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Welcome to our Timeline. Here we will share 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.

 

The Timeline is compiled by Oregon Area Historical Society volunteers.

October 2024 Timeline

75 Years Ago - October 1949

Local News

Harvest Festival Saturday, October 15

There will be a Harvest Festival at the Presbyterian church Saturday, October 15th, with a fall rummage sale in the evening.

The rummage sale will open at 3 p.m. with the cafeteria supper starting at 4:30 and continuing through the supper hour.

The harvest sale – fresh vegetables, eggs, baked goods, etc. will open at 8 p.m.  Coffee and doughnuts will be served during the evening.

This is a special occasion as well as a sale.  Come. Everyone welcome. 

Hegge—Wethal

The marriage of Miss Joan Helen Hegge to Wesley James Wethal took place Saturday morning, Oct 1, at the rectory of the Holy Mother of Consolation Church, Oregon, the Rev. FR. Sylvester Van Berkel officiating.  She was given in marriage by her father.  The bride wore a wine-colored suit with hat to match and black accessories.  Her corsage was of gardenias.  Only immediate relatives attended the services.

Following the services a luncheon was served at the home of the bride’s parents for the bridal party and relatives.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hegge of Oregon, and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. O. Wethal of Edgerton.  The bride is a graduate of the Oregon High School and attended the University of Wisconsin and has been employed by the Farmers Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. of Madison. After November 1, the couple will be at home in Stoughton. 

Trip to Denmark

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gefke, son Stan, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hanson accompanied by Henry Gefke of Madison went to Denmark last Tuesday where Mr. and Mrs. Gefke spent the rest of the week with their daughter, Mrs. Earl Larsen and family They retuned home Saturday with their son-in-law Earl Larsen, who went on to Ft. Atkinson to visit his brother Eugene and family. His daughter Joann and his mother, Mrs. Elida Larsen, accompanied him. 

Hunters Asked To Study Deer

Deer hunters this year will be able to make a close-up study of female deer as they become legal game and the conservation department is interested in their findings. 

Cyril Kabat, head of game research for the conservation department, says that the winter’s malnutrition and starvation is bound to affect the reproductive capacity of the does and suggest that hunters bagging a doe examine it as they dress it out with this in mind.  The department is anxious to get as many such hunter reports as possible. 

The charge of “dry does” has been made repeatedly by hunters over the years, during the continuous deer controversy and attributed to causes other than malnutrition and starvation. Hunters have an opportunity this year to shed considerable light on the question by a rather simple examination and reports to the conservation department.  It is hoped that enough reports can be received by the department to determine the general condition of the herd. 

Other News

The new Ford pension plan seems to most people to be fair.  Under it workers may retire at 65 and must retire at 68.  They are guaranteed upon retirement, a pension of $100 a month for life.  The Ford Company will make up the difference between what the pensioner will receive from the government old age pension and $100 a month.  Thus if the federal old age insurance totals $40 a month the Ford Company will pay the balance of 60, making a total of $100. 

50 Years Ago: October 1974

Oregon Preschool Has Record 67 Children

 

Oregon Co-operative Preschool, located at 180 N. Main Street, has settled into its new location and the active routine of the year.  With the addition of a second afternoon class to the existing two morning and one afternoon session, a record 67 Oregon three and four year olds are participating in the school.

 

Activities are the order of the day. Whether it is as simple as hearing a story or as special as visiting a farm for a horse ride, the children, teachers and parent assistants have a busy day every day.

 

Each session is divided into four activity periods: large group, small group, free time and outdoor play. During large group time, the children hear stories, have creative dramatics, and sing songs.   Art projects are available during free time and the children have done paper collage, soap and finger painting and water color painting.    Other children may prefer working with puzzles and learning games.  The school kitchen has been busy too, when the children help make their own snacks such as brownies and Jello.

 

Dr. Wischhoff Receives High Masonic Honor

 

Dr. M. J. Wischhoff received the Honorary Thirty-third Degree in the Scottish Rite Freemasonry in Atlantic City, New Jersey.    This is indeed a high honor for Dr. Wischhoff and the entire Oregon Masonic Lodge.  In the history of the lodge only one other member has attained this high honor, that being the late Don McGill, longtime village clerk in Oregon.

 

Dr. Wischhoff became a Mason in 1940 and attained the rank of Worshipful Master in 1945.  In 1946, he became a member of the Scottish Rites and served as Thrice Potent Master of the Madison Lodge of Perfection in 1971.   He is also a member of the Zor Shrine.

 

Active for years in many civic groups, he is president of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce, president of the Local Development Corporation and a member of the Oregon Optimist Club.

 

Fitchburg Golden Age Club is Three Years Old

 

The tremendously successful Golden Age Club of Fitchburg has a roster of over 90 active members at the present time.  The club was formed in March 1970 when a group of 30 older residents of Fitchburg met with the Fitchburg Club Board of Directors for a social afternoon.  It was decided at that time that the monthly get-togethers would continue with the expenses of the afternoon to be shared by both the older residents and the Fitchburg Club.  However in December of 1971, the Golden Agers expressed a desire to be self-supporting and financially independent.  

 

The Golden Age Club of Fitchburg is open to all Fitchburg residents 55-150 years of age and to all former Fitchburg residents now residing outside the Fitchburg Township.  Former residents now living in Madison, Verona, and Oregon are attending the Club.  Others who have not as yet participated in the activities are welcome.  There are no dues and no admission fees.  The club meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Fitchburg Town Hall for an afternoon of cards of various types, followed by a luncheon.   Each spring and fall, the Golden Agers have one very popular evening potluck card party.  They invite as their special guests their sons and daughters and their wives and husbands and other friends.  A total of 112 attended the last pot luck card party, enjoying a program of special entertainment.

 

Village Board Studies Many Problems in Long Meeting

 

Snowmobile trails were approved, baseball field lighting bids sought, police office Michael Krembs resigns to work for Dane Co. Sheriff Department and Richard Haynes resigns from Park Board.  

 

Snowmobile trails were approved the same as last year, with the trial trail through Hitch Park becoming a permanent trail.  Permission was granted to the snowmobile club to install and maintain a bridge over the the drainage ditch to the east end of the park to improve safety of that trail.  The Village Attorney was instructed to study the legality and feasibility of employment contracts for village police officers. Authorization was given for the advertisement of bids for baseball field lighting.  The resignation of Richard Haynes was accepted. Haynes stated reasons for resigning as due to health and numerous other committee commitments.

 

It was reported that street light installation began September 24th.  The personnel committee made the following recommendations:  a 1975 salary increase for all employees of 7.5 percent, which reflects the cost of living increase; increase the hourly rate of two library assistants; hire a full-time engineer; and reclassify a clerical position.

25 Years Ago: October 1999

Local News

 

Harlow, Jabs Recovering

 

Two Oregon football players, Will Harlow and Dustin Jabs, are recovering nicely from their injuries suffered in Friday’s 21-6 loss to Sauk Prairie.

 

Early in the first quarter, Harlow tried to tackle a player at the knees and suffered a strained neck, being carted off on a stretcher.  Jabs went down late in the fourth quarter and suffered a slight concussion.

 

Both Panthers were sent home before the game was over, and head coach Bob Prahl says their status for tonight’s game is questionable, pending clearance by a Dr. 

 

Historical Society President Invitation

 

Phase one of the Museum’s elevator project is now completed.  Come and see the improvement.  The old concrete steps have been removed and a concrete ramp is now installed to the Museum door.  A thank you to Jim Wallace and crew Bob Keenan and Ray Lawry. We are now entering the planning of phase two, which is the installation of the elevator at the Museum. At our next regular Board of Directors meeting on Oct 14, 7 p.m. at the Museum, we will be discussing the project.  This will be a chance once again to give us and the committee your input on the project and have your questions answered.  Architect Arlan Kay will be there to bring us up-to-date and to answer our questions.

 

This is an open meeting, so please come and give us your input.

-Norm Champion
President

 

 

Homecoming Hitchless Despite Hit List Scare

 

Orange banners hung on hallway walls declaring, “Go Panthers” as students bustled from class to pep assembly wearing school colors, orange and black, and shouting “We’re number one” to each other.  It was homecoming at Oregon High School.

 

Reigning in the event were king and queen Jason Klein and Becky Beetham as well as the hectic pace usually associated with the week long fall tradition, much to the relief of school officials.  Floats, class pride, a football game, band and cheerleader performances will formulate memories for class reunions as in past generations.

 

For at Oregon High School unlike less fortunate school districts in the nation, it was a homecoming that came off without a hitch instead of a hit list that could have led to tragedy.

 

A hit list naming 70 students and 25 staff members was brought to the attention of the Oregon High School administration last week. Principal Bob Scott and his staff worked quickly to identify the students responsible, according to Oregon Chief of Police Doug Pettit.

 

Three sophomore boys, ages 15 and 16 were determined to be responsible and questioned with their parents by school staff.

 

After talking with Scott, Pettit dispatched Officer Dennis Geske to the high school to begin a criminal investigation Wednesday as well. 

 

According to the investigation a parent of the OHS student informed the administration about the list’s existence, although further questioning by the school staff revealed that many students knew about the list. 

 

The boys who created the list were “very cooperative,” said Pettit.

 

The one who had possession of the list took officials to his home with his parents and turned it over to them.  

 

All but 10 of those named on the list were notified along with their parents, by the end of the school day Thursday. 

 

Street Talk

 

How would you describe the state of school spirit at Oregon High School this year?

 

Abby Freiberg – OHS grade 12, Excellent – about as good as it has been.

 

Amanda Dottl –OHS grade 9, It shows up in people’s hair a lot.

 

Anthony Brylski –OHS grade 9, There’s a lot of it.

 

Anita Koehler – OHS Assistant principal, excellent: there’s more around today than we’ve had for a long, long time.  It doesn’t surprise me; we’ve worked hard. The student council sold T-shirts for the first time to get kids involved. 

 

Jenni Shurpit- OHS grade 9, very high, everybody’s doing it. 

 

Amy Bunner -OHS grade 9, it’s pretty good, the best I’ve seen it.