Could School Cornerstone Hold Relics Of Dorchester's Past?

Could Dorchester have its own 'National Treasure'? Could the cornerstone of Dorchester's 80-year-old school building hold relics of the town's past, providing insight into the town's earliest days?

These questions are being asked by some of the town's residents as they prepare for the razing of the old school building, expected in late May 2008.

In response to a recent letter-to-the-editor, longtime Dorchester School custodian and bus driver Ronald Sehnert alerted the Times that there might be some interesting items in the cornerstone, located in the southeast corner of the building. According to several older Dorchester residents we spoke with, there is reason to believe that school and community leaders may have placed a time capsule or other items in the cornerstone during the construction of the building.

The cornerstone was laid on June 3, 1927. The construction of the school building was obviously celebrated by Dorchester's Freemasons, who were active during the early 1900s. The Dorchester Masons met on the second floor of what is now the building that now houses City Hall and Donna's Hair Creations.

The school cornerstone reads: "Laid by the M.W. Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Nebraska, June 3, 1927. Edwin D. Crites, Grand Master." The initials stand for the "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons." The Freemasons are one of the largest secret societies in the world. Thanks to Hollywood cinema and the Masons' connection to America's founding fathers, the mystery surrounding the organization has grown significantly in recent years. According to the Masons' Web site, "the Freemasonry is the oldest and largest worldwide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of a Supreme Being." The organization's obscure origins date back to the mid-1600s.

It is not unusual that the Masons of Dorchester were involved with the school in 1927. According to the Masons' own literature, "education is at the center of Freemasonry." The Masons' literature states: "Freemasons started some of the first public schools in both Europe and America. We supported legislation to make education universal. ... We encourage our members to give volunteer time to their local schools, buy classroom supplies for teachers, help with literacy programs, and do everything they can to help assure that each person, adult or child, has the best educational opportunities possible."

For centuries, Freemasonry has attracted criticism from many church officials for supposed competition with religion, and has long been the target of conspiracy theories that it practices occult rituals or its members are the center of world power.

It is unknown whether Dorchester still has active Freemasons in its ranks. What is known, however, is that many Dorchester residents will anxiously await to see what relics, if any, were laid in the Dorchester School cornerstone more than 80 years ago.