Even a small village like Oregon, Wisconsin was touched by tragedy during World War I. Once the news of the end of the war hit Oregon on the morning of November 11, 1918, people soon congregated downtown to celebrate the news. Most stores closed that afternoon to celebrate.
Spurred on by patriotic feelings, the people of Oregon financed and built a World War I monument. Constructed from polished Hurricane Island granite taken from the former Chicago City Hall, the monument stands today as the centerpiece of Oregon’s downtown. Six teams of horsemen erected it in January 1920 after it was shipped from Chicago via rail to Jefferson Street viaduct and skidded to a wagon to be taken to its downtown location. The monument still stands
This monument, in downtown Oregon, Wisconsin, is believed to be the first World War I monument in the United States. The next documented memorial that we have found is the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City dedicated on November 11, 1926. The National World War I Memorial in Washington DC was not built until 1981.
The Oregon business community gathered for a group photo when the World War I monument was erected in the village square in 1920. On June 10 of that year, the monument was unveiled in front of a crowd of around 150 people by William Johnson’s mother, Mrs. Chris Johnson. William Johnson was killed just a week before the end of World War I. He was the only Oregon-area service member killed in battle during the war, though three others died of disease. Wisconsin Senator Irvine Lenroot, with Wisconsin Governor Phillips were also in attendance. There were brief addresses by Oregon dignitaries A.H. Sholts and others.
The Oregon Area Historical Society has a military exhibit full of artifacts pertaining to World War I. Visit the museum during our open hours!