Oregon History Timeline for March 2019
100 years ago (1919)
The play “Miss Fearless & Co. sponsored by The Standard Bearers at the Opera House drew a packed house with standing room only. It was noted that “the local cast justified the large patronage. Everyone played their part splendidly.” The cast consisted of Bernice Hanan, Mrs. Floyd Patterson, Helena Matson, Eva Sholts, Christophina Johnson, Marie McGill,
Esther Jordan, Vera Christensen, Henry Sholts and Edwin Olson. W. L. Ames directed the play. The net proceeds from the play was applied to the native nurse scholarship which the Standard Bearer Society is maintaining in the Magaw Memorial Hospital, Foochow, China. The Standard Bearer Society was part of the Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society.
A proposed union of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches was being discussed as follows: “ In view of the proposed union of the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations in the village; next Sunday evening Mr. Wagg will speak on the subject of ‘Church Union’ and will present the matter in the light of the experience of the two churches in Canada where they are about to unite organically and where in the meantime very many local churches have all ready united in preparation for the larger federation. There should be a full church to hear this vital matter discussed.” Another comment in the newspaper expressed the opinion that a “union church is in the air! It is coming. It must come or the churches will fail in their task. What can we do to hasten its coming?” This was the subject of the morning service the following Sunday at the Methodist Church in Oregon and at the Oak Hall Methodist Church that afternoon.
Mr, and Mrs. Casper Berman have moved into Martin Hanson’s house on Second Street.
Agnes Rasmussen advertised that she was offering a 15% discount on her entire line of M.& K. corsets; both front and back lace.
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Anthony are moving into the Rutland parsonage. The C. E. Anthony farm from which they were leaving has ben rented for the coming year to Floyd Plumb.
Ira Allison has purchased from A. E. Hanson Auto Co. a new 1919 model Oldsmobile
Eight. The cost of the auto was $1,700 plus war tax and freight.
Rev. Wagg gave a lecture at the Oak Hall church on Herbert Quick’s book “The Brown Mouse”. Illustrating the lecture were100 beautifully colored slides made at the Mendota Beach School. The dramatized version of Quick’s book of a plain farm boy, raised on the Iowa prairies, was presented at various places in the area. Donald McGill gave the lecture at the Rutland Social Club Center’s monthly meeting held at the local schoolhouse.
The C. J. Coggins family expect to leave the farm for the coming year and will move into Oregon. They will occupy the Coggins house on Dewey and Main Streets.
If you are in the market for a milking machine, contact Jensen & Schoen before you buy. Have them demonstrate The Perfection.
Frank McDermott has moved his pool and billiard tables and other fixtures into the basement of the hotel.
50 years ago (1969)
The keynote speaker at the annual athletic banquet, sponsored by The Rotary Club was Prof. George Walter, Director of Teaching Education at Lawrence University. Three hundred and fifty were on hand to honor the athletes. It was announced that OHS Senior, Tom Appel, had been elected basketball’s most valuable player for 1968-69 and Mike Alme was named its Captain. Russ Bentley was awarded the “Kissling Hardnose Award” for his playing during the 1968 football season, Other awards included Greg Judd, MVP baseball; Dwight Small, captain wrestling; Jim Outhouse, MVP wrestling; Nick Brashi, MVP football; John Black, MVP, cross county and Dave Decker, captain cross country.
The Squire, a men’s and boy’s clothing store, opens for business at 113 South Main Street. A Grand Opening was held Sunday, March 9th from noon to 5 p.m.
Mary Anderson’s piano students held a recital at the Anderson home. Those participating were Paul Black, Shelley Smith, Mary Ellen Plummer, Vicki Arndt, Julie Barger, Sue Wilson and Lorene Stichter . Also included were vocal solos by Mary and Julie Barger.
Joan Wethal, Oregon Public Librarian, reported that during the past year the library had circulated almost 21,000 volumes.
Bowman All Star Dairies provided home delivery of dairy products to the Oregon/Brooklyn area three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday). Jerry Skaife was the distributor. A free gift was given to anyone providing Jerry with new customer leads.
OHS Junior, Steve Blahnik was named to the Madison Suburban League All-Conference Basketball team in the Central Section.
OHS students presented the play “Pygmalion”. Cast included: Sue Tracy, John O’Neill, Nancy McManus, Linda McManus, Gary Bakker, Mary Oelmann, Chris Kowing, and Julie Barger.
One hundred fifty-four members and guests of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce attended the annual meeting held at the Elks Club in Madison. Fritz Kivlin is president for the coming year.
25 years ago (1994)
The School Board scheduled a special meeting to address racial tensions and discrimination problems. Superintendent Linda Barrows responded a with a 7-point plan “to ensure a safe and tolerant learning environment for all students.’
Oregon school district food service employees seek union representation.
A Oregon School District task force recommends that the present high school be increased in size to accommodate 1,200 students rather than build a second facility. The present facility serves 795 students. Members of the task force were Gil Voss, Cal Calaway, Wayne Bellcross, Pat Fenner, Tom Mielke, Brian Root, Sue Schultz, Jody Spiwak, Larry Svanda, Lynn Buarski, and Roger Wetzel.
The Oregon Rotary Club gets ready to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. A few members got together recently to reminisce. Sharing their memories were Jay Winter, Jim Clark, Norm Champion, Phil Helgesen, Luella Ames, and Bill Booth.
The Village gets permission from the U. S. Corp of Engineers to widen and pave that portion of Park Street that crosses a wetland.
Oregon School Board member, Charles Teeter, was presented with a 20-year award at the 1994 Wisconsin Association of School Boards convention for his commitment to public education.
Area ballet dancers, Shannon Barrows, Alexandra Bogucki, and Melanie Cain, were in the cast of the Wisconsin Dance Ensemble’ s production of a French comedy, “La Fille Mai Gardee” (The Unguarded Daughter ). The performance was at the Wisconsin Union Theater in Madison.
OHS basketball team closed their season at the Sectional Tournament in Whitewater when they fell in overtime to Fort Atkinson (53-51) in their opening game. Members of he OHS team were Josh Ganshert, Shaka Smart, Aaron LaVoy, Paul Harms, Tony Beyers, Seth Lancaster, Jason Kuehi, Will Smith, Danyon Wagner, Dan Anderson, Jason Soldner, Bob Henderson, Reid Zibell, Jeff O’Malley, and Randy Barden. The coaches were Dave Freitag and Kevin Bavery.
Mike Manix, Oregon Junior High and OHS wrestling coach, retires after 22 years. In the future he is looking forward to classroom teaching, especially science courses.
10 years ago (2009)
The OHS Girl’s Basketball Team win the WIAA Division 1, Regional Championship after defeating Janesville Craig 66-43.
The Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet and Awards Dinner was held. Emcee for the event was Major General Al Wilkening. Award winners were Phil Harms, Long Time Service; Dan Bertelson (Re-Max Preferred), President’s Award; Erika Weidler, (Firefly Coffeehouse) Outstanding Business Person Award; Trachte, Inc., Community Improvement Award (1) for a New Building (the first to build in the Oregon Business Park); Oregon Community Sports Arena, Community Improvement Award (2) for a New Building; Legend at Bergamomt Clubhouse, recognized for New Development Management by Jack Gaudion; Village of Oregon, Community Improvement Award for down town construction project (accepted by Village President, Steve Staton ) and Special Honoree, Jeff Skiles, for his experience in landing the US Airway flight #1549 safely on the Hudson River.
Leslie Bergstrom, associate principal at Oregon High School, received the Supervisor of the Year Award from the Wisconsin School Counselor Association. She is scheduled to become principal at Oregon’s Rome Corners Intermediate School on July 1st.
OHS mock trial team earns an opportunity to compete at the state level. Members of the team were Abby Busler, Neil Belanus, Tony Ceithharmer, Eric Wanta, Matt Mixdorf, John Thompson, Caitlin Walker, Jake Butterfield, Katrina Van Ruyven, Jason Kornetzke, Stephanie Arnold. Advisors were Brian Root and Steve Zach.
Steve Spiwak announces that he will retire at the end of the school year after 34 years of teaching in the school’s music program.
Seventeen Oregon wrestlers participated in the Regional Tournaments with five of them advancing to the State Folk Style Wresting Tournament. Those advancing were Jarrett Vogel, Andrew Nyenhuls, Jack Hagstrom, William Frauchiger, and Chad Walsh.
A couple month’s ago, Franciska Anderson opened her acupuncture clinic and wellness center at 106 North Main Street.