Oregon History Timeline for January 2017
100 yrs. ago (1917)
Village tax collector, Fred Luchsinger, noted that Oregon taxpayers would be called upon to raise $14,491.04 for the coming year, which was $2,000 more than the past year. The main reasons for the increase were expenses for improvements of the viaduct and school costs.
New books obtained by the local library included: “Story of a Bad Boy” by Aldrich; “Seventeen” by Tarkington; “Eyes of the World” by Wright; “Quintin Durvard” by Scott;
“Huckelberry Finn” by Twain; “Isobel Carleton’s Year” by Ashmun; “The Night Cometh” by Bourget; “Story of Siegfied” by Baldwin; and “Thirteenth Commandment” by Hughes.
J. Hobbs had the following notice for his customers: “On account of the high price of feed and labor I am obliged to inform my milk customers that after January 10th, 1917, I will charge seven cents per quart for milk.”
The Order of the Eastern Star installed new officers for 1917: Mona Paulsen, Matron;
Wm. Henderson, Patron; Ione Anthony, Associate Matron; Alice Wolfe, Secretary; Mary Gray, Treasurer; Katie Kelly, Conductress; Bernice Hanan Associate Conductress; Margaret Devine, Warder; J. B. Devine, Sentinel; Nettie Wilkins, Chaplain; Nona Ellis, Organist; and the Five Points of the Star, Margaret Criddle, Emma Fisher, Anna Waterman, Elizabeth Getts and Anna Fincher.
The movies playing at the Opera House during January were “Traffic in Souls” dealing with the suppression white slavery; the Broadway feature, “The Jewell” starring Eli Hall and “The Battle of Cameron Dam” featuring Myra Dietz.
The stockholders of The First National Bank of Oregon re-elected the same board of directors for the coming year: J. J. Lindsay, president; H. A. Stone, vice-president; and C. N. Shilton, cashier.
Frank McDermot ran the following ad: “Smokers Attention: Try my new brands of cigars, The Hub and The Beaver.” The cigars were sold for 5 cents at the pool hall.
A social break in mid-January: “A mid-winter dance will be given at the opera house Tuesday evening, Jan. 23, and a good time is assured for all who attend. A regular program of waltz, two-step. tango, and quadrille will be carried out throughout the evening. Leaver’s Harp Orchestra has been secured for the occasion. Basket lunch and hot coffee will be served in the hall, free. Everybody will be welcome.”
This note appeared in the Oregon Observer about land values: “The average value per acre of land in Dane county has increased from $76.14 in 1906 to $127.84 in 1916. These figures are based on land sales and assessments compiled by the Wisconsin Tax Commission.”
50 years ago (1967)
The Altar Society of HMC sponsored an inter-church luncheon featuring Mary McBride, a leading writer for Phyllis Diller. The subject of her talk was “Humor in the Home”. Over 200 people attended the event.
The new addition to the Erfurth Body Shop building has been completed and is open for business. New equipment housed there include a frame machine, front end alignment equipment, a radiator shop and plus more room for an office.
The Bank of Oregon (formerly at the corner of North Main and Jefferson Streets) expanded their facility which now includes a community meeting room in the basement with a kitchenette and restrooms.
The Midland Service Station (located at the present downtown Kwik Trip) was again offering one pair of seamless micromesh nylons for 29 cents with the purchase of 8 gallons of FirePower Gasoline.
Roberta West and Doris Schnabel celebrated their 3rd. year of operating the popular “Home Restaurant” in downtown Oregon (located near the present day Pivotal Point Acupuncture).
They were well known for their homemade pies.
The OHS wrestlers took 2nd place at the Jefferson Invitational. Members of the team included Doug Strander, Tim Christenson, John Rowley, Les Gammeter, Rolley Glasgow, Dwight Small, Dave Heller, and Greg Trosper. Greg was named top wrestler of the event.
At the annual meeting of the Pure Milk Association (District 19) Forrest E. “Steve” Madsen, Village of Oregon president and district county supervisor, received an award of recognition for his service and support of area dairy farmers.
The Village replied to complaints from the State of Wisconsin about pollution issues concerning the capacity of the sewage disposal plant and a situation that inadequately treated waste was being discharged into Badfish Creek.
25 years ago (1992)
Jack Statz retired after 32 1/2 years as a teacher and coach in the Oregon School District. His accomplishments included being was the first to teach courses in Economics and Contemporary History. He also served as a member of the pilot committee for the consumer education program. His coaching career included 30 years as the freshman football coach and 20 years as head baseball coach. As the head baseball coach he led his teams to five conference championships.
The Oregon Village Board granted a conditional use permit for the construction of a new middle school on Hwy. MM and Pleasant Oak Drive.
The Masonic Lodge held a card party on a very wintry night. Coming away with the prizes in euchre were Winnifred Emery and Julian Swenson. Margaret West and Don Kneifl had the low scores. In 500 Flora Brickner had the high cards for the ladies and Jack Davis high for the men. Donna Lawry and Oliver Haarklau came in with the low scores. The door prize went to Eleanor Noyce.
David Grindle was honored by the DNR for his 15 years of volunteer snowmobile safety instruction to over 300 students in the Oregon area. The DNR sponsored 12 hour course was taught by Grindle each winter at the Oregon Sportsmen’s Club.
Choral students from the Oregon Middle School were preparing to sing in the 3rd Annual Wisconsin Children’s Chorus. The event was part of the programming for the Wisconsin Choral Association Conference being held in Fond du Lac. Dr. Henry Leck, founder and director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, was their instructor and conductor. Some of the students participating at the event were Emmy Pickett, Candace Lester, Jessica Smith, and Hanah Eck,
The Junior High wrestlers were having a great season with a 5-2 record. Their success had been led by 8th graders, Chris Ace, Dan Smithback, Jason Lewis, Andy Lawry, Adam MacLeod, and 7th graders Kurt Thompson and Brian Ruchti The team was coached by Dave Fiscus, assisted by Dennis Richardson and Mike Faust.
The winning entries of the Oregon Fire Prevention Poster Contest were Chad Goplin (lst Place); Alesha Goplin (2nd. Place); Brooke Mountford (3rd Place); and Zachary Ballweg (4th Place).
The Oregon Chamber of Commerce elected new officers. Mark Mortensen from WISCO Industries, president; Eric Grover of Weber Realty, vice-president; Patti York of Wis. Power and Light, treasurer; and Marty Verhelst was reappointed by the board as executive secretary.
The 5th Annual Midwest Choral Festival culminated with a grand performance of 500 singers from around the state. Twelve schools participated in the event. Dr. Gregory Lyne, Director of Choral Studies at California State University, was the guest instructor. Hosting the event was Oregon Choral Director, Tom Mielke.
10 years ago (2007)
The OHS hockey team ended last year with a sweep of the Winona Holiday Hockey Classic Tournament, earning them an honorable mention spot on the Wisconsin Prep Hockey state poll. This was the first time Oregon had made the listing since ending their joint relationship with McFarland. With the tournament wins over Winona (Minn.) 5-1; Dodge County 6-4; and Mora (Minn.) 4-0; they now had a 10-1-1 overall season record. Oregon goaltender, Stu Gullick, who had stopped 80 of 85 shots and forward, Colin Crim, who had five goals and five assists, along with Theodore Behrend were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Hillcrest Bible Church sent a mission group to Mexico for a week over the recent Christmas Holiday Season. They helped residents in the Baja California Peninsula. While there they built two homes, handed out 1,000 bags of toys, toiletries and school supplies and offered free medical help to those in need.
The OHS basketball team battled Reedsburg in an overtime victory. Jordan White made the first shot in overtime while Dan Prahl and David DeBano each made a pair of free throws outscoring Reedsburg in overtime, 6-3, giving Oregon the victory 48.45.
OHS swimmer, Joey Knuesel, broke the Oregon High School team record in the 500-yard freestyle at the Stoughton College Invite. Overall the Oregon swimmers placed second in the invite.
An assisted living apartment complex was proposed for the former Methodist Church site. Construction planned to be in three-phases and would depend upon TIF financing.
Senior Peppers Restaurant , owned by Dan and Maggie Richter, opens in downtown Oregon at 113 South Main Street (the present location of Charle’s on Main)
At the President’s Volunteer Awards Banquet the local youth center was given a certificate of achievement for all the work Oregon area students had done in 2006. Center Director, Brenda McClellan, said this past year they totaled up about 1,445 hours. Four Oregon area students given special recognition for their number of volunteer hours were Lisa Dachenbach, Anne Berg-Erikson, Ben Wunsch, and Eric Wane.
In commemoration of “Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week” our local crossing guards were given certificates of appreciation during a ceremony held at the Oregon Police Dept. Those honored were Willie McCarville, Nina Noyce, Ed Rezabek, Virgil Monte, Frankie Jones, Jim Snow, Lisa Butter, Denise Schommer, Michelle Dvorak, Blanche McCallum, and Elaine Monte.
A high school bowling club was formed. Members of the team were Justin Frederick, Stephanie Wille, Cody Wichman, Jimmy Gibson, Kyle Quam, Jim Bakken, Jake Keat, Jon Rosnow, Weston Robaldek, Rank Raisbeck, Will Koenig. The varsity head coach was Mark Gutkowski, , Hank Hiertmeler, coach, and Paul Thompson, junior varsity head coach.