Oregon History Timeline for March 2020
Compiled by Jerry Neath of the Oregon Area Historical Society
100 years ago (1920)
The Dr. Elliott Five-Foot Shelf of Books, also known as the Harvard Classics, have arrived and been placed on a shelf of the Public Library. The Library Board wishes to thank Mr. A. H. Sholts and Mr. Don McGilll for the part they took in raising money to make it possible to secure the books, and also all others who took part in the programs given. The price of the books was $117, and of this amount, $61 was raised from the entertainment course.
Thomson’s Restaurant is now the local selling agency for the famous Heilman Pan Dandy Bread, which is received fresh from the ovens every afternoon. You’ll like this bread, its “ like mother used to bake”.
The Quaker Free Shows are at the opera house giving our people a first-class line of entertainment: vaudeville, good music, clean comedy, singing, dancing and moving pictures. Don’t fail to see them; they are here all this month.
The farm home of Ed Kinney in Fitchburg burned Sunday evening. It was a large nine-room house from which practically nothing was saved. The fire started presumably from a spark from the chimney falling on the roof.
The Oregon basketball town team went to Brooklyn Saturday night where they were defeated by the Brooklyn Tigers. The Tigers, however, came up here the following Saturday for a return game and our boys agreed to reverse the score. The Bowman team also defeated an Oregon team the same evening in a preliminary game.
Ross Farwell, who recently sold his farm to his neighbor, Peter Christenson, has purchased the H. N. Plumb place, and Mr. Plumb has purchased the Wm. Jeffery property on Janesville Street.
A social dancing party will be given at Olson’s hall on March 17th. Excellent music will be furnished by Clifford and Habermann’s Harp Orchestra of five pieces, including a saxophone, violin, trombone, and drums. Dancing will be from 7:45 to 11:45 p.m.
The Senior Class play, “Much Ado About Betty” was presented at the Opera House, Thursday, March 25th. The cast included William Ozburn, John Grady, Norris Ace, Earle Montgomery, Matthew Baumgartner, Archie Sorenson, Raphael Purcell, Roy Johnson, Arnet Adams, Lucille Morrissey, Stella Byrne, Evelyn Pillar, Helen Meloy, Florence Luchsinger, Esther Hanson, Luella Litch, Arthur Sweeney, and Violet Lalor.
50 years ago (1970)
The first five place winners in the Helen Mears Art Contest, sponsored by the Oregon Woman’s Club, were Vickie Arndt (1st place); Vicki Schwartzlow (2nd place); Pam Hollander (3rd place); Chris Christensen (4th place) and Phil Doug Stebbins (5th place).
Mrs. Suzanne Stordock was charged with first degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of her husband La Verne.
The Annual FFA Banquet, held in the Oregon High School cafetorium, was attended by about 200 students, parents, school administrators, faculty, and civic and agricultural leaders. The dinner was served by mothers of the FFA, assisted by FHA girls. The featured speaker was Arthur Kurtz, Wisconsin Assistant Secretary of Agriculture was the guest speaker. Mark O’Brien and Phil Peterson were presented with Honorary FFA Certificates.
The OHS music and drama departments presented a production of the musical “Lil Abner”.
The production involved over 200 students. Included in the cast were Lil Abner (Dick Kapusta); Daisy Mae (Laurie Kennan); Mammy Yokum (Barb Miller); Pappy Yokum (Phil Wolber) , and Earthquake McGoon (Paul Hansen).
OHS junior, Jim Outhouse, was the first in OHS history to place at the State Wrestling Tournament. He placed 2nd.
Frances Crotty was honored by the Lively Workers 4-H Club with a banquet held at the Waterfall Restaurant for her many years of service to the of the club.
The house on South Main Street, just south of the Wisconsin Power and Light Co. was purchased by Jack Staley and moved to a lot on State Street that had been the site of his former home which was destroyed by fire last year. Wisconsin Power & Light will build an office on the vacant lot, now the location of Ziggy’s Restaurant.
The Village of Oregon receives another $35,700 federal grant to assist with the cost of the recent sewage plant expansion.
Four OHS music students move on to the state contest: Rodney Bollman (alto sax solo); Jeannine Halverson (vocal solo); Steve Blahnik (vocal solo) and Mary Fuller and Connie Ringen (vocal duet).
A portion of the new middle school is open using the open classroom concept.
25 years ago (1995)
The Waterfall Restaurant advertises that its newly remodeled facility is now open.
The members of St. John’s 100th Anniversary Recipe Book were Sharon Kracke, Pauline Champion, Muriel Stoneman, Bonnie Haugen, Marlene Ferguson, Catherine Pasell, Clarice Christensen, JoAnn Helgesen, Maxine Sholts, Jean Bailie, Gudron Huston, and Patty Harper.
The OHS Girl’s Basketball Team beat the Monona Grove Silver Eagles to advance to the regional finals, but were defeated in the finals by two points by the Waunakee Warriors.
The Boy’s Basketball team in an overtime thriller defeated DeForest (82-76) to take the regional crown. However, they lost in the opening game of the sectionals to Fort Atkinson, 60-61.
The Village Board approved an annexation request by developers Lyle Rudy and Michael and Patrick Colye for 37.73 acres of land known as the Gefke farm located in the Town of Rutland.
The Dane County Natural Resources and Zoning Committee put an end to plans for a woman’s spirituality retreat in the Town of Oregon.
The OHS Pompom squad finished 3rd at the state competition. By winning a 3rd in the Pompon Category, next year they will qualify to compete in the “Division of Champions” class. Their coach was Andrea Carlson.
Shad Ladell and Kevin Klitzman were notified of their selection to receive the Wisconsin FFA Degree from the State Association.
With the help of the State Historical Society the Town of Dunn Burial Ground received a historical listing and protection under the 1987 law: ”The Burial Sites Preservation Law”.
OHS students presented a production of “Arsenic and Old Lace”. The play was directed by Louise Uphoff.
The engineers studying the pedestrian tunnel under Jefferson Street viaduct were encouraged about going ahead with the second phase of the tests and about eventually finding it safe to reopen.
The Village Board voted five to two not to grant a conditional use permit for a bigger batters cage on school property located at 456 North Perry Parkway.
The Oregon Area Senior Center was awarded Accreditation Status by the Wisconsin Association of Senior Centers. Oregon is the 6th of more than 90 existing senior centers in the state to receive this status.
The Town of Oregon opened new offices and a conference room next to their garage on Union Road. Ruth Klahn was the Town Clerk.
10 years ago (2010)
The Village of Oregon budget crunch will mean a reduction in the summer staff. This will result in less maintenance in some of the Village parks, drainage ways, and green spaces.
Town of Oregon resident, Mary Scmarak, offers to donate a horse to be raffled off at the Midwest Horse Fair with all the proceeds going to the Oregon Police Dept. for the purchase of a K9.
Jennifer Smith was sworn in at the last Village Broad Meeting as Oregon’s newest police officer.
The Village Board approved the purchasing of 12 historical markers to be displayed on downtown businesses and at the World War monument, at a cost of $8,651. The structures range in construction dates from 1878 to 1920.
Nancy Floeter opened a new business ’‘FACE IT – Skin Fitness” at 185 West Netherwood St.
The Village Board authorized the Village President, Steve Staton, to sign a general release regarding an insurance claim for Wingra Stone; the company whose concrete truck slammed into the Jefferson Street railroad bridge in late June 2004. Wingra’s insurance company sent a $9,000 payment to the City of Fitchburg and the Village of Oregon. The money will be split equally between the municipalities, which have joint ownership of the railroad track.
The local Movie Gallery store is scheduled to close in the spring. The movie rental corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; as people have found other ways to access the latest movies.
Walgreens runs into opposition when applying for a liquor license.