Fifteen years ago -- during the spring and summer of 2008 -- the old Dorchester school building was being torn down and the current school building was being constructed. Meanwhile, Dorchester residents and Dorchester Public School alumni were anxiously awaiting to find out what, if anything, was hidden in the the 1927 school cornerstone. (There was plenty of town debate, you may recall.)
Two things were known for certain: The cornerstone had been resting in place for more than 80 years in the southeast corner of the old school; and when the cornerstone was laid in the 1920s, it was a ceremonious event for the Dorchester area community.
In fact, the June 2, 1927 edition of The Dorchester Star contained the following notice: "The Grand Lodge of Nebraska Ancient Free and Accepted Masons will lay the corner stone of our new school house next Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., June third. Everybody welcome."
A later report in June 1927 by The Dorchester Star also mentioned: "The cornerstone of Dorchester’s new school building was laid last Friday afternoon by the officers of AM Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Nebraska. Most worshipful Grand Master Edwin D. Critan of Chardron conducting the ceremony, assisted by a large number of Masons from neighboring lodges and Doric Lodge No. 118 of Dorchester."
Fast-forward more than 80 years to May 2008, when the cornerstone was carefully removed. It turned out there was indeed something inside -- a true town treasure.
When the cornerstone was opened, with dozens of onlookers watching, volunteers found items from Dorchester's past sealed inside a metal container.
Included in the metal box were newspapers from Dorchester, Lincoln and Omaha; autographed pictures of the DHS Class of 1928; materials pertaining to Dorchester's Masonic Lodge; and information regarding a handful of Dorchester-area citizens who resorted to legal tactics in an attempt to prevent the construction of the 1927 school. (Even then there were those who opposed progress.)
The items were on display at the 2008 Dorchester Alumni Banquet.
The photos below are from the cornerstone opening. Enjoy this glimpse back at the cornerstone opening of 2008.
My gut instinct told me there was something in there. The Masons are a thoughtful lot. So were Dorchester's founding fathers.
ReplyDeletei'm getting a little concerned. the village dweller kept hinting there was stuff from the masons in that corner stone. are you talking to ghosts???
ReplyDeletePlease be carefull touching the ancient paper. One should wear cloth gloves, and not get to much human oils/acids on the parchment.
ReplyDeleteDC Husker...
ReplyDeleteThanks for covering this story. Wilber tore down its school two years ago and there was no such "treasure." You are fortunate to have these artifacts...especially the Dorchester newspaper. I'm sure the publishers could not imagine being replaced by a blog! (What's that?)Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Crete the only Saline County town to have an active Masonic group? I believe Wilber has merged its membership with Crete. (The great rivalry ends at last!)
Will, or could, the new building have a cornerstone? If so, maybe someone could put a gallon of gas in it. Who knows what that might be worth in 80 years!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible link to the past.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if those items could be preserved and displayed in the new school. Just don't put in next to the window the way they did the old class photos. Nothing like letting artifacts sit in the sun to ruin them.
Who is taking control of the artifacts? These need to be preserved and displayed in a proper fashion and placed back at the school. And I don't mean just putting in a trophy case so that dust can settle on it or the sun can fade it.
ReplyDeleteA preservation display sounds like a good project for the Dorch Foundation!
ReplyDeleteI think that they should document everything that is there, take pictures ect, and display the pictures then take the real artifacts and reseal them back in the box and put them with the new cornerstone in the new school to preserve for the next generation.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note I heard that the
Masons are still willing to dedicate new buildings aand possibly help with placing a cornerstone "If" the new school has one
To the comments above --- there is not any active Masonic chapter in Dorchester anymore so I don't know why they would dedicate a new cornerstone. Let those who actively pushed and stuck their necks out for the new school be the ones who dedicate the place --- or maybe it should just read "FROM THE TAXPAYERS TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF DORCHESTER. RESPECT THIS PLACE AND PAY IT FORWARD."
ReplyDeleteWhy dont you let the school board member or maybe the mayor put the cornerstone is or is there even going to be a cornerstone in the new building. Myself i think there should be one the same way this one was. History is going to be very important in the future of Dorchester.
ReplyDeleteI think that both the old cornerstone, and a brand new one should be put into the new school, in memory of what was before, and yet to come. Things will be changing in many years to come, gas prices and food, it would be nice to know this. In another 80 years if this school is still here, it would be something to reflect on, and remember how simple things were, and how much change is yet to come. I hope that I am alive to see that day but I doubt it. May god bless this new school, and all that walk through its doors. God bless our small town and all who dewell here.
ReplyDeleteThese are all ideas that should have been thought about a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the new school was one of those "hurry up and get er done" ideas with not a lot of thought put into what should be in the school.
This schoool was designed by a bunch of people in Lincoln who have no idea what was important to the people in Dorchester and now people are scrambling to throw things together.
Sometimes its better to take a little more time and do it right, then hurry to get the job done.
Oh well, our next school board will lead us in the right direction.
well said at least before they build the 1927 school they seen that was needed.
ReplyDeleteA time capsule is the basis of your calls to stop progress and not build a new school? Are you crazy? What the district will save in heating bills alone made it all the more urgent to move ahead ASAP.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the same people voting against the school were probably the same ones who are happy with the condition of the town's streets. Fred Flintstone had better driving conditions.
I agree with the comment above that the Dorchester Foundation (or maybe the Alumni Association) could work on a project to preserve the findings in the cornerstone. I saw these items last night at the Dorchester Alumni Banquet. Very impressive!
ReplyDeleteHere's another idea I had when talking to a former classmate of mine. How about the Community Association hold a contest and give the best kept or most improved yard a $250 cash prize around Labor Day. I'll bet you'd see some busy bodies working hard.
Question,
ReplyDeletewhat was done with the bricks from the school. Are they going to a landfill, and why couldnt these bricks have been sold as momentos?
Jim Sehnert is a very wise man and another credit to the Dorchester community. His letter is well-written and represents the feelings of large numbers of Dorchester citizens and area farmers.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous.....fyi.....Crete is not the only town to have an active Masonic lodge. Friend does also. They've even performed some community projects in Dorchester, 'cause some of the members are Dorchesterites.
I wish some of you with strong opinions would reread your messages or have them proofread. You lose credibility with gross misspellings and absolutely ridiculous grammar.
Dorothy Parker says....
ReplyDeleteI agree that Jim Sehnert has written an excellent letter. Thanks for the update on the Masonic Lodge. The Masons, Eastern Star, Pythian Sisters, and Knights of Pythias bring back wonderful memories of my grandparents.
I agree completely with Mr. Sehnert's comments regarding Dorchester's lack of maintenance. The responsibility lies in the community as a whole. And, I certainly understand how easy it is to become complacent about these issues when you see your town every day. However, I disagree with his decision to call out a single person who owns a building on main street. All of those buildings are in need of paint and repairs. If Mr. Sehnert wanted to write a truly inspiring letter he should have kept his personal jabs to himself.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the letter to the editor, I have no problem with the writer naming names. If a dog leaves a pile of poo in your yard, it's good to know the dog who's responsible.
ReplyDeleteIf there is / will be a new cornerstone be sure to include a copy of the Wall Street Journal. It has a lot of information regarding current interest rates, commodity prices, etc. and not just stock quotes. This could be very interesting in 80 years when corn is $120 per bushel and oil is $5 per barrel (because we won't use it for fuel anymore).
ReplyDelete