Oregon History Timeline for September 2017

100 yrs. ago (1917)

A warning to auto drivers from the village marshal, S. R. Therkelsen:   “Driving in the village without the tail lamp lighted is contrary to state law. Failure to comply could result in you being fined and/or arrested.”

The first contingent of the “draft army” left for training at Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois. Oregon resident, Axel Johnson, was a part of this group.

The World War I “Pal Program” was described in The Oregon Observer as follows: “R. D. Ozburn is the first Pal to be chosen from Oregon and he appreciates the compliment thus paid him. The County Council of Defense has asked each soldier to choose a Pal at home who will look after his affairs and keep him in touch with the interesting happenings of the home town. Axel Johnson, the first conscripted solider from Oregon to be called to training, has named Mr. Ozburn, who is much interested in the soldier boys and understands what will be of interest to communicate and will undoubtedly do his share to brighten the hours of the soldier who is giving himself to his country.”

Olson’s Opera House featured a free lecture by A. M. Sophore from Brooklyn, New York. The title of the lecture was “The World on Fire: Are We at the End of the World?” His subject matter was based on Biblical prophesy.

Geo. McDermott was advertising Maxwell vehicles.   A Maxwell one-ton truck was offered for $865. Small monthly payments could be arranged.   It was noted that this was a true truck, not just a converted passenger car.

Bud Sholts opened an Overland vehicle salesroom in the P. J. Christensen building, just north of the hitching park. He was showing a complete line of Overlands including the Willys- Knights.

News was received from the officer’s training camp at Fort Sheridan that Oregon resident, William Elliot, had been promoted to corporal. He was the only one to receive this promotion without having previous military training.

The Oregon Observer installed a Linotype machine built by the Mergenthaler Linotype Co. A .H. Youmans, an editor of the Waukesha Freeman, help set the machine up.

Of the ten Oregon High School graduates last year, eight went on to schools of higher education. The graduates that year were Marcella Taylor, Raymond Comstock, Marguerite Piller, Laura Williamson, Richard Clark, Ellen Lalor, Lyman Jackson Mary Sholts, Morris Jackson, and Jessie Taylor

The Oregon Schools opened with the following corp of teachers: R.E. Balliette, principal; Misses Florence Freund, Winifred Shannon, and Kathryn F. Chapman, high school teachers; Miss Mary Buckley; 7th and 8th grades; Miss Edna Sheridan, 5th and 6th grades; Miss Clara Boyle, 3rd and 4th grades; Miss Amy Loper, 1st and 2nd grades; and Miss Kathryn Duren, kindergarten.

 

50 yrs. ago (1967)

Fenton Abrams resigned as the vocational agriculture instructor at Oregon High School.   He had held that position for the past 20 years. William Harris was named to fill his position.

Wilbur Stiklestad purchased the old post office building on Hotel Street in Brooklyn from Sheldon Chandler. He plans to remodel the building and open an appliance sales and service store. The business later moved to Oregon, and did business as Tri-County Appliance.

Bob Burns takes over the position of Wisconsin Power & Light merchandise sales representative. Urban Johnson, Dane County Manager for W.P.& L., welcomed Bob at the district office in Oregon.

Ruth Ames Recognition Day was celebrated September 23, 1967. Ruth was honored for her 32 years of service to the Oregon Consolidated School District as a member and clerk of the school board. She had the honor of being escorted from her home on South Main Street to the new high school where over 200 attended a special reception luncheon celebrating her years of service. Atty. Lyall Beggs was toastmaster for the event. Speakers included Superintendent of Public Instruction William C. Kahl; Congressman, Robert Kastenmeier and State Senator, Carl Thomson. This reception was the culminating event in Oregon of the “Wonderful Wisconsin Week” being held state-wide.

The Oregon School District opens with an enrollment of 2240 students. The expected enrollment numbers were for High School 610; Junior High, 335; Oregon Elementary, 1070; and Brooklyn Elementary, 225. The enrollment at Holy Mother of Consolation Grade School is 125.

St. John’s Lutheran Church dedicated their new personage located on 575 Soden Drive. Bill Sholts, a member of the church council, was the builder. Members of the building committee were Orrill Ferguson (chairperson), Mrs. Marvin Campbell, Maurice Nielson, Clinton Knutson, and Vernon Mitchell. The landscaping was taken care of by Dr. Norris Breitbach, Clinton Knutson and Durlin Pawlisch. A service of dedication was read by Pastor Immanuel Peterson

The Oregon Home Bakery held an Open House. The bakery was now owned and operated by Merlyn Hanneman.   His staff included Mrs. Merlyn Hanneman, Mrs. Anna Booth, and Mrs. Lucille Johnson.

The OHS football team win their first conference game with a victory over Waterloo, 32-6. For the offense it was thanks to the passing combination of Craig Smith and Nick Brashi. On defense, the combination of Anderson Palmer, Alme, and Appel held Waterloo to one touchdown.

Local hair stylist, Don Bates, had the honor of styling the hair of “Lady Bird” Johnson (wife of President Johnson) and Mrs. Orville Freeman (wife of the Secretary of Agriculture) while they were visiting Frank Loyd Wright’s Taliesin home near Spring Green. Don was the owner and operator of The Bon-Don Beauty Shops in Oregon and Madison.

 

25 yrs. ago (1992)

The Oregon School District welcomed 19 new teachers: Gail Gregory, JoAnn Killey, Joan Stiemke, Mark Lee, C. Elizabeth Wellenstein, Debe Dankel, Deanna Fischer, Mary Mullen, Jodie McCoy, Doug Hagen, Deb Kuehl, Julianne Bischoff, Mary Benjamin, Carol Wilhite, Nathan Mahr, Dave Freitag, Patrica Zachow, Mary Gooze and Mary Wixson.

The OHS football team won their opening conference game with Waunakee (21-15). Oregon’s special teams led the way to their victory with Brek Burgweger returning a Waunakee punt back 64 yards for a touchdown.

The Second Annual Varsity/Alumni Cross Country Meet was held. The alumni boys beat the varsity (94-122) with Dave Williams (alumni) coming in with the best time for the boys and the varsity girls beating the alumni girls (30-84) with Magen Staton (varsity) coming in with the best time for the girls.

The Oregon Athletic Booster Club presented the school with a check for $15,000 to help offset the cost of the new athletic press box. The check was presented to the president of the School Board, Ralph Bergeland, by Tom Mueller of the Booster Club.   Also present was Gil Voss, principal of Oregon High School.

The OHS Soccer Team with five straight shutouts and an overall season record of 7-1 won the championship trophy at the Sheboygan North Invitational defeating the host team (4-0). Oregon team members included Zach Zarior, Dan Serna, Jason Seifert, Randy Disch, Chris Mitchell, Ryan McGary, Rich Clark, Paul Harms, Chad Raschin, Joe Hrubes, Chad Cox, and Chad Sevens.

Blanche Booth celebrated her 105th birthday.   She was born in Rock County in 1887.

Rolling Meadows, a senior citizen residential community, held open house hours at their model home. The base price of the model home (1211 square feet) was $78,000.

The OHS football team gets a Homecoming win over the Whitnall Falcons (29-3). Reigning over the Homecoming activities were Jason Hawkins, king and Jessica Werth, queen.

 

10 yrs. ago (2007)

The Village ends its semi-annual “Free Clean-up Days” after the current pickup. Future disposal of larger and/or special items will have to be contracted by residents through Pellitteri Waste Systems who will be taking over from Waste Management the residential garbage collection. The current system of bag stickers will be changing to a cart system.

The Village Board provided emergency relief to those residents on Florida Ave. and North Bur Oak Ave. who had experienced severe flooding during this past month. Other means of assistance is being explored.

The Oregon School District welcomed the following new teachers: High School, Laura Hawley and Samantha Peterson; Rome Corners Intermediate School: Kate Brown, Heather Molnar, Maureen Purcell and Melinda West; Oregon Middle School: Robert Von Kaenel and Darren Hartberg; Prairie View Elementary School: Jackie Slightman, Sannon Boyer and Amanda Blaylock;Netherwood Knoll Elementary School: Sue Blena and Colleen Lourigan; Brooklyn Elementary School: Beth Murphy, Dawn Bagnlefski, Sarah Boatman, Kerry Shea, Dan Huebsch, Gini Glorils, Michelle Blomquist, and Jennifer Lynch.

The Drumlin Addition (on the west side of the village) was approved by the Village Board. Developer, Chuck Buell, who plans to build 14 single-family homes there.

The theme for Oregon High School’s homecoming was ”Wild, Wild West”. The dance theme on Saturday was “A Night at the Ranch”. Members of the homecoming court were Haley Grow, Kelly Hanson, Morgan Ackerman, Wilmet Atkinson, Katelynn Cloud (queen), Amber Cook, Georgia DeWild, Natalie Fuller, Joshua Brauns, Max Emery, Joseph Kalscheur, Ian Allen, Bradley Anderson, Vincent Armentano, Ben Cedar (king), and Ethan Peters. The football team lost their homecoming game to Monona Grove (24-13)

Dr. Joanna Bisgrove joined the Dean Clinic staff at its Oregon Office.

The OHS girl’s golf team finished their season in second place in the Badger Conference. Members of the varsity team were Linde Sundell, Kandyce Graber, Abby Busler, Christina Brugger, and Lisa Hagemann. Sundell and Busler were named to the all-conference team; the first time that Oregon had earned a two-player selection in the program’s history. Their head coach was Frank LaVoy.

Tamara and Chad Hull opened the Dollar Store in the Oregon Shopping Plaza next to Bill’s Food Center.

The Oregon Area Historical Society celebrated their 20th Anniversary at the museum with an open house and potluck dinner followed by a short program. A new display featuring the late Lyman Anderson was unveiled. Lyman, a long time farmer and politician from the Town of Oregon, had given the keynote address in May of 1991 when the Society dedicated and opened the museum.