Oregon History Timeline for July 2017
100 yrs. ago (1917)
Twenty-eight residents attended the annual school meeting. They approved a budget of $6,500 for school purposes for the ensuing school year and elected P. L. Pasley district clerk.The current census shows that there were 108 boys and 108 girls of school age in the district.
Sofus Olson, having recently purchased the opera house, has now moved from Madison and is occupying rooms above the opera house.
The Oregon Defense League was organized by local businessmen for the purpose of assisting area farmers with their crops. Many were short of help because of the wartime draft. J. S. Cusick was elected chairperson of the organization and E. F. Kramer, secretary. Their goal was to solicit pledges of hourly labor from local business owners. The initial result was that twenty local businesses made pledges. Some of those pledging were Richard & Cusick (20 hrs.), Fincher Bros. (15 hrs.), E. G. Booth & Son (10 hrs.), Arthur Criddle (5 hrs.). and Bank of Oregon (5 hrs.) .
The stockholders of the Oregon Creamery Company voted to grant a one year lease to the Wisconsin Dairy Products Co., operating an evaporated milk plant in Stoughton. The change would provide creamery patrons a better price for their milk. The products of the local company had previously been shipped to the Bowman Co. in Chicago. A. C. Hillstad and Geo. Johnson were retained by the company to look after the local operations.
WilmerJensen, son of Peter Jensen, enlisted in the armed services and is stationed at Jefferson Barracks, in Missouri. He has been assigned to a field artillery unit.
“No loafing in Dane County!” So announces, John S. Donald, chairman the Dane County Council of Defense . The council sent a letter to every sheriff, deputy sheriff, town constable, village marshal and to the chiefs of police in Madison and Stoughton, declaring that “every able bodied man and boy over 16 years of age in Dane Co. must work. This means the rich man’s son supported in idleness as well as the poor man’s” Failure to comply with the law could result in 3 months of hard labor.
The memorial gift to Oregon High School from the graduating class has arrived too late for the class commencement. The gift, a photo of the National Capital, will be hung in the school’s main room . It was now on display in the store window of Cowdrey & Buche.
50 yrs. ago (1967)
Jean DeHaven’s 20 mule team wagon train passed through the village on its way to the Montreal Expo ’67. The train had left Death Valley, California in April of 1966. Traveling at a rate of about 3 miles per hour, the expectation is that it will reach Montreal about October 1st.
The Village Board approved plans to combine the water and sewer departments into one utility. The Board also voted to finance a new village well and reservoir, and to make necessary sewer improvements to provide for its expansion.
Street improvements were made throughout the Village. Curb and gutters were completed on East Lincoln Street while work on improvements and extensions were being made on Orchard Drive, Perry Parkway, Gail Court, Birch Court, as well as two blocks of Oak Street and a block on Park and Waterman Streets.
The former Matt Edwards Electric building (now occupied by Bergey Jewelry Store) was purchased by Lease-Bavery Builders of Oregon and leased to the Tuloma Gas Company. Ray Emling, area manager for Tuloma, stated that the store would be providing LP services and appliances to the area residents. . A new aluminum facade was installed on the front. They were expected to open for business by September 1st.
Marvin Jensen announced that he will be closing the J & W Superette as of August 1st. He had run the independent grocery store for the past 13 years. Marvin, in partnership with Donn Wheeler, purchased the store in 1954 from Arthur Ames who had run the business since 1937. Later, in 1956, Jensen bought out his partner. The Main Tap occupies the building today.
About 120 electors attended the annual school meeting; The annual budget of $1,407,970 was approved and Cletus Byrne of Brooklyn was reelected to the school board. Elected to the district board for the first time was Edward Lawry. The highlight of the meeting was the adoption of a resolution commending Mrs. Ruth T. Ames for her 32 years of service on the school board during which she also served as the board’s clerk. The newly elected member, Edward Lawry ,will be assuming the duties of district clerk.
Those placing in the Jaycee Junior State Track Meet were Paula Meidl (6th in the long jump); John Dahlke (4th in the mile run); Dave Griffith ( 2nd in the shot put); Mike O’Neill (5th in the 440); and Karen Garvoille,(4th in the 440 run).
Ruth E. (Olsen) Smith was honored on her retirement from the General Telephone Telephone Co. (previously the Commonwealth Telephone Co.) after over 30 years of service to Oregon area customers. She was hired in 1937 as a relief operator and from there went on to hold several positions, including night operator, cashier/chief operator, cashier, and business office service representative.
25 yrs. ago (1992)
The circus train passed through Oregon on July 7th on its 222 mile journey from the Circus World Museum in Baraboo to the annual circus parade in Milwaukee held on July 12th.
Dr. Gilman Voss was selected to become the new principal for the Oregon High School.
The Straw Hat Players celebrated their 10th anniversary with a production of “Grease”.The cast included Chad Grote (Danny Zuko); Jason McPherson (Doody); Joel Kapusta (Kenickie); Chris Brown (Roger); Larry Serna (Sonny); Libby Kress (Sandy); Beth Rufer (Rizzo); and he rest of the Pink Ladies, Jennifer Klass, Marge Mach, and Jeni Nichols. Those working on the production were Jace Nichols (director); Kurt Schnabel (designer); Jeanne Jacques O’Malley (producer); Louise Uphoff (stage manager); Patricia Gullo Hetland (music director) and Julie Brindley (choreographer).
A ground-breaking ceremony was held for the Rolling Meadows Development. Those participating included members of the Rolling Meadows Housing Board, Nell Mally, Chuck Cell, Ken Robert, Keith Gerry, Jane Johnson, and Dick Lindberg, along with Jerry Luebke (Community National Bank); Bill Kortte (village president); Kjell Kaashagen (builder); and Dwaine Kieler (architectural design consultant).
Genesis Housing V at 250 South Oak Street was completed and was accepting occupancy applications.
Ground breaking ceremonies were held for the expansion of WISCO Industries at their Janesville Street location. The expansion will provide an additional 18,000 feet for new equipment to produce metal stampings at a high level of quality. WISCO officers participating in the ceremony were Elving Kjellstrom, President; Gary Kjellstrom, Vice-President and General Manager; Charlie Rowland, Plant Superintendent; Don Forkner, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales; and Mark Mortensen, Production Manager.
A committee was formed to solicit and collect possible names for the new middle school being built on Pleasant Oak Drive. Members of the committee were Jerry Connelly, Nathan Mahr, Doug Paulson, Pete Taylor, Sue Suing, Ken Wundrow, Ev Zibell, Marcy Larson, Dick Schultz, Shirley Erfurth and Dale Schulz.
A Brunner Furniture Outlet Store, managed by Gail Tomich, opened at 114 North Main Street. The Brunner family has operated a store in Hartford, Wis. for the past 20 years.
10 yrs. ago (2007)
The Village Board approved about $150,000 in street repairs which included portions of Dunn Avenue, Dale Drive, Washington Street and Union Street.
Members of the Irish music group, Rising Gael, gave a free concert in the Waterman Triangle Park. Their latest CD, “These City Walls” was named Best World Album at the 2007 Madison Area Music Awards. Members of the local area group were Jeff Olson, Peter Tissot, Katie Dionne, Erin Ellison and Leah Shea.
OHS graduating seniors that had participated in FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) were Michelle Grantin, Leslie Cifuentes, Jessica Wendt, Carli VanSteenderen, Nikki O’Brien,, Cate Chaptman, Erin Jenkins and Sonja Saxe. Lynn Buyarski was the program’s advisor.
Sean Bull and Sydney Copus were the winners of new bikes in the Oregon Rotary Bike Rodeo. The nearly 50 kids participating were required to perform seven riding skills, complete a written test and have their bikes and helmets inspected.
Village President, Steve Staton, presented retiring public works employee, Jerry Swinehart, with a Certificate of Appreciation for his work for the department. Jerry was hired in August of 1991.
Families of the Alpine Meadows sub-division helped build a park for their area.
The Rome Corners Intermediate School math team competed at the Uw-Madison. Members of the team were Tim Fallon, Luke Davis, Pierce Peterson, Kyle Webber, Morgan McCorkle, Eric Peterson, Zack Petrie and Madeline Vogt.
The Oregon Bandits U10 girl’s soccer team won their final game at the Oregon Internationale Soccer Tournament, defeating the Superior Wave 97.
The Village Board approved establishing a third voting location. A contract with People’s United Methodist Church was being pursued.
El Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant located at 1075 Park Street closes after eight months.
Peter Kissling came in 1st place, Caroline Sauers 2nd place and Maranda Ricker, 3rd place, completing the culminating race of the Fourth Annual C/C/Distance Running Clinic held at Jaycee Park in Oregon.
The Oregon High School Marching band finished a successful season, capturing 2nd place out of eight open class bands in the Mid-America Competing Band Directors Association Grand Championships held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They also received High Honors for Best Visual General Effect and Best Percussion.