May 2023 Timeline

100 Years Ago: May 1923

• Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Johnson moved into her home on S Second Street, which she has extensively remodeled. 
• Mr. and Mrs. August Lythjohan and son attended a family reunion at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Lythjohan St at McFarland Sunday.  The occasion was in honor of the 76th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Lythjohan Sr.
• Dr. and Mrs. H.E. Hanan received a dispatch from Spokane, Washington, announcing the arrival of twin babies, a boy and a girl, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Bennett.  The Doctor was so elated he forgot to carry his walking stick for several days!
• Special services will be held the latter part of this week at the Lutheran church in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the church.  The celebration will begin at 8pm on Thursday evening with services in both the English and Danish languages.  Services in both languages will also be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Of the charter members of the church who are still members of the congregation are the following:  Mr. and Mrs. Peter Paulsen, Mr. Alfred Nelson, Mrs. Martin Karmgard, Miss. Catherine Christensen and Mrs. and Mrs. H. P Christensen.  A notable fact is that Mr. Peter Paulsen still retains the office of secretary after 25 years of continuous service.
• There will be a community meeting at the high school gym Thursday Evening.  A short program will be given which will include vocal numbers by E M. Doughlas of Madison and Donald McGill.  A deputy state health officer will be present and give a talk  “Why not live a hundred years”. Eats  follow the program

50 Years Ago: May 1973

• A new Miss Oregon is crowned – Miss Gail Bentley, was crowned Miss Oregon, after an evening of thrilling performances by all the eleven contestants. 

• Representatives to Badger Boys, Girls State were announced. Pictured Left to Right:  Lorna. Zach, Nancy Haak, Kirk Grundahl and David Statz.

• Jan Genske is Special Guest of Charlie Pride:  Miss Jan Genske, Route 3, Irish Lane, recently was a special guest at a party given  by country singer Charlie Pride.  Mr. Pride performed at the coliseum Saturday where most of the show was filmed by the NBC television network to be broadcast later this year.
• Dick Trickle of Wisconsin Rapids picked up his fourth feature win of the season and his first at Capital Super Speedway Friday night after dueling for ten laps with Boyce Sparkman, Rockford and Whitey Harris of Lake Vila Illinois.
• The explosion of an air compressor and tank at the Madison Pre-Hung Door, Route 1, Oregon, last Tuesday, May 1st, resulted in approximately  $3000 worth of damage to the establishment.  The cause of the explosion, which was accompanied by a small fire, is unknown.

• This outside photo shows the new Fahey True Value Hardware, located on Highway 14 on Oregon’s north side.  The new building will have 19000 feet of display area and will carry a complete line of sporting goods, housewares and gifts, tires and accessories, farm hardware plumbing and electrical do-it-yourself equipment, paint, lawn and garden equipment and sundry items.

• Winner in the women’s goat tying event in the recent University of Nebraska-sponsored intercollegiate rodeo was Gaylene George, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee George, Brooklyn; From the University  of Wisconsin River Falls.  Gay also placed fourth in breakaway roping and was runner up all-around cowgirl, honors which contributed to the UW-River Falls girls’ team capturing the high team trophy.

• Kindergartners visit Stoneman farm;  One hundred and fifty excited kindergartners from Also Leopold school visited the Stoneman farm recently. The youngsters were delighted with all the animals and a chance to “drive” the big tractors.
• McManus and Haukom, lawyers, have announced that their law offices are now relocated in the new McManus Building at 235 King Street.  Jack McManus of Oregon, Wisconsin is the senior member of the firm.  The other members of the firm include Larry A. Haukom, Joseph J. Klein, and Ronald A. Ritchie.

25 Years Ago: May 1998

• Prairie View students enjoyed a day in the past by dancing as part of their annual Pioneer Day celebration.  The photo below shows Seth Hopwood as he looks on while Nicole Hurd and  Carley Doers dance.  

• The sculpture entitled “Together We Stand” was carefully moved, placed and bolted down in front of the new entrance to the Oregon High School.  The two student designers, senior Nicole Noyce and junior Elizabeth Godshalx, watched as the eleven foot, 425 pound sculpture was lined up to face due north.  The three figured sculpture represents that cooperative effort is needed to promote lifelong learning.  It also represents an integration of many disciplines, including art, design, technology, math and metallurgy.  

• Oregon held their annual Safety Day program.  Children and parents took part in the fun which included Kids Care ID Kits, tours of police cars, fire trucks and ambulances.  there was also a mini bike rodeo which included a bike safety check.  Students were also fingerprinted, had their pictures taken and checked out a farm hazard display demonstration.  

• The class of 1998 met the class of 1924.  Two classes of Advanced Placement at OHS asked questions of five senior citizens about their high school experiences.  The program was part of the Oregon Area Historical Society’s Sesquicentennial observation….”Making History Come Alive: From Immigrant to Internet.”

• The Oregon Area/EMS District in cooperation with the Oregon High School, Oregon Police Department, Fitchburg Fire Department, Dane County Coroner’s Office and other local organizations, conducted a pair of mock drunk driving accident scenarios for the students of OHS.  The purpose of the demonstration was to encourage high school students to avoid drinking and driving during their high school prom and to show how serious the consequences of drunk driving can be. 

• The Oregon High School FFA won the 68th Annual Hoard’s Dairy Cattle Contest.  The group topped 452 FFA chapters from around the United States.  There were 49 states and 40,318 participants in the contest.  The students placed in order one class each of Holsteins, Ayrshires, Guernseys, Brown Swiss and Jerseys.  

• Oregon School District student/parent teams assembled at the S.P.R.I.T.E. Ropes Course to participate in the sixth annual Student/Parent Rope Course Program.  The day-long program of trust and teamwork activities was designed to build communication and appreciation for one another in the participants.  Activities included rope climbing, wall climbing, trust and teamwork skills.  The free program for fifth and sixth graders and their parents was organized and sponsored by the Oregon School District’s Student Assistant Program (S.A.P.)

 

10 Years Ago: May 2013

• Firefighters spent about 3 hours at an apartment fire Friday night on Janesville Street.  The fire caused about $5000 in damages.  The cause of the fire is listed as undetermined.
• For the past quarter century, area chocolate lovers have been drawn to the little shop in downtown Oregon where they still make homemade chocolate by hand, one batch at a time.  But now the owners, Claude and Ellen Marendaz, are beginning to wind down their operation. The couple began making chocolate out of their Oregon home in 1984 and sold the product at the Dane County farmer’s market.  They opened their first retail store here in about ’87 or ’88 – they couldn’t remember for sure off the top of their heads.  We’re both going to be 68 this year, and you can’t make chocolate forever” Ellen told the Observer.
• Mark Mortensen, founder of Oregon’s All-Color Powder Coating is the newest member of the board of directors for Oregon Community Bank and Trust, the bank said in a news release.
• Mason’s on Main, the upscale yet welcoming new restaurant that’s coming to downtown Oregon, will open later this month.  The owners, Jerry and Bonnie Theil, and their son Hans expect to have about 45 seats in the south dining room and about 65 seats in the bistro. 
• Opposition to moving or demolishing one of the village’s oldest properties – known as the Ames Home – surfaced Monday when two women spoke at a public hearing against purchasing  the property at 146 S. Main St., currently the home of Deb Bossingham and Steve Newton.  Pat Wilkening, lifelong area resident and descendant of the Ames family, told the Village Board she opposes the plan.  Judy Meyers, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission and Oregon Area Historical Society appeared with Wilkening and seconded her opinion.