Florice Paulson

Florice A. Paulson (August 28, 1917-June 11, 2013) was a driving force in so many Oregon institutions including the Oregon Area Historical Society and Museum. Florice was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oregon and the Oregon Chapter, No. 49 Order of the Eastern Star where she was Worthy Matron in 1950 and served on the Wisconsin Grand Chapter as Grand Chaplain. She was also a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, Silver Threads Senior Citizens Organization, and the Oregon Area Historical Society.

Prom 1934
Henry Dreher and Florice Paulson, King and Queen of the 1934 Prom. L to R: Alladine Hams, Ed Ellis, Doris Litch, Reggie Mandt, Florice Paulson, Henry Dreher, Ida Kemmit, Richard Sprague, Margaret Manson, Bill Hammersley, Rodger Stryne (behind Florice) and Steve Madsen (behind Henry and Ida)

Florice was born on August 28, 1917, in Madison, the daughter of Arthur P. and Mona (Hanan) Paulson. Florice was the Prom Queen in 1934 before graduating from Oregon High School. She then attended the University of Wisconsin, and graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha.

Paulson was an English and Social Studies teacher in Endeavor, Marathon, Monticello, Sun Prairie, and Oregon, retiring in 1970. 

Paulson had a passion for local history and was one of 16 founding members of the Oregon Area Historical Society in 1987 and gained official recognition for affiliation with the Wisconsin State Historical Society a year later, and created a governing chapter board.

In 1989, Paulson bought the building at 159 W. Lincoln St., the former Oregon Lumber Company building, and donated it to OAHS in honor of her parents and grandparents. The museum dedication was held in May 1991 and the museum opened in October 1992.

Florice Paulson pictured, woman with white hair in a blue shirt

For years, Paulson wrote a column for the Oregon Observer called “Walk Back in Time.” In the early 1990s, she compiled the columns into a book of the same name which can be purchased in the General Store. Paulson was also responsible for putting together a booklet: “Oregon School District Rural and Village Schools from 1846 to 1998: From Immigrant to Internet.” The Historical Society later expanded on Paulson’s work identifying the area’s rural schools by placing a plaque at the site of each one.

Preserving Oregon’s history was Florice Paulson’s passion and she was a very important benefactor to the Oregon Area Historical Society and Museum.