Oulu 4-h clubs

The first 4-H club work was organized in Oulu in 1930 at the Little Red School with Mrs.Eino Ozemaa, now Mrs. Eli Pudas, as the leader of the club. The members were energetic and willing and carried on a year around activity, participating in every phase of work that the county extension office offered.

In 1954 a team of sisters, Ellen and Ailie Erkkila, won first place in a demonstration on how to draft a nightgown pattern with raglan sleeves. They were awarded a free trip to the State Fair at Milwaukee with their leader, where they were placed second in the state competition.

This was a boost for the organization and from then on club work had new meaning and it received support of the parents. The club was known as the Oulu 4H and thrived well until 1938.

Then because of the lack of leadership the club ceased activity for awhile.
In 1939 Walter Kalliainen reorganized the club. He had taken a short course in agriculture at Madison and was a leader for two years. Kalliainen left the community and Lorraine Pelto became the leader. In 1946-47 John Kallinen Jr. took over the leadership, but he left to serve in the Army and the club again was without a leader.

For a few years there was no 4-H work in Oulu. Then in 1949 Mrs Eli Pudas reorganized the club with project leaders, Mr. Eli Pudas, Mrs. Edward F. Johnson, Mr Eli Pudas, Mr. Walter Frankie and Edward F. Johnson.

The name of the club is Gitchee Gumee 4-H of Oulu. Since it started, the club has done an outstanding piece of work.

Many of the members have taken part in the county activities and have won top honors in sewing, speaking. junior leader- ship and various demonstrations. Several of the members have attended the State Fair,4H State Club Camp, Chorus and Band at Madison and other trips in the state, which have been helpful to club work.

When Mrs. Eli Pudas discontinued her leadership in 1955, Dorothy Maki and Ed Pudas took over as co-leaders and served in that capacity until the late 1960s.

Gitchee Gumee, like all 4-H clubs, children and adult leaders pledged their "Head to clearer thinking, Heart to greater loyalty, Hands to larger service and Hea1th to better living for my club, my community and my country". This 4-H pledge was taken seriously by members and leaders as they worked together to learn, as well as help others in the community.

Early 4-H projects included traditional dairy and other animal projects, foods, home and garden projects, forestry, woodworking and crafts. Soil and water conservation were also priorities of the club. Members participated in speaking and poster contests promoting soil conservation practices. They also helped implement the practices, including planting trees on their own farms to prevent erosion.

Along with work in their own community, in the 1950's the club leaders and older members helped build and operate the 4-H Dairy Bar at the Bayfield County Fairgrounds. This structure connected the round exhibit hall (later known as the Harry Lowe Exhibit Hall) and the vegetable exhibit building. It was here in this small building that older members, joined by 4-H Junior Leaders from throughout the county, first provided quick lunches to fairgoers.

baseball

If baseball is America's national sport, it definitely is Oulu's sport. Community teams date back throughout Oulu history with the Reefers, an East side 1930s team, the Oulu Blue Sox of the 50s and currently the Oulu Blue Jays.

The Oulu Blue Sox played in the Chequamegon League in the South Shore Division. The division included teams from Port Wing, Cornucopia, Tripp, Oulu, Ino Moquah and Red Cliff.

Port Wing had dominated the division in previous years, but in 1951 a young Blue Sox team from Oulu surprised everyone by winning the South Shore Division.

Seated-left to right: Ray Reijo, Titus Suo, Arnold Kangas, Ed Hissa, Dave Goldberg, Erland Lindelof,. Back Row: Ted Kallinen, manager; Ken Magnuson, Dale Johnson, Ted frostman, John Pudas, Dick Pudas.

The team consisted of veteran 32 year old Ray Reijo, 28 year old Titus Suo, and 23 year old Ken Magnuson. The rest of the team was made up of 16, 17, and 18 year old players from the Iron River and South Shore High Schools.

The line up was: Ray Reijo, pitcher and third base, Titus Suo, right field; Ken Magnuson, third and first bases; Dale Johnson, short stop, John Pudas, first base and pitcher; Arnie Kangas, catcher; Dave Goldberg, second base; Ed Hissa, left field; and Erland Lindelof, center field. Ted Frostman and Dick Pudas were reserves. Ted Kallinen was the manager.

The team lost their first game of the season to Port Wing with a patched up line-up because the players from Iron River High School were still playing High School ball and couldn't play until that season was over. After they returned, with a full lineup Oulu won 10 out of the next 11 games and the South Shore division championship.

Ted Kallinen was Manager of the Year for the South Shore Division. All-stars from Oulu were: Ken Magnuson, Dale Johnson, Ray Reijo and John Pudas.

John Pudas was selected as Player of the Year in the division.

It was a pre-television era, so the Blue Sox had a great following from their fans. At that time, what better entertainment was there than to watch the Blue Sox play ball on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon?

Ray Reijo, Sr. was an influential figure in Oulu baseball throughout the 1950s and 1960s. His military baseball experience catching for professional player Bob Feller, as well as his overall playing and coaching abilities, inspired many of the youth in the community to want to play on his ball teams.

In the latter part of the 1950s, Ray coached an Oulu team that was part of a South Shore area league which included teams from Cornucopia, Port Wing and Iron River. The team was short on equipment but long on talent and enthusiasm and provided training for high school team members. In addition, Ray was to organize Oulu's first Little League team and would be the inspiration for the next generation of coaches.