Welcome to Our Blog
Here we share our monthly Timeline and other things happening at the Society.
The Timeline is compiled by our volunteers and shares tidbits of news that happened 25, 50, and 75 years ago in the Oregon Area that were published in the local paper, The Oregon Observer.
January 2025 Timeline
75 Years Ago - January 1950
Local News
James Bossingham and Jerry Johnson, two popular and well-known Oregon young men, have contracted with the Texaco Oil Company to operate their new Texaco super service station in this village. Both of the men have considerable experience in operating a service station and this modern new station will give them the opportunity to expand their talents by serving the motoring public more efficiently. The station will be known as the J & J Texaco Service.
James and Jerry will formally open their new station on North Main and Grove streets on Saturday and Sunday January 7 and 8. Coffee and donuts will be served to visitors and free glasses for adults and lollipops and fire hats for the kiddies will be given away.
The new building is made of steel and concrete throughout. Outside is white enamel on steel with green trim. The interior is also finished in green and white with a spacious office filled with many home and auto supplies. Chrome fixtures are furnished throughout.
Two Texaco registered restrooms are tiled in the green and white color scheme and Jerry and Jim promise to have the finest restrooms in the state.
F.F.A. Boys go to Oscar Mayer’s
Tuesday, December 27th six boys went through Oscar Mayer’s Packing plant. The meeting was for the Quality Swine Program. They had a judging contest at 11:00 a.m. which we didn’t enter. At 12:15 we heard the Oscar Mayer program; after that we had dinner where we could help ourselves to whatever we wanted. In the afternoon we went to the killing floor and watched how the pigs were slaughtered. The day finished with a meeting on the types of hogs that should be marketed.
Engagements
The engagement of Miss Viola Jean Hammill of Beloit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Hammill, to Cletus Henriksen of Oregon has been announced. Miss Hammill is a former member of the faculty of the State School for Girls.
Mr. and Mrs. George E. Cross of Oregon announce the approaching marriage of their daughter Irene to Donald E. Wendt of Brooklyn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest E. Wendt of Merrimac. The wedding will take place in Oregon, Saturday, January 7th. After the honeymoon there will be a wedding dance in Brooklyn on January 12.
Meet Mr. Churchill
He was born in St. Paul Minnesota. He also lived in Platteville, Wis. He attended high school there and Teacher’s College. After graduating there, he attended the University of Wisconsin where he received his Master’s. He taught school his first year in a town in Iowa. The next four years he taught in Belmont, Wis.
He was in the Navy for two years and then came to Oregon to teach. He has been teaching here for four years. Mr. Churchill has stated it would be advantageous to have a soundproof music room and practice room. He also agreed with almost everyone else we have interviewed that we need a bigger school for the grades and the high school. His favorite hobby is to rest in an easy chair and listen to the radio now and then.
Random Shots
A local woman who recently came into possession of one of those electric disposals which sends everything down the drain instead of to the garbage pail, says that as a garbage disposal device it is a great improvement over her husband. All that is necessary to do with the new gadget is to touch the button, whereas it formally required several reminders to get action from her husband.
50 Years Ago: January 1975
IGA Store has a new Owner and Manager
Announcement was made by Jerry Norin, who has owned and operated Jerry’s IGA since August 1970, that he has sold the business to Doug Grosnick of Madison. Mike Hotlen has been named manager of the store by Grosnick. Jerry has been active in the Oregon Chamber of Commerce, serving as retail committee chairman for the past two years. He serves on the Oregon Fire Department and other community activities. The new store will go by the name of Oregon IGA
Fire at the Oregon State Farm
Firemen were dispatched to the Wisconsin State Correctional Camp on Hwy M in the Town of Fitchburg to battle a fire in the large hay storage building. Efforts were concentrated on saving the building directly behind the shed which housed 22 valuable bulls. The fire was discovered by Oregon Fire District Advisor, H. C. Wendt, as he was driving home from work at the Wisconsin School for Girls. Firemen from Oregon, Fitchburg and Verona spent over nine hours at the scene.
Christmas Decoration Winners
Winners of the Rotary Club Christmas home decorating contest are 1st Place: William Kracke home at 305 Sterling Drive; 2nd Place: Dr. J.W. Plummer residence at 268 Hayler Court and 3rd Place: the Dallas Zimmerlee home at 349 E. Lincoln. Twenty decorated homes were viewed by the judging committee.
Police Report Increased Incidence of Break-ins
During the early morning hours of December, Oregon police responded to nine breaking and entering calls. There has been a rash of this type of crime in the entire county. Money is the only thing taken in these thefts. Damage to the businesses involved has been to doors from forced entry. The Oregon police, along with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department are currently investigating these crimes.
Community Day Held at Oregon Junior High
Local citizens from Oregon and Madison told students about the services their different organizations and companies provide. Each student was able to choose four different presentations during the day’s events. Speakers included: Mrs. Ames-Oregon history; Mr. Cooper-General Telephone; Mr. Ellingson-Lake Kegonsa State Park; Mr. Johnson – Wisconsin Power & Light; Mrs. Mahr-Oregon School Board; Mr. Martinson-Genesis Housing; Mr. McConachie-Madison Theater in the Park; Mrs. Miller- Raising and Breeding Horses; Mr. Nelson-Post Office; Mr. O’Connell-Dane County Extension Representative; Rev. Peterson-Welcome Wagon; Mrs. Plummer-Village Board; Mrs. Wethal-Library;
Winter Holiday to be held in Fitchburg
United Bank and Trust of Madison-Fitchburg, the McKee family, Fitchburg Jaycees and the Fitchburg Club are jointly sponsoring a Winter Holiday for families in the Fitchburg, Oregon and Verona areas. It will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00pm, Saturday, January 25 at Tower Hill Subdivision, located on Cheryl Drive. The event will be free to anyone who wishes to attend. Free hot chocolate and coffee; cookies and soup will be available. A huge bonfire and fireworks at 8:00 p.m. are planned. Following the fireworks, a dance will be held in the Town Hall.
New Book Describes Life in Oregon (WI) Area 100 Years Ago
DeWitt Clinton Salisbury, one of Oregon’s early residents, is featured in a recently released book entitled “A Young Man of That Time”. The book was written by Salisbury’s granddaughter, Mildred Hansen Osgood. Information for the book is taken from the diaries of DeWitt Salisbury and his older brother, Harrison Salisbury. The book tells of life as it was in the Oregon area more than 100 years ago as it details Salisbury’s life as a young man, a Civil War soldier, and later as he raised his own family on the Salisbury homestead in Oregon. The original farm stretched along the east side of North Main Street from the cemetery at the north down to about the Red Brick Building at the south. The original farm home was located on the corner of North Main St. and East Netherwood St. The last family home was built in 1912 at 610 N. Main Street. Mrs. Osgood and her husband were in Oregon and visited with the Jaeger family who now reside in that home. In the book, Salisbury tells from his diary about the fight to get the railroad to Oregon and of walking or going by buggy to Madison. Salisbury farmed the family land after marriage and also taught school in Oregon and Fitchburg after he got out of the army.
25 Years Ago: January 2000
Local News
Manor residents express gratitude
Each year gets more difficult to express to the community, the school, the churches, the organizations, friends and individuals who provide so well for us during the holiday season. We have carolers, cookie bakers, ornament-card-decorations, flowers, (poinsettias, holly, wreaths), fruit, (FFA, VFW) music and dancing, (especially Mary Katic’s dance program)! We had exceptional voice caroling from the Scouts, choirs and neighbors.
We receive very generous gifts from the parish members of Holy Mother of Consolation Caring Tree and the love and attention we receive from the Oregon Senior High School each year is overwhelming. We can’t put into words what the Christmas season means to Oregon Manor because of the love and generosity of the whole community. We wish you all the blessings of the New Year.
Banking Q and A
Q – I’ve been to a store where I wrote a check, they swiped it through a machine, and gave the check back to me, but I got the merchandise. Is this a new system?
A- Yes, it’s called POPS (Point of Purchase System). What the store has done is turn your check into an ACH electronic debit instead of processing the check. Your checking account is still charged for the amount of the check, but the check itself is not processed. Stores like it because it is cheaper for them. You should like it too because you get a detailed description on your checking account statement instead of simply a check number and amount. It’s like making a purchase with a debit card without having a debit card. This could save you money too.
Community National Bank Robbed
Just minutes before closing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday January 19th and individual wearing a dark stocking cap, tan scarf, sunglasses, gloves and a green three-quarter lengths coat walked up to one of the tellers at the Main St location of Community National Bank and told her, in a voice identified as male, that he wanted all of the money in her drawer. The teller complied. When he asked for money from the other drawers, she said she didn’t have keys for them.
The man described as medium build between 5’5” and 5’7” and his identity concealed with the winter clothing, exited the same way he entered the bank, through the front door. Although he did not display a weapon, the robber carried a brown paper bag.
“The staff performed admirably, exactly as they were trained”, said Dan Behrend, a bank spokesperson.
He explained that federal regulations require banks to properly train employees, and he has been training employees for 20 years.
The amount of money taken from the bank was not disclosed. Local police and the FBI to process evidence from the scene. The robbery did not appear to be connected to robberies in Madison.
Officer Smith begins Oregon hallway patrol
Instead of patrolling village streets, Oregon police officer Al Smith is now patrolling the hallways of Oregon High School. Smith began his duties as the district’s new full-time school liaison officer on January 4th.
“My job is to offer a safe and secure learning environment for students and teachers.” In his role, Officer Smith’s main goal is to be a role model for the students. “Kids look at adults as role models, which is what I will try to be. He defines a role model as someone who “walks the walk. I keep my promises and try to do the right thing, and I try not to be hypocritical.” In addition to being a role model, kids also need to know they can trust adults.
Smith realizes he may have to walk a fine line between being a friend as well as an authority figure.
Not even a month into his role, Smith’s biggest challenge is trying to fit all of his duties into an 8-hour day.