Oregon History Timeline for March 2017
1917 (100 yrs. ago)
A new restaurant under the opera house will be opened by A. D. Thompson. He will also take charge of operating the opera house.
The Tipple School reported that several of the boys had difficulty in keeping their feet dry in spite of wearing rubber boots. Several of them fell into the pools of water.
The Oregon High School noted that electric lights had been used in the Main Room.
Perry Netherwood and his family moved back into their house on Main Street. Perry will again operate his milk business and expects to start a delivery route next month. He has purchased five head of Guernsey cows and expects to add more in the near future.
Etta Hubbard Smith was training a group of high school students to present a production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice—-Up to Date”. The performance was given in the opera house and netted about $40.00.
Lyle Hawley purchased the confectionery shop from L. Buskirk. The business will continue selling bakery goods, fruits, ice cream and other confectionary items.
The Ladies Aid Society of Oak Hall Church presented a five act drama entitled “Ten Nights in a Barroom”. The cast of characters were: Will Sweeney (Simon Slade, landlord); Burr Jones (Frank Slade, his son); Albert Sholts (Mr. Romane); Harry Coggins (Sample Swichel); Ben
Bethell (Willie Hammond); Glen Coggins (Harvey Green); Roy Jones (Mr. Morgan); Leona Jones (Mrs. Morgan); Mary McGowan (Mary Morgan); and Almira Herman (Mehitable Cartright).
The wonders of a stick of Wrigley’s Crewing Gum were advertised as aiding your digestion, quenching your thirst, keeping your teeth clean and leaving you with a sweet breath.
The Literary Society donated two large pictures for the Main Room of the High School: “The Chariot Race” and “Pilgrims Farewell”.
The Oregon Fire Dept. elected the following officers for the coming year: E. Buche, chief; Chas. West, 1st Ass’t. Chief; Aug. Sarbacker, 2nd Ass’t Chief; E. F. Kramer, secretary; P. O. Pasley, treasurer; and Arthur Criddle, steward.
1967 (50 yrs. ago)
The Bank of Oregon (located at the corner of North Main St. and Jefferson St.) held an open house to dedicate their remodeling project. The remodeling included an expanded customer lobby, walk-up window service, a drive-up window, new executive and conference rooms and a community room in the basement. The open house was attended by over 700 people. The Open House prize winners were Donald Butts (portable TV); Len Kvammen, (AM-FM radio); Phylis Olson (can opener); and Bob Buchner (portable radio)
Urban Johnson seceded Bob Carlsen as WP&L (a/k/a Alliant Energy) district manager for Dane County. (The company headquarters was in Oregon at the time, located in the building now occupied by Ziggy’s.)
Don Mardis opened “The Teenster Club” in the building that was formerly the Corner Grocery Store. It was operated as a membership teen age recreation center for those 13 though 19 years of age.
Winners in the Annual Helen Mears Art Contest sponsored by the Oregon Woman’s Club were Peggy Packard, 1st Place; Merrilee Bilings, 2nd. Place; Paul Hansen, 3rd place; Carol Christensen, 4th place and Donna Indermuehle, 5th place. Those winning honorable mention were Sue McKinstry, Kay Shea and Ray Sellers.
OHS wrestlers had a winning season in dual competition with 13 wins and only 3 losses.
They finished second in the Central Section of the Madison Suburban Conference. Letter winners were Bob Gray, Mitch Spilde, Doug Strander, Tim Christensen, John Rowley, Lester Gammeter, Terry Richmond, Bill Fiscus, Rolley Glasgow, Dwight Small, Dave Heller, Art Sandridge, and Greg Trosper.
Bill Hetherington, owner and operator of the Oregon Super Market (present day location of the Firefly Coffeehouse), was getting his newly remodeled store ready for “Dollar Days” The remodeling included new lighting and a refrigerated meat processing room.
The OHS Letterman’s Club sponsored the annual Faculty-Senior Basketball game. The game was won by the faculty 51-41. Mr. Ahrens led the scoring for the faculty with 14 points. Mr. Noltmeier come in second with 12 points. The leading scorer for the Seniors was John Vincent with 11 points.
Guest speaker at the annual athletic banquet was U.W. football coach, John Coatta. Those athletes receiving special awards were Rolley Glasgow (captain in wrestling and cross county); Ed Lemke (MVP football); Greg Trosper (MVP wrestling); Denny Johnson (MVP basketball); John Vincent (basketball captain); Steve Loftus (MVP cross country); and Tom Olson (football captain and the Kissling “Hard-nose” award).
1992 (25 yrs. ago)
The construction of the new Oregon athletic press box was making progress. It was a cooperative effort among school and community volunteers including coaches, booster club members and students. Ken Crowley of Crowley Masonry and Mike Clayton of Clayton Excavating were putting in valuable time working on its overall construction.
The Oregon School Board approved the bid of Vogel Construction for the building of a new middle school. Their bid was the lowest of the eight submitted, coming in at $6,527,000.
The OHS Pompon Squad placed 3rd in three divisions at the state competition. Members of the squad were Gwen Stark, Tana Spink, Tracy Rapacz, Angie Harleson, Kristin Woodworth, Aimee Haas, Sarah Rounds, Tina Gefke, Lisa Wagner, Christie Hendrickson Becky Schepp, Kim Bland, Ericka Morschhauser, Julie Garvoille, Michelle Northrop, and Mindi Smithback.
Kanable Painting and Decorating Co., started operating a business in Oregon.
New residential areas were being developed in the village. They included the Fox Glen Development, Hickory Estates and the third addition to the Merri-Hiil Development.
OHS students presented their spring play. This year it was a production of “A Dress Rehearsal”, an original play written by parent/director, Charles Uphoff, assistant director, Jeni Nichols and OHS students Jenny Williams, Eric Perske, Brian Scott, Jim Uphoff, Colleen McDaniel, Sarah Uphoff, Milena Ruggerio and Joli Timm. The music and lyrics for the play were developed by
Chris Brown, with the assistance of OHS Choral Music Director, Tom Mielke, Sue Boerth, John Stream, and Nathan Guenther. The cast of nearly 30 deal with the issues and struggles facing present day youth.
Four OHS wrestlers, Chais Lazarescu, Kurt Thompson, Greg Goldberg and David Dent, advance to the state tournament.
Tina Gefke was crowned “Miss Oregon” for 1992. The Mistress of Ceremonies for the event was Pat Anderson Wilkening, Oregon’s first “Miss Oregon” in 1966. The 150 people attending the event were served a prime rib dinner by the Oregon Pompon Squad and were entertained by the Oregon Sound Company under the direction of Tom Mielke. It was noted that Tina’s mother, Ginger, had been crowded “Miss Oregon” in 1972.
2007 (10 yrs. ago)
The OHS Drama Club presented a production of “Shakespeare in Hollywood” by Ken Ludwig. It was directed by Kathleen Tissot, drama club advisor. For the student participants it was a study in the changes in censorship, being “a fanciful mix that tells the story of the making of Max Reinhardt’s 1935 movie ‘A Midsummer Night Dream’ ”. The cast included Schuyler Bostedt (Oberon); Karla Schulte (Puck); Adrian Swanson (Jack Warner); Matt Wiecki (Max Reinhardt) and Eric Johnson (Will Hays).
The Oregon School Board approved an expenditure up to $69,000 for about 130 new uniforms for the marching band. The last time uniforms had been purchased was in 1999.
An ad hoc committee was formed to study the village refuse and recycling program. Members of the committee were Tom Bogucki, Darrell Klimke, Karen Kruel (chairperson) Mark Palzer, and Cindy Simon. The spring election will have a advisory referendum question concerning garbage collection. A “yes” vote will mean the the Village should change to a cart system and a ‘No” vote will mean that Village should keep the sticker program.
The Optimist Club held their Annual Oratorical Contest. The first place winner was Emily Shrader. She received a prize of $100 and the opportunity to compete in the Optimist’s Zone Contest.
The Village’s water tower located on Lincoln Road sprung a leak draining between 250,000 and 300,000 gallons of water into a nearby farmer’s field. The water having drained into a field minimized any damage.
The State Office of the Commissioner of Railroads gave preliminary permission to rebuild the Jefferson Street viaduct; raising the tracks more than five feet and widening the roadway under the bridge. The previous viaduct had been removed in the summer of 2004 after a 13-foot cement truck slammed into the ten foot underpass, shifting the 90 year old structure five feet.
Oregon Soccer player, Ted Behrend, was named to the first team all Badger South Conference honors as well as being named to the All-State’s first team as one of the state’s top eight defenders.
The new owners of the Bergamont Development renamed the golf course “The Legend at Bergamont” and plan to start building country club amenities.
Three more buildings are named to the National Register of Historic Places: 1) the First National Bank Building at 113 North Main Street, 2) the downtown water tower, and 3) the John and Flora Gilbert house at 357 North Main Street.
Frank Caruso and Frank Sommers premiered their mock documentary, “Going Great White” at the Oregon High School Performing Arts Center. They had filmed it in Oregon featuring local residents.
Heather Sveom was hired as principal at Prairie Elementary School, replacing Cathy Kolstra who was retiring.