Looking Back: 44 Years Ago, Dorchester Celebrated Its Centennial

Forty-four years ago -- July 24-26, 1981 -- Dorchester celebrated its centennial. For those old enough to remember, it was quite an event. Highlights included a new bandstand (a duplicate of the one destroyed by fire in 1956), a centennial pageant, ice cream social, parade, barbecue, street dance, horseshoe tournament, quilt show, and morning worship service.

At the time, you could buy Dorchester Centennial memorabilia at the downtown Centennial Headquarters Building. Caps were $5, top hats were $4, adult t-shirts were $6, and dinner plates were $10. You could even get a Dorchester Centennial spoon for $2.50.

There was a months-long build-up to the actual celebration. For example, the nationally known Roger Welsch told tales of pioneer spirit at the Dorchester Centennial grand opening Feb. 15, 1981. 

On April 22 of that year, the centennial committee hosted an Arbor Day tree planting event, planting more than 100 Scotch Pine seedlings at the Dorchester Cemetery. U.S. Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.) was in attendance. Meanwhile, every Dorchester elementary school student was provided a shrub seedling to take home to plant.

On June 23, 1981, a group of Dorchester residents -- young and old -- met at the Saline County Courthouse. Byron Panter, grandson of S.G. Panter (one of the original signers of Dorchester's original charter), handed Bonnie Stehlik Dorchester's incorporation papers from 1881. Stehlik was the first in a team of several Dorchester youth who ran the papers to Dorchester, relay style. (Other runners included Lee Anderson; Time and Julie Axline; John, Joel and Doug Weber; Lenny Gish; Andy and April August; Matt Bolton; Tiffany Slepicka; Sean and Nicole Kremer; W.J. Plouzek; Sharon Axline; and Larry Gish, who organized the run.)

When the three-day centennial celebration finally arrived, there were many highlights -- far too many to recall in this short space. But many Dorchester residents and natives still have their copies of the Dorchester Centennial history book and centennial cookbook (compiled by Evelyn Novak and her team).

Longhorns Youth Football Camp, June 18-25

For Dorchester's future football stars, it is never too early to start brushing up their skills. 

The coaches at DHS are offering young players in the Dorchester area a chance to improve their football game or learn the basics.

On June 18, 20, 23, 24, and 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

The camp will be conducted at Dorchester's Nerud Field, which in recent years has been upgraded with modern, state-of-the-art lights and a large media stand or crow's nest.

The camp will introduce and reinforce some of the basic fundamentals of football.  Included will be: skill development; athletic fundamentals; drill work; position education; team time; and 6-on-6 passing drills.

For more information or to register, contact Brent Zoubek at (402) 418-1019 or 946-2781.

NEWS ROUND-UP: 'Hee Haw' Party At Saline Center, June 28

'Hee Haw' Extravaganza at Saline Center: At 7 p.m., Saturday, June 28, Saline Center will host a a night of reminiscing -- celebrating the old TV show "Hee Haw." Come dressed as your favorite "Hee Haw" character. There will be a contest for the best dressed, but you do not have to dress up to attend. Snacks will be provided and the bar will be open. No cost to attend. For those unfamiliar, Saline Center is three miles west and nine miles south of Dorchester on Highway 15. A map of Saline Center can be found here. 

Tabor Hall Polka Show, June 29: On Sunday, June 29, the Leo Lonnie Band will be playing favorite polka hits from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Swing by Tabor Hall and enjoy a Czech meal, some polka music, and dancing.

Kaitlyn Bolton Breaks Girls Junior High Discus Record: Dorchester talent keeps coming. Kaitlyn Bolton, who just completed eighth grade, earlier this spring broke the Dorchester junior high discus record from 1987, set by Janet Uher, with a throw of 102 feet. At the Nebraska junior high championship meet, Kaitlyn finished 12 out of 24. Good luck to Kaitlyn as she prepares for high school competition! Way to make DPS proud.

Summer Hours for Dorchester Library, Splash Pad: Dorchester's public library, located on main street next to the community hall, is open in June and July on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Make sure you (and the kids) have plenty of books to read to keep the brain cells sharp this summer. If you need to cool down, note that the village water park/splash pad hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday form 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Longhorn Stampede Color Run, Aug. 16: On August 16, there will be a Longhorn Stampede Color Run in support of the DHS volleyball program. Both runners and walkers are welcome. Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities are available. For questions, contact Kelli Kohout or Bethany Theis. Learn more.

Making Small Towns Cool Again

Can small towns be a cool place to live in the digital era?

According Dave Ivan of Michigan State University Extension, small towns can be cool -- if they are willing to follow some common success themes. Those themes are:

1. Encourage engagement between citizens, community organizations, and local government. For example, in St. Joseph, Mich., city leaders hold neighborhood town-hall gatherings in backyards all across the community. They also produce a unified community calendar and hand deliver it to residents. Coopersville, Mich., uses its town entry sign to salute a different non-profit, business person, and teacher each quarter.

2. Urge local entrepreneurial investment. In New Carlisle, Indiana, Bill Owens expanded a floral shop into gifts, a furniture store, and transformed the community into a regional destination. This can also be a community initiative. In Ord, Neb., they developed a wealth transfer plan to strategically fund their community economic development initiatives. By asking people to give 5% of their estate back to the community, they now have $8.5 million in hand or in pledges.

3. Embrace change. This may be the hardest part for many small towns. New opportunities may require changes in all sorts of local laws, including zoning or change of leadership.

4. Actively pursue cultural elements to economic development. Consider the community of Wilber and the job that community does with Czech Days? Thousands of people from miles around descend on that town every August. It can work.

5. Reach out to community youth. It's simple -- the young people of today are the future of our community. Let's get them more involved in event planning and organizations and our business community. One idea employed by a small town in Michigan was to ask high school students to take pictures of what they like and dislike about the town, and have them present it at a future meeting. We adults need to see the world through younger eyes, too.

6. Retaining youth and attracting families. Create economic choices that are appealing to youth. Ord, Neb., for example, has a youth entrepreneurship program starting in grade schools. Another Nebraska town gave graduating high school seniors a mailbox with their name on it and a note that read: "We will always going to be your hometown. Go out, explore, learn, but come back home."

7. Know that in the long run, you may have to do the work yourself. Cool small towns cannot afford to wait for an outside savior. Argonia, Kan., lost their grocery store.  But they built a community convenience and grocery store. They are now building spec houses to sell at cost to new families. And if you enroll kids in the school, Argonia will even cover your closing costs.
 

These are the keys to strong leadership and cool small towns. Most importantly, Ivan advises to stand up to the CAVE people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything). They not only kill great initiatives -- they kill community spirit.

Swan City: Saline County's First County Seat

The Times staff is proud of Saline County's rich history -- not only the storied past of our own community, but also the history of other communities in our area, including those that no longer exist. 

Nearly 160 years ago, on Feb. 17, 1866, the Saline County Board held its very first meeting at Swan City, which would cede its county-seat title to Pleasant Hill just five years later in 1871. 

Two decades later, Swan City would completely disappear.

Swan City, located a few miles west of present-day DeWitt, was Saline County's first community and county seat. Situated within the fork of Turkey Creek and Swan Creek, from which it took its name, Swan City held prominence for only a few years. But it had its share of commerce and businesses, including a general store and a sawmill, both built in 1865. 

Soon after, in the post-Civil War period, the thriving business center added a hotel and another store. 

The O'Connor Circus spent a few winters in Swan City, according to our research.

During its short life, Swan City grew to approximately 200 residents, a respectable population for a community on the Plains at that time.  

But in 1871 -- just five years after the town's establishment -- the county seat was moved from Swan City to Pleasant Hill.  

That same year, the railroad was built roughly three miles from Swan City. Since early Nebraska settlers wanted to be near the railroad, most residents moved to either DeWitt or Wilber or Pleasant Hill, signaling the death of Saline County's first town.

Swan City's flour mill continued to operate until it burned down in 1891, the year when Swan City officially joined the list of Nebraska's ghost towns.  

Today, a state historical marker along Highway 103 designates the approximate location of the community.

Swan City: Gone but not forgotten.

Gerry Boller Passes At 92; Services Will Be June 10

Gerry Boller passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at the Gardens Assisted Living in Crete at the age of 92. She was born on August 28, 1932 in Milford, the third of six children to parents Elmer H. and Stella A. (Dainton) Danekas. 

As a young girl, Gerry attended grade school District 92 and later graduated from Dorchester in 1949. She decided to further her education by going to Doane College, where she received her teacher’s certificate to become a schoolteacher. 

Gerry was a lifelong resident of Milford who grew up on the farm, where she was a respected member of the community. She married her first husband, Charles Leon Parks, at West Blue Church in rural Milford on July 5, 1952. She was blessed with a second marriage to Lynn Rolland Boller on June 9, 1990, in Lincoln. After three years of dedicated service as a rural schoolteacher at School District 84, she also worked at Pamida in Crete for 10 years, served the District Court for three summer terms, Metro Mailing Accounting, and temporarily worked at Phone Services for GTE. 

Her commitment to her work was as palpable as her love for her family and community. Gerry was an avid reader and also loved babysitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and her husband Lynn spent many happy years traveling to Mission, Texas. Her compassionate spirit and supportive nature were a constant source of comfort and inspiration to those around her. 

Gerry is survived by her sons and daughters Terry (Brenda) Parks, Nemaha, NE, Stephen (Vicky) Parks, Dorchester, NE, Sheri Davids, Pleasant Dale, NE, David (Donna) Parks, Milford, NE, Rob (Sherri) Parks, Milford, NE, Jeannie Boller (Mike Wardy), Roca, NE, Susan Kellaugh, Crete, NE, Bill (LuJean) Boller, Dorchester, NE; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; 9 step grandchildren; sister Jane Riley, Seward, NE; brothers Don (Ann) Danekas, Milford, NE, and Doyle (Judy) Danekas, Lincoln, NE. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lynn Boller, sisters Phyllis Vosta, Shirley Kotil, and son-in-law Merl Davids. 

Visitation: 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Lauber Funeral Home in Milford, NE. Family will greet and receive relatives and friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home. 

Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. Interment: Dorchester Cemetery, Dorchester, following the Funeral Service. 

Memorials are in the care of the family for a future designation. Lauber Funeral and Cremation Services – Milford. We invite you to share your memories of Gerry and upload photos to her memorial page. Your stories will help us keep her memory alive and honor the remarkable woman she was.

Marilyn Wolfe Passes At Age 87; Services This Saturday

Marilyn Jo Wolfe was born east of Swanton, Nebraska to Joseph and Libbie (Wanek) Stirba on 7 January 1938. She passed into Glory on 4 June 2025 at Fairview Manor, Fairmont, Nebraska. She was 87.

Marilyn grew up on her parents’ farm and went to school in Swanton, graduating Salutatorian of her class in 1955. Starting in about 8th Grade, she began to report local news to the Wilber Republican Newspaper and the Beatrice daily Sun. This kept her busy calling residents of the Swanton area from her grandparents’ phone or going door to door asking for news items. She met Roger Wolfe in 1954, while he was in the Air Force, they were engaged October of 1955 and married at the Swanton Methodist Church, 19 February 1956. To this union, four children were born, Roger JR, Diane, Julie, and Christian.

Marilyn began attending the “East Church” a mile east of her home when a little girl. But a neighbor began doing Story Hour at the Methodist Church in Swanton and that is where she trusted in Jesus as her Savior being baptized at about eleven years old.

Marilyn started her married life as an Air Force wife and working as a secretary at the University of Nebraska, but after Roger separated from the Air Force in 1957, she became a farm wife, returning to her roots. Marilyn also was The Avon Lady and sold Studio Girl Cosmetics for many years. From 1973-1974 she was a cook at the Crete Hospital. From 1979-2005, she drove a school bus for Dorchester Public Schools. For many years, Marilyn and Roger delivered newspapers to much of the Dorchester area.

When Roger became a pastor, she assisted Roger with his ministries. They sang many a duet at church services and funerals during the many years of Saline Baptist Ministries. She assisted Roger with many details of the ministry. She also assisted with dad’s duties a Chaplain for the American Legion. She was a long-time member of the Legion Auxiliary. All this time, she enjoyed helping with the farm chores, because Roger and Marilyn were involved in agriculture most of their lives. She spent most of her life in Saline County and a great deal of that in the Dorchester area. For 69 years, she was at the side of Roger, as she was when she passed.

Marilyn is survived by her husband Roger, children Roger JR (Diane)Wolfe, Diane (Michael)Turner, Julie (Joe) Holly and Christian Wolfe. Grandchildren Erin Tyler, Jeremiah Wolfe, David Wolfe, Shane Krasser, Destinee Ingwersen, Benjamin Holly, Adam Holly, Nathaniel Holly, Amber Holly, Casey Wolfe and Ashley Spaustat. Great grandchildren Andrew Jessen-Tyler, Parker Tyler, Emma Tyler, Faith Wolfe, Ashtyn Wolfe, Levi Wolfe, Mary Wolfe, Matej Ingwersen, Beckett Spaustat, Russell Spaustat & Robert Spaustat. Nephews Sheldon Tyser and Greg Tyser.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, parents in laws Tony and Gladys Wolfe, sister Corrine and brother-in-law, Dwain Tyser, grandson Lewis Krasser, granddaughter Angel Holly, great grandson Devin Krasser, and daughter in law DiAnn “Dee Dee” Wolfe.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. The service will be live streamed and can be accessed via https://evt.live/marilyn-wolfe-funeral-service

Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday noon until service time at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Greg Tyser, Jeremiah Wolfe, David Wolfe, Benjamin Holly, Adam Holly, Nathaniel Holly.

Honorary Pallbearers are Sheldon Tyser, Erin Tyler, Ashley Spaustat, Casey Wolfe, Amber Holly, Destinee Ingwersen.

Arrangements entrusted to Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete.