This Month in History
September
The following material was compiled by Gerald Neath for the Oregon Area Historical Society from material published in the Oregon Observer.
1915 (100 years ago)

“Field Day” events, sponsored by the Oregon Business Men’s Club, were held on Labor Day. At 2 p.m. Gov. E. L. Philipp arrived by train and from the depot was taken to the park where a crowd had gathered to hear him speak. He spoke for about 45 minutes on the issues of the day including concerns about our national government’s policy relating to the European War and the political state of affairs in Wisconsin and his experiences with the opposing wing of the party since he’s been governor. After speaking he immediately left by auto for Edgerton. Following the speech the crowd, led by a band, proceeded to the ball park where they witnessed the Oregon ball team lose to Bellville 3-0. After the ball game there were tug-of-war events and foot races on the village square. The day’s festivities closed with a dance at the opera house. Over 200 couples attended. Music was provided by a group called The Badger Orchestra.The Oregon Business Men’s Club filed a petition with the State Railroad Rate Commission for a new train depot and a shelter shed over the south bound platform. Their previous request, pending for the past year and half, had received no action. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad served the community.

Driving a vehicle in 1915 required that you abide by the following speed limits: 15 miles per hour in cities and villages; 25 miles per hour on any public highway; and 8 miles per hour though a cemetery or park or in passing any school grounds. It was also noted that no person under the age of 16 shall operate a vehicle unless accompanied by an adult.

J. F. Litel was the proud owner of a new Buick Six purchased through the local deanship of Criddle & Kellor.

Need your shoes repaired? Residents were reminded that William Hayes was in the business of repairing all kinds of shoes. He also had the following notice in the newspaper: “Anyone owing me for over 60 days, please call and pay as I need my money to pay my bills.”

The local opera house will be a bit more comfortable this coming winter. L. Buskirk was busy excavating under the Opera House for the purpose of installing a hot air furnace. He had purchased the largest size furnace made by the Mueller Company. The prospect is that patrons will be more comfortable this coming winter than they had been in the past.

Local merchants, Prichard & Cusick , advised area farmers about the safety of having a silo, stating that it was the best insurance against an early frost;. They commented in their ad: “Don’t expect your cows to have greatly benefitted on their milk flow increase by looking at your neighbor’s silo.”

1965 (50 years ago)

Isabel Delgado from LaPunta, Peru is the OHS foreign exchange student for the 1965-66 academic year. She will be stayed with Mr.and Mrs. Erwin Lawry and their children Bonnie and Randy.

New prices for adult haircuts were jointly announced by Brown’s Barber Shop and Packard’s Barber Shop in Oregon; and Curless’ Barbershop in Brooklyn. Starting September 1st. haircuts will cost $1.75. The hours that the shops are open will remain the same except for Saturdays when they will close at 5:00 p. m.

Brooklyn State Bank completes the addition and remodeling of their facility at a cost of $50,000.

The Post Office installs a new stamp machine in their lobby. A quarter will give you 5 five-cent stamps; a nickel will get you one 5-cent stamp and a dime will produce two 4-cent stamps plus 2 cents in change.

People’s United Methodist Church broke ground for a new parsonage to be located on Orchard Drive. This will replace the old one on North Main St., which has been in use for the past 70 years. Those participating were William Baumgartner, chairperson of the Church Board; Richard Noyce, chairperson of the Building and Planning Committee; Walter Waefler, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees; Al Gasner, chairperson of the Finance Committee; and Robert Lewis, layman leader

A rather inexperienced OHS football team defeated Evansville (12-0) in their league opener, giving Cal Callaway his first victory as their head coach. Both of Oregon’s scores were in the 3rd. quarter; one on a 39 yead pass from Steve O’Brien to Denny Strander and the other a 10 yard run of the middle by Tom Olson.

The Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 2nd. Annual Town ’n Country Day. The Kiddie’s Parade was led off by the OHS Band. First place winners in their respective categories were Dean Fuller (wheel vehicles); Luther Appel (costumes of those 7 yrs. and younger); Connie Severs (those 8 yrs. and older); Marge Handel (pets); and Cathy Caine (horses). The winner of the overall tractor pull was the Town of Oregon. They were awarded the traveling trophy for the coming year. Individual winners in the tractor pull were Wayne Zwelfel (5000# class); Virgil Crary (7500# class) and Carl Bryant (10,000# class).

Approximately one hundred and ten members of the OHS band participated in U.W. Band Day at Camp Randall. There were 46 bands participating with a total of nearly 4,000 musicians. They performed during the half-time of the U. W. and Colorado football game. Accompanying the band were OHS music teachers Richard Churchill and Joseph Stratton.

1990 (25 years ago)

Oregon Video moved into their new quarters at 120 Janesville St. The store stocked more than 2,000 VHS cassettes and about 400 Beta cassettes plus Nintendo games.

Four Seasons and Heating Cooling moved to Oregon; occupying the building that formerly housed Sunnyside Hatchery. Owners, Larry and Terry Arndt, had purchased Oregon Heating and Air Conditioning.

The “Oregon Horse” (it appears to be the Chamber of Commerce’s fiberglass horse now in front of the Historical Society Museum) gets a coat of paint by children from The After School Clubs. Those participating in the project were Shannon Barrows, Vicky Bertics, Megan Backes, Emily Virnig, Jessica Flint, Becky Beetham, Sandy Teasdale, Brett Kramer, Christy Torhorst, Erica Dill, Steve Pfeiffer, Annie Fleming, Justine Bonde, Jimmy Nelson and Jeremy Waterrman. Pictured with the group was Miss Oregon, Debbie Bossingham.

Members of the Oregon Lioness Club planted and cared for a flower garden they planted in front of the Oregon Valley Bank marque (now BMO Harris Bank). The flowers were planted by Marilyn Bomkamp and Eleanor Lawry. Others involved in the project were Jean Volz and Dorothy Milestone as well as other members that cared for the flowers throughout the growing season.

Eighteen Oregon School District students were accepted into the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. The following will be performing in the various orchestras during the coming season of concerts: Oregon Junior High string players; John Wilson, Amy Gould, Jeffrey O”Malley, Vanessa Mardones, Lindsay Nutt, Sarah Hockman, Katie Baumgartner, Sarah Halverson and Ian Honeyman; Oregon/Brooklyn Middle School string players, Curtis Ruedin, Laura Pitt and Tanja O’Malley; and Oregon High School musicians, Elizabeth DeLamater, Scott Hertz, Kim Erickson, Julie Wood, Connie O’Brien, and Tammie Behr.

The OHS football team remained unbeaten (4-0) with a 17-7 win over Middleton. Oregon scored on a 20 yard field goal by Mike Statz; a touchdown pass from Statz to Jim Milz and another touchdown pass from Statz to Dennis Scheafer. Coach Bob Prahl noted that when they were in need of short yardage they were able to keep the ball moving by using Miles Weaver and what he termed their “jumbo offense”. Their first loss of the season came a week later, losing to DeForest, 15-6.

2005 (10 years ago

Many area residents made contributions and went on aid missions to those areas in the South hit by Hurricane Katrina. Mike Brown and Cheri Hood travelled to Pascagoula, Mississippi as part of a United Methodist Disaster Relief Organization to help there. Other area residents opened their homes to hurricane survivors. The Oregon School District joined other school districts in the area to collect funds for both the victims of Hurricane Katrina as well as for the victims of the August tornado in the Stoughton area.

The Oregon Farm Center, located on Hwy. 138, expanded their operations; building a 70 foot high tower dryer and a wet bin for drying corn as well as constructing a building to house an office, warehouse and retail outlet. Farm Center president, Larry Roosli, expected the project to be finished in mid-September.

Alyssa Grover wins the Miss Wisconsin Teen Pageant.

The Village Board gave approval for the Public Works Dept. to participate in a Public Works Emergency Response Mutual Aid Agreement with 10 other surrounding communities. Mark Below noted that the agreement would put the village in a better position to receive money from FEMA should disaster strike Oregon.

Remember the days when local banks were still offering C.D.s with yields of over 4%.

A large increase in property values in the Village kept the tax rate for the coming year the same for the fourth consecutive year.

The OHS girl’s golf team compete in the regionals. Members of the team were Lauren Speth, Caitlin Butters, Ranelle Graber, Katie Moore, Margot Davies. Their head coach was Frank LaVoy.

OHS tennis players,Sara Padley and Amber Cook, placed second in the doubles at the Badger Conference Tournament with a 3-1 record. Lizzy White placed third in the singles.

“The Magic of Disney” was selected as the theme for OHS’s Homecoming week

The Oregon Rotary Club sponsored a Historic Oregon Trail Bike Ride. Cyclists had their choice of 25, 60, or 100 km. routes which followed old stagecoach routes and ox cart trails. There were also village family rides of 5 km. though the Village. Proceeds of the event were used to promote safe and healthful cycling.


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