Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Dorchester's School Construction Debate Is Nothing New

Everything old becomes new again, or so the saying goes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the current discussion regarding the possible renovation or replacement of Dorchester's 1927 school building. More than eighty years ago, a similar debate was taking place in our town.

We were able to revisit the school debate of the 1920s, thanks to an old Crete News article sent to us by a reader (she calls herself "History Buff"). We wanted to share this story with our fellow Dorchester area residents. This Jan. 27, 1927 article provides a good history lesson in local civics, as well as the effects of inflation.

Crete News -- Jan. 27, 1927

'Dorchester Votes $78,000 School Bonds'

Proposal For New School Building Favored By Large Majority At Special Election


Sixty-four per cent of the voters of Dorchester said by their ballots last Friday that they were in favor of bonding the district in the sum of $78,000 for the purpose of erecting a new school building. This was more than the necessary majority.

We are informed that Dorchester will erect [a new] school building and auditorium, to cost approximately $83,000, which will allow $5,000 for materials taken from the old structure. Dorchester maintains a 12 grade accredited school, with normal training, and we are pleased to note the progressive spirit which prompted the voters to sanction the building of adequate quarters for the continued growth of the school.

The board of education at this time is composed of W. R. Stewart, Edw. Wade, E. M. Olds, Frank Mares, Mrs. H. C. Nelson and John Potter.

2 comments:

  1. History does repeat itself!

    ReplyDelete
  2. iam sorry but i would love to get a new school. but the tax valuations we just got, i would have to vote no. theres no way a person could afford, more taxes will just wipe out a person. my vote is no. fix what we have.

    ReplyDelete

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