This document was created by Connie Wedemeier beginning in January 1999.   Data was collected from a variety of sources including newspapers, land records and people sharing memories.

1855.03.05 Oran Township within Fayette County was created Mar 5, 1855. Ordered: Township; 91 & 92 N Range 10W (Iowa GenWeb)

1857 The town of Oran Center was located one mile south of the Oelwein airport.  It was located on land previously owned by David Weeks.  It had a post office, saloon, restaurant and a black smith shop.  At that time Oelwein consisted of four businesses.

1890.06.05 Oran creamery at Minkler is reported to be a model creamery hereabouts. (Waverly Newspaper)

1891.02.02 Fred Mundt of Minkler was in Waverly to take out his final naturalization papers (Waverly Newspaper)

1891.04.09 On July 1st a semi-weekly mail route is scheduled to begin from Fairbank to Minkler (Waverly Newspaper)

1891.11.22 Myron Lenius is buttermaker at Oran creamery, Minkler. (Waverly Newspaper)

1891.12.24 Minkler News - The creamery is running 4 days a week to give them a chance to test milk. But they will hardly continue to buy milk by test as none of the director's milk is up to the average.  Messrs. Shippy and Harwood are erecting a very nice appearing and town like house on their farm, lately bought of J. I. Minkler. Rev. Paden of Sumner conducts services every 2 weeks at the Union School house in Dayton township. Merchant Mr. L. Triplett is buying poultry for the holiday season. The Oran Creamery is one of the best equipped creameries in this section of the country. The directors recently bought a new worker, milk test, scales and other articles from the Waverly Creamery Supply Co. With the new improvements, buttermaker Lenius is turning out a very fine grade of butter. Mr. Mundt is building an extensive barn on his farm. (Waverly Newspaper)

1892.02.18 Minkler News - J.E Thomas sold a team of horses to Charles Huffman of Fairbank for $220. Most farmers in the vicinity have 15 to 25 milk cows. Dairying had proved lucrative but requires much time and hard labor to be successful. Rev. Paden will hold services at the Union school house next Sunday. Dr. Whitmire of Sumner, was called here to attend to Mrs. Harwood, who is quite ill with lagrippe. Chris Nieman sold his 100 acre farm to W. Mundt and H. Kaehler for $3,200. (Waverly Newspaper)

1892.08.18 Oran Creamery at Minkler burned down and was a total loss. (Waverly Newspaper)

1893.05.06 Richard Rundle was appointed postmaster at Minkler (Waverly Newspaper)

1894.01.01 Louis Harwood has bought Byron Lanius's (Lenius) interest in the Minkler store. Byron's time is occupied with his creamery work. (Waverly Newspaper)

1895.03.14 Charles Payne intends to locate at Minkler where he has purchased a blacksmith shop. (Waverly Newspaper)

1895.03.28 L. C. Harwood's general store at Minkler is prospering. (Waverly Newspaper)

1895.05.23 A request for daily mail service from Fairbank to Minkler is scheduled to begin on July 1. Lou Harwood is anxious for the increased service for all patrons of Minkler post-office. This increases service from 3 to 6 days a week (Waverly Newspaper)

1901.11.21 The telephone has been moved from L. C. Harwood's store to Mr. Johnson's house (Sumner Gazette)

1901.12.05 Minkler News: Fred Shelton and Estella Lockwood were married at Fayette Thursday evening.  They have gone to housekeeping on one of E. H. Lockwood's farms.  (Sumner Gazette)

1902 St. Peter Lutheran Church was organized and located 2 miles west of Oran.  There were 12 members

1902.03.24 Walter Foss, of Minneapolis, an agent of Chicago Great Western Ry. Co. is in Waverly buying right of way for new railroad between Waverly and Oelwein. The new road will be about 33 miles in length.  It will probably create two new towns in Bremer county and one in Fayette. (Waverly Newspaper)

1902/1903 The railroad was built.  Legend has it that Oran was given its name by the first railroad engineer that came through Oran.  According to the 1946 article in the Oelwein register, John Reith said the town was named after the township

1903.02.04 The Oran creamery at Minkler filled their ice house last week. (Sumner Gazette)

1903.03.04 Zibe Miller, of Oran ships six car loads of fat steers to Chicago this week.   Miss Katie Kauten, of Oran is now employed at dining room girls at Hotel Mealey. Mrs. Orinda Wilson, of Oran, has sold her farm to George Brown, of this city.  Mrs. Wilson moved into Oelwein this week. (Oelwein Register)

1903.06.25 L. C. Harwood has traded his store building and stock of goods to Mr. Clark, of Missouri.
L. C. gets a 160 acre farm and has already given possession of the store.  We have not yet learned what he intends to do.  Will Benzo (Buenzow) sold a horse in Westgate Saturday for $125. There was a dance at Locy Shippy's Tuesday night.  Peter Bros. furnished the music. (Sumner Gazette)

1903.08.27 L. C. Harwood recently sold his stock of general merchandise here to E. C. Clark, who also now has charge of the post office. Mr. Harwood, with his family intends to move to his farm in Missouri the first of next month. Richard Rundle is building a large new barn near where the new C. G. & W. station is going to be located. We wonder if he doesn't know that when the new town begins to spread out his barn will be somewhat in the way? Lester Cosselman took a large load of girls out in his new buggy Sunday, and had a run away, smashing the buggy up considerable.  Lester would let the buggy be smashed to pieces and the horses killed but he would let no harm come to the girls.  We thought that it was when a fellow had one girl along that he forgot to pay any attention to his horses. (Sumner Gazette)

1903.11.24 Minkler News reports new depot is completed and now have regular trains. (Sumner Gazette)

1904.01.01 Minkler Mention - Nick Marsh is puttting down a well for the stock yards at Oran.  The men are putting in the stock yards this week. ( Sumner Gazette) This is indication that the location was known as Oran before the town was platted.

1904.03.24 Colgrove & Sylvester have a car of lumber at Oran (Sumner Gazette)

1904.04.07 Minkler Mention - Six of our young men went to Readlyn Sunday on a hand car. J. L. Butler and wife, of Oran visited at R. Rundles at Oran Sunday. (Sumner Gazette)

1904.04.21 Minkler Mention - E. C. Clark traded his store and stock of good to Mr. Orr, of Clarksville, for his farm at that place.  Mr. Orr and family came Monday.  Mr. Clark has not decided what he will do. (Sumner Gazette) Note that Mr. Clark purchased the store from Mr. L. C. Lockwood the middle of 1903

1904.04.28 Minkler Mention - A. F. Garner, of Illinois, came Monday to be depot agent at Oran. A few took the one o'clock train for Oelwein Sunday, returning at 5 pm. A good time reported (Sumner Gazette)

1904.05.05 Minkler Mention - The fencing gang is putting in the fence near Oran. ( Sumner Gazette)

1904.05.19 There was a wreck between Oran and the big Wapsie Monday on the C. G. & W. railway. (Sumner Gazette)

1904.11.17 A. F. Garner, station agent at Oran, moved to Rockford, IL, last Tuesday.  P. S. Mumford is the station agent now. (Sumner Gazette)

1905.01.01 Minkler Mention - Carl Jackson visited his brother, William, station agent at Oran, Sunday and Monday. (Sumner Gazette)

1905.02.16 Josephine Rachow is clerking in the store at Minkler. (Sumner Gazette)

1906 Oran Post office where?

1908 Oran Creamery was built (Source: Newspaper articles in Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1908 After first snow fall, Elmer and Earl Shippy hitched four or five teams of horses onto the living quarters of the store at Minkler and brought it across the fields on skids.  Setting it in a corn field west of the creamery, which had been moved here earlier in the year.  This was the first home in Oran and where Mr & Mrs. J. N. Getz went to live after their December 23, 1908 wedding. As reported in the 50th Anniversary celebration announcement. (1958.12.18 Oelwein Register)

1909 R.E. Swisher owned land and he had plotted as Oran.  The area consisted of Short St. west of the creamery, to East St. and north from the railroad to Maple St.

1909 A livery stable was built by Francis Nichols.  A bar and restaurant later replaced it.

1909.06.23 Notice of Incorporation of the Oran Savings Bank.  1st meeting of stockholder directors: J. L. Gardner - Fairbank, C. F. Judas - Fairbank, C. F. Mealey - Oran, R. E. Swisher - Oran, S. M. Furrow - Oran.  First annual meeting of stockholders will be held in January 1910. Until annual meeting President Furrow, Vice-President, Gardner, Cashier R. H. Rehder of Oran.  (Oelwein Register)

1910 The Oran Savings Bank was built.  The directors were John Reith, Elmer Shippy and Ed Lockwood.  George Hanson was the first banker.

1911 The Oran Mutual Telephone Company was organized.  The switchboard was located in a house on Main Street.  Louie Roady was the first operator.

1912 Ed Lockwood built and operated the first hardware store. 

1912 After leasing land for 3 years from Mr. Swisher; the Oran Creamery purchased the land.  The Directors at that time were L.N. Lockwood, Gottlieb Staack, Charley Mealey and A.F. Smeltzer.  The buttermaker was B. F. Bentley.

1912 Swishers First Addition was added on the plat mat of Oran

1912.06.15 Lorber Schmit store opened on Saturday. (Waverly Democrat)

1912.06.13 1913 Phillip Schmit and Joe Lorber built a general store that was operated by Phillip and Tony Schmit for 3 years. Unsure of the dates

1913 Two-story outhouse was built

1913 The Methodist church was organized.  The officers of the church were Jacob Scholl, Ira Clark and Richard (Rob) Rundle.

1913.02.19 Oran is a growing village. Work has commenced on M.E. Church with several loads of material now on the ground. A telephone meeting was held at Grove Hill school house. About 35 patrons of Sumner's south line being present to discuss the subject of buying the line and connecting with the Oran exchange. Nothing was definite but committees were apppointed to confer with the 2 telephone companies.  Wm. Hoffman was helping invoice Brooks Lumber Co.'s stock in Readlyn.  The Readlyn yard was sold to Spahn and Rose. Bailey and Dowling shipped several cars of stock to Chicago last week.  Chas. Schiefelbein shipped a car of hogs to Chicago Wednesday. J. J White sold out his interest in his feed mill to E. H. Lockwood & Co.  Mr. Lockwood has put in a new mill and a large gasoline engine and expects soon to have his mill equipped to handle in a satisfactory manner all the business in his territory.  E. C. Hodges, auditor for the Brooks Lumber Co. was in Oran Friday assisting with the work at the lumber office.  H. J. Lamprecht had an Oran phone installed in his residence recently.  Merrill Bartlett, formerly section foreman at Oran was shaking hands with friends at Oran Saturday afternoon.  Mr. Bartlett is now employed as foreman for the Great Western at Readlyn.  Wm. Fuller had the Oran Telephone company install a phone at his residence last week.  Brooks Lumber Co. unloaded a car of farm machinery the fore part of the week. (Oelwein Register)

1913.02.26 Howard Corl, harness maker, installed a new harness sewing machine. (Oelwein Register)

1913.03.05 Jack White, the village blacksmith was unable to be at the old stand a day or two the fore part of this week on account of an attack of lagrippe.  A large crowd attended William Heineman's public sale last week. Every thing brought satisfactory prices.  Mr. Heineman expects to move to Fairbank soon.  Sam Weber will have charge of the farm the coming season.  John Gardner attend the directors meeting of the Bremer County Mutual Insurance Company at Waverly.  R. M. Higley, route agent, for the Wells Fargo Company Express, was looking after business at Oran Thursday.  H. Corl, the harness maker, is suffering with a slight attack of lagrippe.  Bailey and Dowling handled several cars of Chicago stock last week.  The boys have surplus of stock on hand including some fine milch cow and brood sow and will hold a big dispersion sale soon.  E. H. Lockwood & Co., the hardware men, have been installing some fine gas lighting planis in rural home around Oran the past week.  Among those who have lights now in is Gus Bahe.  Under the pressure of business H. Corl, the harness man, has found it necessary to employ a man to help out during the rush. Geor. Kaufman, the barber, spent Sunday at Oelwein. P. F. Schmit of Lorber & Schmit, departed for Dubuque Tuesday to purchase their spring and summer goods. 

1913.04.23 Andy Farley is making some improvements in the store building for Lorber and Schmit in the way of shelving, hatracks, etc.  Frank Harwood unloaded a car of Shellrock gravel in the first part of the week preparatory to putting in some concrete foundation and walks this spring.   Brook Lumber Co. is having a foundation put in for a forty foot addition to their implement house.  This will give them plenty of floor space to store and display the large stock of implement and machinery they have on hand.   The Creamery Co. unloaded a car of coal Tuesday and Wednesday.   Bailey and Dowling, Oran's live stock dealers, are shipping about a car of stock every other day.  They are some hustlers, these boys.  H. F. Marks died suddenly Wednesday morning at his home west of town. A doctor was summoned but he passed away before medical aid reached him. Paralysis of the heart was the cause. The remains were laid to rest in the Sumner cemetery. He leaves a wife and family to mourn his loss and they have the sympathy of many friends. E. H. Lockwood & Co. have had a fine auto filing station installed in front of their store.  When driving out this way drive up and have your auto filled.  No trouble to fill. (Oelwein Register)

1913.02.12 Mr. (Joe) Lorber who resides in Canada is looking after his interests in Oran at present. He is one of the firm of Lorber & Schmit. He expressed himself as being well pleased with the business outlook and expects to move his family here soon. (Oelwein Register)

1913.04.02 Fred Mishler is building an addition to his house located on his farm northeast of town. Miss Minnie Hager is assisting Mrs. Rohde at the telephone office during the absence of Mr Rohde. The stockholders of the Oran Mutual Telephone company to review by-laws. Bank Examiner Putman examined Oran Savings Bank accounts and was surprised to find the receipts had doubled since his previous visit. Robert Rundle has been busy with the road drag on the roads leading into town and the roads show the good effects. Oran and Fairbank telephone make arrangements to clear wire between the two towns. Joe Lorber and his family moved to town from northern Minnesota. (Oelwein Register)

1916 Louie Reith built a pool hall with a dance hall upstairs.  Frank Fettkether ran it.  Later Horace Reith operated a barbershop there.

1917 Bremer-Fayette Consolidated School was built. Gus Bahe and John Reith were instrumental in getting the project underway.  The building contractor was Bill Russel.  In 1916 his bid was $16,000, but before plans were all finalized, prices during the war went up and by 1918 he couldn’t honor the contract so the building had to be changed and costs cut.  This price also included four large horse drawn busses.   Prior to the construction of that school the children of Oran attended the Mealey School.  It was located one-mile north and one mile east of Oran.

1918  Five? rural school districts around Oran consolidated.  When consolidation was first mentioned many people were very disturbed. One of the rural schools was even burned.  After the new building was completed everyone was very pleased. 

1918.09.04 The biggest registration of men for military service in Fayette Co. was held on Thursday, Sept 12.  Men between ages of 18 & 14 are required to register.  Forger drafter ages was 21 to 31.  Registration locations include Bank of Oran with Chief registrant George L. Hanson. (West Union Argo Gazette) Needs more research to verify

1920 J. N. Getz ended his service as Depot agent.  (1958.12.18 Oelwein Register)

1920 Joe Lorber bought out Phillip Schmit’s share in the general store.

1921  Earl Shippy was the first graduate of the Oran School

1922 Marie Knochel (Shippy) was the first girl to graduate from Oran

1923.08.11  Elmer Bennett opened a grocery store after tearing down the black smith shop.

1928.10.15 Oran depot was broken into and the mail bag robber of some valuable.  It was believed it could be the same person that robbed homes in Oelwein and Independence. Mr. and Mrs. F. N. Youngblut of Oran attended the democratic speech of I. G. Dunn in Oelwein on Saturday night.  (Oelwein Register)

1928.10.20 Harold Fertch lived on top of the bank 

1930  Fred Smith built a blacksmith shop and repair shop.  He also did tiling.

1930.06.20 Paving of Highway #10 (later name change to Highway 3) from Clarksville to Shell Rock was completed.  The paving outfit in Readlyn will be moving soon to Oran to work on the eastern part which runs to Bremer-Fayette line. S: Waterloo Courier

1930.09.30 4.5 miles of Highway 10 remain to be paved in Fayette county.  It was not expected to be complete until Oct. 15. (Waterloo Courier)

1931.01.19 Oran Bank burns to ground at 2:15 p.m.  Fire started in the Mr. & Mrs. Harold Fortsch apt. upstairs.  Loss was estimated at $10,000

1931.10.00 Frank Youngblut's 25th  anniversary in October.  Lived in Oran for 17 years and have operated hardware and implement during that time. (Waterloo Courier)

1933.03.17 CGW railroad company closed their stock yard at Oran last week, as their was insufficient live stock being shipped to pay to keep the yard open. (Oelwein Register)

1933.04.15 Iowa assembly acted on 240 new laws.  Cooney-Ditto beer bill was the outstanding piece of legislation signed by Gov. Clyde L. Herring, legalizing 3.2 beer after a 17 year drought. As beer permits were granted, Oran was in a rather peculiar position in regard to the sale of beer. The new law only allowed beer to be sold in incorporated towns.

1933/35 ? Joe Fraggrett(sp.?) opened a filling station and harness and shoe repair shop.  He was in business for 30 years.

1938  Leonard Lorber bought Jake Reith’s construction equipment. (Roberta Lorber

1938.03.06 Louie Suhr sold oil truck and business to John Lenon of Oelwein. Louie's garage work had increased and he could not to justice to both jobs.

1938.06.13 Oran men's town baseball team organized.  1st game lost 4 -2 to Urbana. (Oelwein Register)

1945.05.29 John Bailey is new employee of Young Coal Co. (Oelwein Register)

1946.06.30 Youngblut Bros. open Hog Buying station in an old Bailey Stockyard. (Unknown Newspaper)

1947 Richard Rundle built a stockyard and trucking business.

1947.12.29 Betty Ross, a senior at Oran High School was a correspondent for Oelwein Register. The report was lengthy with all of the family Christmas gatherings.  (Oelwein Register)

1948  Oran Fire Hall was built.  It is now owned by Oran Township.

1948.08.05 The county men have also finished a high steel span of 128 feet across the Wapsipinicon river east of Oran. (3 miles east)The bridge was formerly located on the trunk road west of Fayette.  A number of bridges and roads were washed out in the floods of last summer. (Oelwein Register)

1948.07.23 John Bailey working at Youngblut Hardware, purchased White Pearl Cafe. ( Oelwein Register)

1949  Bill Benzine operated a tiling business.

1950 After years of all athletic practices being outdoors, a new gym and classrooms were added to the Oran School

1952 Jim Weaver began an excavating and tiling business

1955 St. Peter Lutheran Church moved its building to Oran.  Rev. Scheadtler (sp.?) was the pastor.

1956 Elevator managed by Dwight Dugger burned on Thursday, April 5, 1956.  The elevator and lumber yard(not destroyed by fire) was owned by Unity Lumber Yard, Inc., at Des Moines.

1958 Lorber’s grocery/general store was converted to 5 apartments

1958 Readlyn, Oran & Fairbank consolidated and formed Wapsie Valley School District. The Oran school was then used for elementary and junior high.

1958.03.25 Oran Telephone Manager is Dale Cummings.  (Waterloo Courier engagement announcement)

1960 The first class graduated from Wapsie Valley

1968.07.15 Oran Savings bank merged to First National Bank of Oelwein. (Des Moines Register)

1972 Louie Suhr, who operated a garage and repair service in Oran for 35 years retired and sold his business to Ken Greve of Sumner. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1973 Lloyd and Barb Gipper owned 4 Roads In from 1973-1984 (Barb Gipper’s obituary)

1974 Oran Telephone Company built a new office (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1975.02.19 Railroad still active.  Milk tanker near miss of train on county line. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1976 First National Bank named Lyle Miller as Oran branch manager in December of 1975.  He replaced Wayne Tjernagel. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1977 Youngblut Hardware storage building burned. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1977 After Bennett's Store being in the family for 54 years, Frances Bennett, sold the store to her son, Don from Napa, California. Don will take posession Sept. 1 after recently selling his shoe store, The Old Spinning Wheel.  (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1978 Oran Telephone Company built a new building.  Also scheduled to provide everyone with a private line with new switching equipment and switchboard.   (Shirley Holub scrapbooks) 

1978 Russell's Radio and TV Service held their grand opening on April 1. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1979.09.30 Richard & Edna Brickman farm auction Oct. 6, 1979 (Waterloo Courier)

1979 Four Roads Inn was broken into. (Shirley Holub's scrapbooks)

1979 Laura Williams-Lorber, retired owner and operater of Lorber's General Store for 47 years died. Her husband, Joseph, died in March 1956 (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1980 Lawrence "Fat" Youngblut retired in May from Youngblut Hardware.  Steve Maricle became store manager. Name was changed to Oran Hardware(Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1980 Lorber Construction was relocated to one mile north of Oran on Highway 3

1983 Voters approve formation of a community sanitation district in May.

1984 Benefit for 2 year-old Jeremy Rich, son of Gilbert and Kandi (Westendorf) Rich was held at the Oran Community Hall. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1985 In November Francis Youngblut retired after 20 years in business and sold Youngblut Elevator to Gary Zimmermann.  The name was changed to Oran Ag

1986 First National Bank of Oran was robbed on Wednesday, April 2.

1988/1989 Sewer was installed.

1991.04.06 Louie J. Suhr, age 80, died Saturday, April 6 at Denver Sunset Home.

1993.11.27 Oran Tap and Cafe grand opening - Kerry Higgins (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1995 Lorber Construction was closed.

1995 Oran Street Day was held on Sunday, August 13. (Newspaper) 

1995.09.10 Lorber Construction auction after 51 years of business. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

1997 Oran Ag was purchased by United Suppliers.  Gary Zimmermann remained as manager (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

1997 Leonard Lorber had the Welcome to Oran sign erected in the spring. 

1998 New shingles were put on the Oran Community Hall

1999 New siding was put on the Oran Community Hall

1999.05.00 The name of First National Bank of Oelwein, (Oran branch) was changed to Marquette Bank

1999.07.12 As told to Connie Wedemeier by Bev Bailey: Clara Mealey Wenger told Bev during a conversation when Frank Mealey, Clara’s brother, died that all 4 Mealey children were born in the house that Ethel Adams owns (24761 Pleasant St., Oran, Iowa).  But at the time of those births, the house was located on the present day Dan Lundt farm-5565 X Ave., Fairbank, Iowa.  There was a schoolhouse located at one time on the corner of Highway 3 and Walter Fette’s (5833 X Ave, Fairbank, Iowa) corner.

2000 Tuesday, March 7 the Wapsie Valley School Board Members voted to close Oran Junior and move the students into the high school.  Board members were Brenda Meyer, President, Ed Traeger, Bob Byersdorfer, Laurie Kerns, and Lois Heineman.  Brenda, Laurie, and Ed voted aye.  Bob and Lois Heineman voted naye.

2000 School board vote defeated the efforts to keep the Oran Junior High open.(2 votes in favor)

2001 Ownership of Marquette Bank changed and the name was changed back to First National Bank

2001.09.16 Denny & Brenda Neil, both age 50, were killed in a vehicle accident in Marshall county on Sept. 16.  (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2001.09.29 Oran Motors - Repair Business Close Out Auction - Saturday, September 29, 2001 10:30 a.m (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2001.11.00 John W. Bailey died in November. (Source: Newspaper articles in Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2002.05.01 Oran Creamery discontinues business effecting May 1.  It began business in 1887 at "Minkler Corner".  It was moved into Oran after the introduction of the railroad in 1909. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2002.06.07 Ethel Adams died at her home on Friday, June 7.

2002.12.04 Oran School property was sold to Daniel Lundt on Friday, Dec. 4. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2003.03.08 Kenny Greve, owner of Oran Motors, died on Saturday, March 8.: 

2003.10.20 Fireman Jim Richards died Monday, October 20 while fighting a fire at Kenny & Shirley Westendorf farm. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2003.11.10 First National Bank closes Oran and Westgate branches on Friday, November 10. (Shirley Holub scrapbooks)

2006 Fire Department built new structure on northeast corner of Main and Pleasant Street

2006.01.30 Fire Marshall James Kenkel presented a letter w/check in payment of line of duty death benefits to Mrs. Jean Richards.   Governor was Thomas Vilsack S:(Letter to Fire Chief Larry Wedemeier)

2008.12.01 Big Wapsie Ag sold to Innovative Ag on Oct. 10, 2008 (Oelwein Register)

2015  abt. this time Matt Goldstein managed Oran Ag

2017 The Methodist church was closed and sold to Shane Reckhemmer.

2017.09.21 Oran Tap closed on September 21.  It was still owned by Terry ? of Des Moines. He is battling cancer. It was being run by a man from Westgate. It was a forced closing by the state of Iowa because of issues with a liquor license. Grand opening under current management was July 7 per their Facebook page.

2018 In July the Oran School was 100 years old. Oran Celebration event was held

2018 Oran Tap was re-opened by Corinne & Jake Schares in July

2019 February - Oran gym is open for walkers from 8 to 10 am.

2019.02.19 Maintenance shop at Innovative Ag completely destroyed by fire.

2019.02.20 Charley Briddle died

2020.04.04 Trailer next to Joan Wedemeier was demolished in a controlled burn.  

2022.07.21 Oran Tap Facebook announced they are closed permanently and for sale.  On June 18 they had temporarily closed through July with intentions to re-open in August. Owned by Jake and Corrine Schares.