Oregon History Timeline for October 2017
100 yrs. ago (1917)
Fincher Bros. have finished their new Ford garage and showroom. The building is divided into two parts; a showroom in the front and a repair department in the back. Paul Fisher is in charge of the repair department. He will repair not only Fords, but all makes of cars.
C. W. Netherwood has received his transportation confirmation for his trip to Vicksburg, Miss. where he will participate in a four day program, October 16-19, for the civil war veteran’s of the Vicksburg campaigns. The state legislature had passed a law that provided that all transportation costs would be covered for those veterans wishing to attend the event.
Pease Bros. advertised that they had available for demonstration and/or use a new electric vacuum for those people who had had their places wired by the electric company of the Pease Bros. or by George Thompson. A vacuum could be purchased for $35.00.
Norton Ames, a local resident, was promoted to another branch of the aviation corps located at Camp May in New Jersey. Norton would eventually be serving as an aviator as described in the recent enlistment ad in the Observer. “Uncle Sam has taken down the bars for aviators. Every healthy, able-bodied young man who has a good knowledge of mechanics and gas engines can enlist in the Navy aviation service. If he makes good he will soon be patrolling the skies on the lookout for German submarines or scout ships.” Norton would end up in the Azores Islands patrolling for submarines.
The Associated Retail Merchants of Madison had a full page ad in the Oregon Observer inviting area residents to a “Shopping and Fall Display Week”, October 1st though the 6th. They encouraged area residents to spend a day in Madison to see what deals Madison merchants had to offer and to enjoy the beautiful State Capital, Vilas Park Zoo and other beautiful parks.
Leslie Booth bought the restaurant and ice cream business from C. L. Hanson. The newspaper noted that Mr. Booth was popular with the residents and would undoubtedly make good in this business,
A new afternoon newspaper, The Capital Times, was stated by William T. Evjue, William Allman, Thomas Bowen and E. C. Homberger.
An auction sale of 100 head of cattle was held recently at the Oregon Stock Yards. The lot included several head of registered Holsteins, 30 head of milkers and springers, 40 head of two-year old heifers due to freshen in early winter, and 30 head of two-year old feeding steers.
F. M. Patterson was listed as the proprietor; L. A. Ross, the auctioneer; and C.A. Hanan, the clerk.
50 yrs. ago (1967)
The Village Board voted to increase the sewer service charge rate from 50% to 100% of the water bill rate, bringing it in line with other surrounding communities.
Oregon Schools celebrated a newly constructed cross country course by hosting their first home meet in the school’s history. Oregon runner, John Dahlke, was the first to set a record on the local course. The team’s head coach was Dan Wrolstad.
The Dane County Agriculture and Stabilization Service conducted rural-urban tours to study the applications of various farm programs administrated by their office. The sites toured included the Ralph Sholts trout farm south of Oregon on U.S. Hwy. 14.
A bomb threat was received at the office of the Oregon Consolidated Schools. The elementary and high school buildings were evacuated; however, no trace of a bomb or explosives were found
Joseph and Dorothy Tauchen, operating JoDot Ceramics, held an open house for their new studio at 145 Dewey Street.
Local youth participated in a three day conservation workshop, Trees for Tomorrow, sponsored by the Wisconsin Power. Attending the program at Eagle River with their instructor, Robert Lewis were James Clark, Gary Johnson, Keith Knutson, David McAllister, and Robert Straub.
25 yrs. ago (1992)
The annual smorgasbord at St. John’s Lutheran served nearly 900 people. Some of the former residents that attended the event were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Pease, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pease, Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Fincher, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schaller, Mrs. Jerry O’Neill, Mrs. Ed Culp, Mrs. Stanley Dokken and Mrs. George Kuehni.
The Oregon High School drama group hosted the annual one-act play competition with participating groups from Oregon, Evansville, Milton, and Waterloo. The Panther Players of Oregon presented the play, “The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife”. The leading roles were played by Paul Hanson and Mary Oelmann. Others in the cast were Greg Trosper, Kathy Christenson, Chris Hauser, Doug Johnson, Dale Pasell, Nick Brashi, Sue Barnowsky, Sue McManus, Sandy Fosshage, Janet Trosper, Bob Maier, Todd Anderson and Jim Lynaugh.
The village were taking down many of the elm trees in the Waterman (“Triangle”) Park due to their infestation with Dutch Elm Disease.
The 1967 Homecoming Court consisted of Jan Edwards (queen), Joe Palmer (king), Karen Doerfer, Doug Johnson, Mary Brown, Bill Fiscus, Leta Wolowicz, and Bob Maier. The football team rolled to a victory over Evansville (25-12). Nick Brashi led the ground game with 104 yards in 19 tries which accounted for two of Oregon’s touchdowns. Bill Fiscus accounted for 50 yards in 10 tries.
25 yrs. ago (1992)
The Oregon Area Historical Society held its Grand Opening, Saturday, October 3rd. Florice Paulson cut the ribbon to open the museum. She had purchased the building and donated to the Society in honor of her parents and grandparents. Others on hand for the opening were Village President, Bill Kortte, Miss Oregon, Tina Gefke and Historical Society president, Eeda Lumley. Some 165-170 people toured the museum Saturday and another 60 or more on Sunday.
The School Board authorized the sale of $3.22 million in general obligation school building bonds for the remodeling of the junior high and the middle schools. This was part of the referendum approved in 1991.
The Oregon Woman’s Club ended their 70 year history with their last meeting on October 27, called “The Last Hurrah”. The officers of the Club were Donna Wetzel, president; Christina Hedin, 1st vice-president; Rita Plummer, 2nd vice president; Mary Neis, secretary; and Sandy Champagne, treasurer.
The Oregon Tornado Relief Fund were distributing the donations received. Members of the Fund Dispersement Committee were Atty. Dean Olson, Ruth Klahn, Lyman Anderson, and Rev. Tony Schmacher.
Boy Scout Troop #50 was rechartered to the United Methodist Church of Oregon. The Troop had been chartered in 1942, but had been inactive since 1981.
During the previous month, Rev. William A. Mains was installed as an associate pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
The OHS Girl’s Cross Country Runners finished 3rd at the 1992 Badger Conference Cross Country Meet, giving them a season record of 14-2. The varsity runners were Meghan Werth, Grace Bandow, Megan Staton, Sarah Hagen, Jessica Werth, Susan Caya, Shelley Schmidt, and Leah Stark. Meghan Werth earned All-Conference honors for the second consecutive year.
The team ended their season at the WIAA Sectional Meet, finishing in 5th place.
10 yrs. ago (2007)
The OHS lost their homecoming game to Monona Grove (24-13). Trailing by just one point at halftime, they were shut down in the second half in part due to two costly turnovers. Reigning over the homecoming dance were Katelynn Cloud, queen, and Ben Ceder, king.
Marechiel Santos-Lang was chosen the new director of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce.
A bench made of South Dakota granite honoring Nathaniel Ames, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, was installed at his grave site. The bench was crafted by Pachmann Memorials of Madison and paid for by Dr. Walter Schroeder, a retired physician of the U.S. Navy now residing in Oregon.
OHS golfer, Abby Busler, earned a spot in the Sectional Meet and was selected an all-conference golfer by the Badger South Conference.
OHS tennis players, Amber Cook and Natalie Fuller, advanced to WIAA Division 1 state tournament.
The four OHS students performing with the 2007 Wisconsin Honors Orchestra were Erik Johnson, violin; Brad Riss, cello; Eloise Heydenrych, viola, and Patrick Mielke, cello.
Gary Gorman puts the finishing touches on his three million-plus renovation of the 1922 Red Brick School House. He plans to move his business, Gorman & Company, in this month. It will house the headquarters for his business.
The Village Board adopts a “Flood Prevention and Mitigation Strategic Plan”. The action was taken as the result of the flooding that occurred in the Village in 1999 and again in 2007.
Library Director, Vicki Cothroll, announced that a $27,500 grant from the Madison Community Foundation, which will be used to build the library’s cooking and nutrition resources and to help plan special events for all age groups concerning the topic.
The Optimist Club elects new officers: Lyle Wanless, president; Mary Kay Clark, vice-president; Eric Farness, secretary; and Maynard Stoehr, treasurer.
A doggy day care center, The Hound Huddle, was opened. The business is attached to the Oregon Vet Clinic located on Park Street. The facility was approved to handle up to 70 dogs at a time. Sandy Ambrosius is the daytime manager.