Illinois residents Barbara and Ray “Bud” Oughton Jr. have donated $1,000 to the town of Townsend to be used for Oughton Park on Pickerel Lake.
The donation was the result of the couple’s visit to Townsend in October, prompted by a telephone call from Kathleen Marsh.
In 2013 Marsh was working on a history of the town called “The Truth About Townsend III: Bust to Boomers.” While reading Town Board minutes from 1960, she came across an entry regarding the donation of land and playground equipment for a public park given by Ray Oughton and family.
She wanted to include Mrs. Oughton’s first name in the book and found an online listing for Ray Oughton Jr., Woodstock, Illinois. She called and left a message. After not hearing back for weeks, she thought it was a wrong number and gave up. Then one night an apologetic Ray called. He and Barb had been away on one of their many trips and had just gotten the message.
“We had a wonderful chat,” Marsh said. “I told him how much I love the park, how beautiful the site is, and how it was almost lost in a land trade in the 1960s, but residents valued it so much they refused the deal.”
There is a public boat landing at the park, and families picnic on the grounds on weekends. The McCaslin Lions built a shelter, which is used for family reunions and community gatherings.
Oughton, 80, told Marsh he was delighted by their conversation.
“I hadn’t been to Townsend in over 50 years, but I remembered my folks had donated land for a park before they sold their cottage and moved away,” he said. “I wondered what happened to it and assumed it was long gone. I also thought Townsend was pretty much the same as the last time I was there in the 1960s.”
Barb and Bud visited Townsend the first weekend of October.
“We got the full ‘up north experience’ by staying at Lee and Bev Gerndt’s cute and cozy northwoods rental cabin in Townsend,” he said. “We drove around to the few places still there that I recall, explored the park, ate at the Old Town Hall and Hillcrest, and got front row seats at the Red Light Saloon Show on Saturday night. We had a really great time.
“When we got home, Barb and I decided we wanted to send the town a donation designated for Oughton Park. I know my folks, Ray and Lucille, would be happy to know that their generosity is remembered after all these years and that the park is being put to such good use.”
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