 Community Improvement Award went to the Oregon School District for the renovation and reconstruction of the Oregon Community Pool. Holy Mother of Consolation received the 2009 Community Award as well for completing the renovation of Consolation Hall and keeping a number of local workers in business at a time when many area contractors have been seeking slowdowns.

Seventh grader, Hannah Brady, after placing first at the local spelling bee, will advance to the regional competition at the Stoughton High School. She won the local contest by spelling correctly the   word, “innocuous”.

OHS Senior, David Beers got his 100th career victory in wrestling at the Badger South Conference dual finale against Fort Atkinson.

OHS students and the community raised more than $12,000 for earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

OHS students stage Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”. Kathy Tissot was the OHS drama advisor. Lead roles were taken by Sami Elmer (as Elizabeth Proctor); David Holmes (as John Proctor); Sarah Hassam (as Abigail Williams); R. J. Heim (as Gov. Danfortj); Rachel Chisman (as Tituba); Cody Waters (as Rev. John Hale); Luis Dario Villalobos Castro (as Rev. Samuel Parris); Stefanie Ballesta (as Rebecca Nurse); and Emma Syth (as Mary Warren).

The Oregon Public Library had a total circulation in 2009 of 323,386, an increase of 7.11%. Five thousand, eight-hundred and forty-nine Village of Oregon area residents had registered library cards.