This Month in History
March
The following material was compiled by Gerald Neath for the Oregon Area Historical Society from material published in the Oregon Observer.
1915 (100 years ago)

A new federal drug act went into effect as of March 1st. All druggists, physicians, and veterinarians are required to take an inventory of their opium, cocaine, and other narcotic drugs and file a copy of the inventory with the collector of internal revenue. After March 5th. druggists can only sell goods that are on order from a licensed physician, dentist or veterinarian.The Fuller Opera House advertised their future attractions for the month of March. 1) A production of “Potash and Perlmutter” ; 2) Joe Howard’s old time musical comedy “The District Leader”; 3) a non-censured war talk with motion pictures by James F. J. Archibald, who had been in Europe for Scribner’s Magazine for the past 5 months; 4) The University of Wisconsin Annual Glee Club Concert; 5) a six day run of the movie “The Christian” which was described as a motion picture “far in advance of even Quo Vadis and Cabiria”; and 6) a production of “Daddy Longlegs” starring Henry Miller.

The Presbyterian pastor, Rev. A. R. Allison and his family, left for their new home in Waukon, Iowa. They will be living with Mrs. Allison’s elderly father who hasn’t been in good health. Rev. Allison had been pastor here for the past three and half years.

R. W. West of Beloit has rented the S. G. Shampnor store and will soon open a meat market and grocery store there.

Legislation of interest to local farmers was the passing of the Cunningham Bill by the state legislature. It appropriated $75,000 to reimburse farmers who had lost cattle in the recent foot and mouth epidemic.

Stanley Coward’s Confectionary Shop encouraged the eating of ice cream. It was noted that four years ago the U.S. consumed 50 million gallons but this past year 250 million gallons had been consumed. It is no longer considered an occasional luxury but a daily food. One of the many claims in the advertisement was “when children eat pies and heavy pastries at night they toss about like a boat in a storm. When they eat ice cream they sleep like a rock. For ice cream is easy to digest, and the rich pastries take hours.”

1965 (50 years ago)

OHS wrestlers, Ron Kopke and Roy Shackelford, qualify to go on to the state sectional competition. Oregon wrestlers finishing their season after placing 3rd in the regional competition were John Rowley, Dennis Strander, Les Small, Ray Byrne, Tom DaWalt, and Dennis Hennessey. Tim Christensen and Dennis Kjellstrom placed 4th.

Don Bates, operator of Bon-Don Beauty Salon, announced the he will be opening Bon Don Boutique at his beauty salon. The boutique will specialize in women’s and children’s wear. The new enterprise will be in partnership with Ilse Meyer of Madison.

Optometrist, Dr. M. J. Wischhoff, Jr., announced the opening of his new Oregon office at 287 Dewey St. It will be located in a new, modern “A” frame structure.

The cub scouts held their Blue & Gold Banquet. John Statz was the Master of Ceremonies. In addition to the various awards given, Dean Erfurth, Patrick Kenney, Paul Benjamin and Michael Mahoney were inducted into the Pack and given their Bobcat pins during the Bobcat induction ceremony. Entertainment was provided by ventriloquist, Howie Olson, from WISC-TV.

Jacob’s Food Mart (Waubesa Beach) Adult Basketball Team finished first in the Mendota Basketball League. The local area players were Ronald Lange, Morris Haukeereid, Gary Schmoldt, Bud Duell, Dick Noyce and Dick Duell. Other players who played with the team during the season were Clavin Frederickson, Marlin Bavery and Andew Haukereid.

Of the eleven OHS students in forensics competing at the district contest, four received an “A” rating and the opportunity to compete at the state competition. The four winners were Pat Powers (interpretative reading of poetry); Toni Rogers (original oratory); Terry Navis (extemporaneous speaking); and Shirley Lamb (four minute speaking).

An adult vocational program was a success at OHS. Fenton Abrams, OHS vocational agriculture instructor, was the director of the program. Some of the classes and their instructors were: 1) cake decorating by Vick Hamersley from MATC; 2) farm tractor maintenance and welding by Bill Martinson of Martinson Implement; 3) Upholstering by Richard Ibach; 4) knitting by Frances Nelson; 5) men’s physical fitness by OHS head football coach, Erwin Kissing; 6) typing by James Wolowicz; (7) and art by David Logan.

1990 (25 years ago)

John Bauman announced his resignation as Oregon’s varsity wrestling coach after serving in that position for the past 23 years. He was 21 years old when, in 1967, he graduated from UW-Whitewater and accepted the job as Oregon’s head wrestling coach. His first team finished with a season record of 9-2. He went on to coach 31 wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament and 15 of which went on to place at the state meet.

Ginger’s Dance School, established in 1970 by Ginger (Neath) Gefke, celebrated its 20th. anniversary. During that period of time more than 1,000 students in Oregon, Brooklyn, Evansville and Belleville have received instruction at her school. A recital titled “The Mystical Magical World of Dance” is planned to be presented in May.

The Oregon Straw Hat Players presented a production of the rock musical “Godspell”. Jace Nichols played the role of Jesus; R. Allen Rickman, the roles of Judas and John the Baptist; and Carol Alleman the role of Mary Magdalene. Other members of the cast included Susan Albright, Julie Binger, Kurt Boyd, Jacy Catlin, Angela Clark, Patricia Gullo Hetland, Joel Kapusta, Chad Kopenski, Arlene Minor, Julie Brindley Prochaska, Jean Schaefer, Kurt Schanabel, and Karen Shockley. The production was designed and directed by David Lawver. Karen Shockley was the stage manager and Bethany Cox the assistant manager. Patricia Gullo Hetland assisted with the music direction, Julie Brindley Prochaska served as choreographer and Jean Schaefer was the producer. In addition to the performances at the High School, the group presented a couple of performances at HMC Church and during the first weekend in April, a few dinner-theater productions at Tucker’s Inn (a former restaurant in Oregon located near the present day Cross Plain’s State Bank.)

Tri-County Appliance purchased the Lappley building (former site of the Lappley Chev. dealership) located at 156 North Main St. Phil Harms of Advantage Builders will handle renovating the building to meet the needs of the new owners.

At the Winter Badger State Games, two Oregon residents returned with Gold Metals. Jim Lease took first place in the Giant Slalom and Rhonda Frank took first in the Slalom.

A touring national rope pull team from Northern Ireland was in Oregon. Among the Oregon Team members receiving a few pointers from the Irish team captain, Cathal McKeever, were Jens Erickson, Richie Legler, Joel Larson and Guy Austin.

Sunnyside Hatchery has been closed since last November and their building is now the home of Four Seasons Heating and Cooling. Karl and Maxine Wilke had operated their hatchery business in Oregon for the past 26 years. Quoting Maxine Wilke, “The chicken business has changed so drastically over the past 45-50 years. In 1945 there were 369 hatcheries in the State of Wisconsin. Now there are four. Owning a hatchery is like owning a harness shop.”

The OHS boy’s basketball team finished their season in second place in the Badger Conference. Those scoring the most points during the season were Brad Brayshaw with 140; Scott Brandenburg with 135; Dennis Schaefer with 120; Troy Spilde with 109, Scott Carlson with 77, John Caya with 55, Chris Duerk with 51, and Matt Jensema with 32.

Rachael Oelke, a fourth grader at Brooklyn Elementary, was selected as a winner in the 1989-90 Young Writer’s Contest.. Her entry was one of 100 chosen from over 15,0000 entries. The entries of Justin Gray and Carrie Benjamin reached the finalist stage of the competition.

The Oregon School District becomes one of four school districts in Dane County to offer to students a new biotechnology curriculum.

2005 (10 years ago

Oscar Larson celebrated 35 years of service working at the Oregon Post Office.

Oregon Community Swim Club had fifteen swimmers (14 yrs. old and under) qualify to complete at the State Meet. The swimmers competing were Taylor Ashworth, Katie Landmark, Mark Moffat, Nate Rice, Katy McKelvey, Tess Frey, Rachel Walsh, Ryan Moffat, Zach Niemeyer, Caitlyn Hiveley, Joey Knuesel, Amanda McKelvey and Natalie Wallace.

Lance and Pierce Peterson won the Tri-Star Basketball Competition sponsored by the local Optimist Club. They will go on to compete in the district level competition.

The OHS student group YOU (Youth Organizing Unity) sponsored their bi-annual week of events illustrating diversity in society. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin gave the keynote speech. Their featured speaker was a resident of the Deer Park Buddhist Community. Encore Studio, the only professional theater company for people with disabilities, performed as did various other dancing and musical groups representing different cultures and traditions.

The OHS Boy’s basketball team ended their season at the WIAA Division 1 Regional Finals, losing to Janesville Craig 58-41. Oregon’s two top scorers were Matt Gehn with 19 points and Ryan Symdon with 10 points.

OHS seniors, Jessi Field-Allen and Becky Hillary were two of 100 singers nationwide chosen to perform in a national choir that will perform at the Music Education Conference in Springfield, Ill.

Pat Miller retires as organist at St. John’s Lutheran Church after 34 years of service.

Morgan Klein, a 6th grader at Rome Corners School, earned a spot on the Junior Olympic team and will go to Winter Park, Colorado to compete in the Junior Olympics.

The Oregon 8th Grade Tri-County Basketball Team finished in first place in the American South Division. Members of the team were Erik Gunderson, Mike Amend, Joe Kalscheur, Ben Gernert, Brett Subach, Will Pankratz, Matt Knipfer, and Alex Sachs. Their coaches were Bill Amend and Mark Subach.

Morgan Klein, a 6th. grader at Rome Corners School, earned a spot on the Junior Olympics Team and will be going to Winter Park, Colorado to compete.

Gary Wille’s Auto Service moved to the building vacated by All Color Powder Coating located at 870 North Main St. to make room for the new Walgreen Pharmacy.

Merritt “Skip” Bohse retires from the Oregon School District. He had been involved with the District’s print shop for 29 of the last 35 years. He served as a teacher in the high school’s newly established printing program from 1970-1990 and had been the general manager of the high school’s print shop since 1996.

The Oregon Youth Wrestling Club sent eight wrestlers to the State Tournament: Placing in first place were Aaron Nelson, Ryan Haas-Denton, David Beers. Finishing in second place were Ryan Arndt, Joe Stetzer, Doug Stetzer, Dustin Lee and Luke Ballentine.

Goalie, Stu Gullick and forward, Logan Swinehart were named to the Badger South All-Conference team as honorable mentions.


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