Small Town Oronoco

"ORONOCO - Anyone driving north or south on Highway 52, between Rochester and Pine Island, is probably aware of crossing some bridges near a body of water. Those bridges cross the north and south branches of the middle fork of the Zumbro River and feed the body of water called Lake Shady.

The first time you passed the lake, at highway speeds, you could have formed a variety of impressions. If you were driving south and crossed the northwest bridge in mid-October, your day was no doubt brightened by the dramatic autumn glow of her maple trees. If you were driving north and crossed the southeast bridge in mid-July, you may have enjoyed seeing some canoeists passing a rustic rock cliff on their way upstream.... All of these impressions are a part of the story and history of Lake Shady." from George Anderson's articles on Lake Shady.

Included here is a collection of pictures that depict the small town comforts, joys and activities that are so much a part of Oronoco. While the pictures shown here will change with time, Oronoco will retain it's friendly small town image.

Oronoco Women Firefighters [Click here to view full size picture]

Oronoco firefighters stand in front of the newest additon to the Oronoco Fire Department.

Volunteers Dine Together At The Firehall [Click here to view full size picture]

Volunteers are treated to full course prime rib dinner at the firehall.

In Memory of Merle [Click here to view full size picture]

This plaque rests on the new bench erected in Oronoco Park in honor of Merle Krause. The bench is situated by the lake and overlooks Lake Shady to the West.

A Firefighter Retires [Click here to view full size picture]

Oronoco Firefighter Dave Kleiber retires after 11 years of volunteer service to the community.

New Park Bench Erected In Honor of Merle Krause [Click here to view full size picture]

This park bench resides at the shore of Lake Shady in Oronoco Park and was placed there in honor of Merle Krause.

Oronoco VFW Memorial Day Bridge Ceremony [Click here to view full size picture]

Honor, Duty, Country, the Oronoco VFW conducts it's annual Memorial Day Bridge Ceremony.

Mayo One drops in for a visit and Joy, the Mayor (the one not smiling) is volunteered to be the patient on the gurney.

Oronoco Dam and Spillway [Click here to view full size picture]

Oronoco's Dam.

Volunteers during park installation [Click here to view full size picture]

Volunteers help erect the fire engine playground equipment

Annual 4th of July Picnic in the Park [Click here to view full size picture]

The annual 4th of July picnic in the park included good food (hotdogs compliments of the Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Committee), good music and fun.

Relaxing by Lake Shady on the 4th of July [Click here to view full size picture]

It was a great day to be outside. Fireworks will take place at Oronoco Park at dark on the 4th of July.

An autumn afternoon by Lake Shady [Click here to view full size picture]

A quiet autumn afternoon on the banks of Lake Shady

park equipment installation [Click here to view full size picture]

Sue, Joy and Tom help with the "complicated" parts of the playground equipment installation.

Hard day at play [Click here to view full size picture]

Real men use jackhammers. An easy day of park equipment installation turned into hours of hard work when rock was found where dirt was suppose to be.

playing in the mud [Click here to view full size picture]

Percise measurements were required for the complicated installation of the park equipment. Without the over fifty volunteers, this would not have been possible.

beginning stages of the park [Click here to view full size picture]

What look like big tubes are actually the beginning of the park equipment installation process.