2003 historic year For 'Celebrate In Oconto' By Bill Borneman For The News-Chronicle The year has been a historic one for organizations in the City of Oconto. It began this summer when the Farnsworth Public Library hosted an array of events, including a public open house party, to commemorate its l00th anniversary. It was founded in l903 by George Farnsworth, who donated the building to the city. In August, Oconto County's oldest service organizations, the Oconto Woman's Club, had its l00th anniversary, publishing a series of articles in the Oconto County Reporter on its history. President Sue Cross related that the club began with over l00 members. Its membership at one time dwindled to only about l0, but now has grown to 33. It is active in a host of community events throughout the year. On the first weekend of September, Oconto Elks Club #887 also had its l00th celebration, with a lavish dinner party at its comparatively new lodge building. Though not yet ready for centennial observances, two other long-time city groups also had birthdays this summer. The Oconto Kiwanis Club held its 80th birthday party with a dinner event at the home of Club Treasurer Don Nerenhausen, who is the new District Governor for Kiwanis clubs in Northeast Wisconsin and the U.P. And the Oconto Area Chamber of Commerce soon will complete its 90th year serving the community. Among businesses in the county, the Oconto County Reporter weekly newspaper celebrated its l00th consecutive year of publishing in l97l. It now is l32 years old, easily the oldest continuous business in the county. However, it is younger than its neighboring newspaper across the bay, the Door County Advocate, founded in l862.