Florice Paulson served as THE historian for Oregon.

The Oregon Area Historical Society was charted in 1987, the inspiration of Eeda Lumley and a group of local residents who shared an interest in preserving and sharing the history of Oregon and the surrounding area.

An early goal was to house a potential museum. When the Oregon Lumber Company building on W. Lincoln Street became available, it was Florice Paulson who purchased and donated the building in memory of her parents and grandparents. Dedication of the museum was in 1991, the year of Oregon’s 150th birthday. The museum opened in 1992, while work was still in progress.

Florice served as president of the OAHS from 1993-1996.

Her interest in local history, prompted her to write numerous newspaper articles for the OREGON OBSERVER. These articles were later published as a booklet, “A Walk Back in History: Did You Know?” She dedicated this booklet not only to her family, whose early roots were in the Towns of Rutland, Oregon and the Village of Oregon, but also to all of the early area settlers and their descendants who have continued to give of themselves for their enrichment of our community.

Part of the Sesquicentennial efforts, Florice was led a project to document the history of the local schools. In 1998, “OREGON SCHOOL DISTRICT – Rural and Village Schools, 1846-1998 – From Immigrant to Internet” was published.

We owe Florice a great deal of thanks for her efforts to preserve and share the history of our community. She made it possible to have a building for our museum.