On May 25, Dorchester High School will welcome back alumni for its annual alumni banquet. And thoughts will quickly turn to the old days.
Did you know that Dorchester is currently on its fifth school building in the past 150-plus years. It's true.
More than 15 years since the construction of the current Dorchester Public School building, we're taking a look at the history of the structures that have housed our community's educational system.
1872 School Building
The first term of school taught in Dorchester took place in 1872 at a select school held in the McIntyre family home, which happened to be Dorchester's first house and was located near the present Methodist Church.
Also in 1872, District No. 44 -- the present school district -- was organized, even though there were only 21 children of school age residing in the district.
By 1879, more than 100 pupils were enrolled in Dorchester Public School.
By 1883, the town's longest running newspaper, The Dorchester Star, was advocating for the construction of a larger school.
During the 1911 school year, Dorchester was formally organized as a K-12 district. The class of 1914 was the first DHS class to graduate from an accredited twelve-grade high school. 
1927 School Building
As more area families placed greater importance on education, the 1926 Dorchester school board voted to build a new school -- just 35 years after the completion of the 1890 school building.
The first term of school taught in Dorchester took place in 1872 at a select school held in the McIntyre family home, which happened to be Dorchester's first house and was located near the present Methodist Church.
Also in 1872, District No. 44 -- the present school district -- was organized, even though there were only 21 children of school age residing in the district.
Later that year -- nine years prior to Dorchester's official founding -- nearly $3,000 in bonding authority was approved to build Dorchester's first schoolhouse, which was a two-story building. The first floor of the 1872 school was used for school instruction, while the upper level was used for public meetings and worship services. In fact, it was here that the Dorchester Methodist Church first organized around 1874.
By 1879, more than 100 pupils were enrolled in Dorchester Public School.
1890 School Building
By 1883, the town's longest running newspaper, The Dorchester Star, was advocating for the construction of a larger school.
Six years later, in 1889, district patrons approved $12,000 in bonding authority to build a new school that was built in 1890 (pictured above). What a grand structure it was, sitting where today's gym is located.
During the 1911 school year, Dorchester was formally organized as a K-12 district. The class of 1914 was the first DHS class to graduate from an accredited twelve-grade high school.
1927 School BuildingAs more area families placed greater importance on education, the 1926 Dorchester school board voted to build a new school -- just 35 years after the completion of the 1890 school building.
The bond election was successful by a two-to-one margin and a new three-story school building was completed in December 1927. It sat where the current DPS Library is.
The DHS Class of 2020 was the first class not to have attended school in the 1927 building.
A large addition to the 1927 school was approved in May 1963 for approximately $300,000. It included the present-day basketball/volleyball gymnasium, cafeteria, hallway classrooms, and music room.
The 1964 gym and cafeteria are still standing and in use. Both have been renovated in recent years and look as fresh as the rest of the school building, which was built during the summer of 2008 following overwhelming voter approval for a $4.5 million bond issue to construct the new building.
The 1964 gym and cafeteria are still standing and in use. Both have been renovated in recent years and look as fresh as the rest of the school building, which was built during the summer of 2008 following overwhelming voter approval for a $4.5 million bond issue to construct the new building.
I would argue that the modernity of our school building will directly impact the quality of the teachers we attract in the future. I also think the future of the town can be linked with the future of the school, like it or not.
ReplyDeleteThough there is a small percentage of stories on a new school, those few stories seem to be the most in depth and have the most blog activities...so i agree, this site does seem to be pushing towards a new school.
ReplyDeleteJust because the creators of this site haven't come out and plainly said "We support a new school" doesn't mean that it isn't obvious they want one. Why haven't there been the stories on what would happen if the school issue isn't passed. Why isn't the full cost to all landowners being shown to everyone, unless a blogger (not village dweller) puts some figures out there.
It seems to me that the creators of this site are advertising for the new school...but like anonymous said, there are 615 people in this town, and not everyone has a computer, hopefully they aren't seeing all of this propoganda.
I would beg to differ, the school we have now, will still have the quality that we have always had. No matter if we consolidate, and the elementary would stay here, or something else. Even if the new school is not built or is built. I would say out town would die if co-op was to close down, that would have a bigger impact than keep our old school. Lets dont make such a big deal about this, its not like its ready to fall down.
ReplyDeleteHey, Anonymous. Feel free not to read this propaganda. Feel free not to leave us with your low brow pouting. By the way, while there are 615 residents in Dorchester, only half of them are voting age. I'm betting the bond issue passes 60% to 40%. I hope the editors of this blog do cover what happens when the bond issue fails. Will the opponents of progress continue to work against the town's best interests???????
ReplyDeleteTo the anonymous writer who left comments No. 4 and No. 6 above:
ReplyDeletePlease note that back on June 27, the Dorchester Times reported the estimated cost of the bond issue to landowners. Click here for the story.
out of that 60 and 40 there are elderly too.
ReplyDeleteOK, I was more interested in the history of Dorchester’s schools than the upcoming school election. (Didn’t anyone else find it interesting that the Methodist Church first organized in the town’s original school?) Anywho, I guess I’m just assuming and hoping the school bond issue will pass. Our town needs to move forward desperately.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I’ve ever left comments on the website. Call me a member of the silent majority. I just ask everyone reading this to please take note of the comments above. Note the people who oppose upgrading the school (I realize they are probably the same two or three folks writing similar comments.) They actually endorse consolidation. They don’t really care about the long-term future of Dorchester. Do they even have kids in the school system?
It will cost the average Dorchester homeowner less than $15 a month extra to have a new school building, an expanded and improved school campus, for their kids to have a better educational experience, to create new school/community pride, and provide a more secure future for Dorchester. Again that’s $15 extra a month. Move to Lincoln, Crete, Seward or Milford and see if you can get a better deal. You won’t.
It would be ideal if every member of our community wanted to make Dorchester a better place. In a perfect world, every one would do their part and support others who are working for improvement.
The truth is however that no matter where you go in life or what size of town you live in, there will always be those working against those trying to improve their world. So like the old spiritual hymn says, we shall overcome!
hey the engineers are already finding hidden costs here at our School. As always lets wait till they tell us the truth on the real cost then I'll make my decision we don't have a clue about anything yet . The only thing that we all know is something needs to be done ,what get done well know in Sept !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
ReplyDeleteI for one appreciate the updates on the new school project--I have never felt that the Dorchester Times was promoting this project although I do support it. Yes, there are great things about our school, including the old building but it is no longer in compliance with modern safety/accessiblity codes. Just like the tractors in our 4th of July parade--they have been restored, look great and still run but they no longer do nor could they preform the jobs they were orginally designed for now some 80 years later. Before you vote (and I hope you all do) on Sept. 11, please take a tour of the school and please make your decision based on correct information. I ask that all of you take time to learn about the present school situation and keep an open mind before making your final decision. If we wish for upcoming generations to graduate from Dorchester Public Schools we need to prepare for the future. The students of Dorchester deserve the best education possible. That includes the best possible curriculum and the best possible environment that our district can provide.
ReplyDeleteYou say the average homeowner will pay $15 dollars extra, thats great...but what about the average farmer who owns a lot more land than just the plot that their house is on?
ReplyDeleteMost the farmers I know support the school project. Also remember they pay 70% of valuation come property tax time under state law.
ReplyDeleteit sounds like now one really knows the cost, the people that are suppose to build it have been up to the school quite alot, i bet the cost is really not going to be know, and will cost alot more than they expect or see, there are always hidden cost that they dont want to know, just ask some of the people in lincoln, their schools cost more than they said too. I would like to know the real costs before i vote. but a new school would be nice.
ReplyDeleteBecause I pride myself on being an informed citizen, although probably not the most informed. I would like to know how engineers or pretendineers, who have not started any of the processes of destruction or construction, could have already found hidden costs?
ReplyDeleteDo these secret agent engineers know something that the engineers and architects who did the facility study dont know? Have they employed Superman "gone wrong" (complete with dirty uniform and 5 o'clock shadow), with his x-ray vision? Or have they rediscovered the ancient tablets that state, Thou shall be hidden costs in construction?
Or could it be a ploy of Lex Luther to terrify the citizens of Dorchester.
Don't worry citizens, Commissioner Gordon and the Justice League are on their way to investigate Luther's chumps who are traffiking in the real propaganda.
Now on a more serious note...I like many of you have craved some more information on the project, but I do not feel mislead by those in favor of the building project. I cannot say the same thing about those who are opposed.
Opponents of the issue, stick to the facts or I will be unable to get both sides of the story. And I refuse to deal with the likes of Lex Luther, who will do anything to destroy the likes of Metropolis, Friend, and Dorchester.
And a final warning to Luther's chumps. We know you pecking at that keyboard with your pointer fingers, so be careful to keep your finger nails neatly and evenly trimmed.
Many thanks to the folks at the Dorchester Times, whose efforts are adding oxygen to the air of civic participation!!
Ha! :) That's right, Informed. The whole world is conspiring against them and they know it. That's some funny stuff!
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, and in response to the anonymous writer above worried about the farmers in the school district, I have to point out that four of the six school board members are farmers. Do you really think they are out to bankrupt themselves and their neighbors? Or is it that they know the situation better than you??
in response to what makes a good quality school.........
ReplyDeleteif we want to keep a good school with high quality teahers why is it a pain each year to negotiate and give the teahers a raise..........
think about it......it isnt the new school that is keeping the teachers here............
and if we want to get make the school system better, get rid of the teachers who let the kids sit in class and play cards, and yes, it is going on. The Japenese are working on math and the Dorchester kids are playing cards.
Heck yea, poker and pitch will get you a long way in life, DEal my in for a little TExas HOLD Em
As an alumni of Dorchester, and someone who has gone through two bond issues about "New School" buildings, I would just like to say a few things in kindness.
ReplyDeleteYou will never have the quality of building, with new construction that you have in the 1920's construction. York has now built two new schools since I moved here. The "new" grade school built in the early 1990's, is already needing major repairs. Yet, ALL of the old neighborhood school buildings are still in use. In fact one is a high end apartment building. The college uses one, and a specialty school is in the other. We have now built a middle school. The old one will likely be torn down, unless the college, or some other entity needs this sound stucture. I bet they have trouble tearing it down! NEW is not always better. I wish we had put money into the old structures, and kept out neighborhood schools. As far as the new middle school, I predict in ten years it will be trash, in need of major repair.
If you renovate the old school, that building will outlast the next generation, but if you build a new structure, any of your kids that stick around, will be taxed to death building another replacement in twenty years. New construction will never stand up to the strain that those old walls can.
Will it be a challenge to fix the old school.....sure. But there will also be history there, and that building will last another century. A new building will need replacing in a couple decades. Beside, that old school was built in my grandparents era. When I drive by, I fondly remember my childhood. And a couple other generations have went to school there. I suggest saving some money for the tax payers, and reinvesting in a structure that is historic, and can not be replaced. Do an add on, and renovate that existing building, you'll be glad you did a decade from now! It already has new windows, and other improvments, Take it the next step!
But whatever you do, don't let it tear the town apart. I am a proud graduate of Dorchester Public School!
JR Wolfe
York, Nebraska
Good points, JR, because I've thought about the history, too. But from what I saw of the old building during the open house, it would cost more than 4 million dollars to have the modern facilities that a new building can offer (such as central heating/AC, new pluming, updated classrooms, etc.). Drive past the school and you see AC units hanging out the windows. It looks like something out of a Kid Rock/trailer park concert.
ReplyDeleteAs for the pay of teachers, the teachers have one of the most powerful unions in the state. I don't think Dorchester is any more stingy with pay raises than other schools our size. If anything, the problem we have is getting good ones, not keeping them. A new facility will act like a magnet, helping us attract the best of the new teachers and will counter any negative effects that our downtown has on prospective teachers. (Trust me, I've heard of more than one case where a teacher was interested in Dorchester until they saw our downtown and unpaved steets.)
Mr. Wolfe is wish more people would think as you do. Ive always said that our school will outlast a new, and will still bring good teachers. Our problem on losing teachers was the superintendent that left, you cant blame the old school for not getting fixed up for that, there are alot of teachers, that are more at ease that mr Pieper is back, and you are right, this structure will outlast the new, look at how many older homes there are, that have been, remodeled in this town. So what if we have to spend to renovate, i can deal with that, but a new school will put a burden on a lot of people, i no when i was in school we had over 25 kids in class, and we never were cramp and learn just as good. i believe that what will be, but i dont want to be pressured by anyone calling me and asking me to vote.
ReplyDeleteI am not trying to start an argument or anything, but when I went to school in that building, we did not have air conditioning!Neither did the 3-4 generations before.
ReplyDeleteI wish you could see York's old Lincoln School. It is now called "Lincoln Place", and it has very high end apartments. It is all central air, and it has handicap access. It is truly a wonder to see, and it did not cost a million dollars either. I know the owner, and he is very tight with a buck! And interestingly, one of the arguments for building the new schools was that it would help increase attendence. Guess what........a large chunk of York students go to McCool Jct.......why, because they have a good school down there. And buildings do not make the school, the administration and teachers do. You can have school in a quanset, and get a great education, if you have dedicated teachers.
If you want to, that building can be renovated. Build a new building, and every dollar you spend will go right down the road with the contractors who build it. Renovate it, and you just might be able to use some local contractors.
But here is a thought, and one I have repeatedly voiced up here in York. If you don't spend a little every year in repairs, anything will fall apart. A new building will not just stand there without upkeep. But that old building, which I conceed I have not been in for years, has stood the test of time. Let me ask you a question. Would you rather go through a F-3 tornado in the old construction, or new construction???And if you do not budget for yearly upkeep, that new building will be a heap in a couple years, because it will not be the QUALITY of that old construction!
I challenge you to look at some photos of massive tornado hits in the past few years. Several old school buildings have been hit and survived, and the new construction that "replaced" the old buildings were leveled!
Many of us who attended, and still attend Dorchester are of Czech descent. Look at the buildings in the Czech Republic. THey have historic towns, and buildings because they keep them up. In some cases, there is new construction right next to them. Yet, many of those buildings are hundreds of years old. With most peoples mentality today, the Karolov Most (St. Charles Bridge) would have been blasted and replaced with a six lane modern peice of crap years ago.
Well, since I went to school there, I guess I felt I needed to get my 2 cents worth in. And that is probably all it is worth. In the end, you the voters will decide. And if Dorchester does not survive, it will not be because the school went away, it will be because everyone moved to the big city, and Ted Turner's kids bought what is left of Nebraska to herd their buffalo in!
Na Shledanou
JR Wolfe
PS You will note, I signed my blog.
I'm for the new school. However I will agree it would be great if the old building could be renovated. We saw the Falls City school this weekend. That's a great example of an old school that was renovated. It's much more attractive than the new schools being built in Lincoln. But to those who don't want to spend any money, wake up and smell the coffee. It's gotta happen.
ReplyDeletemore people should listen to jr wolfe he makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think we are comparing apples and oranges. The purpose of an apartment building is much different than a school. And living quarters are much easier and cheaper to bring up to codes. How many people do apartment buildings serve? Not near as many people who would have attended the structure as a school.
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened to Falls Citie's enrollment ? It has not increased, so like many other schools that were once larger in classification they may not need more room for people, and the extra room that they have is enough to absorb the computers and things. Furtermore there structure may be more adaptable than ours.
How adaptable is our school? Did you look at the renovation plan? I didn't think we gained much. Is the solidity of a structure the only measure of it's worth?
Do understand that the vote in Sept. is to demolish and build.
Sure nice to hear from fellow alumni who love the old buidling.
Just want to say......the "new" windows were put in place in 1974 when Mr. Galen Johnson was the Superintendent. They are far from air tight or energy efficient. Ice forms on the inside and when it thaws, there is water dripping on the inside down the walls on to the floor. Many of the radiators do not work properly and it is getting impossible to get parts to repair them. This spring, the radiator in the 3rd grade room sprung a leak and destroyed many books, equipment and ruined the carpet. This year we also battled plumbing leaks in the '27 building and had pools of sewage waste collecting in the tunnels. The smell was horrid and drifted up to 3rd floor (just ask the students in Mr. Voelker's Math classes and in Mrs. Ricenbaw's classes). The repair bill was hefty but we were fortunate because this was on 1st floor. What happens when this happens on the 2nd or 3rd floor? I too graduated from Dorchester and opted to move back to raise our family. I'm proud to have had four geneations of our family graduate from Dorchester School but I would not support putting 2 million or more dollars towards renovation of the '27 building. In my opinion, that would be a waste of tax payers dollars. My vote will go for the new building project.
ReplyDeletethere are some people that dont want alot of us to know but they aready thinking that it is going to cost more than what they said.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting "no" on the new school for my own personal reasons, but I just want to comment to the costs.
ReplyDeleteI believe it will end up costing more than what they are saying the costs are going to be. Has anyone ever had a remodeling/building project that has come it at what the original bid was? There will be change orders for whatever reason, and at that point, what are you going to do...not continue? No, you'll add the cost to the project and call it an unforeseen expense.
The reason the Dorchester Board went with the Design Build option for the new school project is because the project cannot exceed the bond amount of 3.9 million plus any interest earned during construction. When the proposal was submitted, all contractors that submitted bids were aware that it would be a Design Build project. There is no way this project can exceed the bond amount. Any costs that exceed the amounts quoted will be the contractors expense, not the district's.
ReplyDeleteLets talk less about this school thing, and more about education. Quit pressuring people about it, they will vote the way they want, no matter how much it is wrote about, you might be making it worse by talking so much about it. Let the people decide, you might be surprise, and it will pass, sometimes less said it better.
ReplyDelete"Let's talk less about this school thing..."
ReplyDeleteWe have some strange logic around here. The writer above is saying, "Let's bury our heads and maybe the world's problems will go away." That philosophy hasn't worked for me during my 40+ years. I have always found more discussion, as long as it's civil and reasonable, is always best. Many of those opposed to the school proposal have said there are too many unknowns surrounding this issue. Well, heck, let's talk and talk some more. Let's get this all cleared up BEFORE September 11.
YOU KNOW I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A NEW SCHOOL, BUT IT IS AFFORDING THE NEW SCHOOL IS WHAT IAM CONCERNED WITH. WITH THE NEW TAX EVALUATION OUR NEW TAXES WILL BE ABOUT 300.00 MORE A YEAR AND THAT ISNT WITH THE SCHOOL BEING BUILT, AND THEN IF YOU ADD A NEW TAXES THAT ABOUT EVERY FEW YEARS GOING UP, ITS HARD TELLING WHAT OUR TAXES WILL BE. I THOUGHT MY HOUSE PAYMENTS WOULD BE CHEAPER. MY HOUSE PAYMENTS WILL GO UP MORE BECAUSE OF HAVING TO PUT MORE IN OUR ESCROW, SO IAM NOT AGAINST A NEW SCHOOL JUST DONT KNOW WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM, WHEN YOUR MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH YEAR, AND NOT KNOWING WHERE THE EXTRA WILL COME FROM?
ReplyDeleteDo you get cable TV? Do you have both a cell phone and land line telephone? Do you eat out? Do you smoke or buy alcohol? If you answered yes to any of these, there's a way you can help make ends meet. The voters of the school district can't be financial counselors to everyone in the town, but if you think you can live more cheaply in Crete, Milford, Wilber or Friend, I'm willing to bet it can't be done. Again, lose your school and you lose your town.
ReplyDeleteI DOUBT WE WILL LOSS OUR SCHOOL NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, QUIT SCARING EVERYONE IN BELIEVE THAT. BOB THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A TOWN HERE, PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN SMALLER TOWNS, BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER, BUT IT MAY NOT BE AFTER THIS, DONT GET ME WRONG I WOULD LIKE A NEW SCHOOL, IAM NOT THE ONLY ONE WORRYING, GET A CLUE, NOT EVERYONE IS MADE OF MONEY LIKE YOU.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE A CLUE WHICH IS WHY I CAN AFFORD TO WANT TO SEND MY KIDS TO A SCHOOL THAT ISN'T CRUMBLING DOWN. (YEAH I HAVE SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS $4OK SALARY. BUT I DON'T GET CABLE TV OR SMOKE OR HAVE A LAND LINE PHONE. DO YOU? CUT ONE AND YOU'LL HAVE MORE THAN AN EXTRA $300 A YEAR.)
ReplyDeleteLOVE,
BOB
dont smoke and work 2 jobs and still dont know if i can afford it.
ReplyDeleteA handful of people (who all went or sent their kids to DPS) shouldn't whine about paying an extra $15/mo. to replace an 80 year old school. They doth protest too much, me thinks.
ReplyDeleteEnough said.
I have made comments that never get on, but Bob and someone else can banter back and forth...please.
ReplyDeleteI am for the new school. I down sized my cable programming so I can afford the increased gas prices. I don't smoke, don't drink,
each out 6 times a year, but... I really like to shop, I will buy less clothes for myself. On national average, teenagers and grade school students are actually bigger then they were 20 yrs ago.
The average teenager is 2 inches taller and 20 lbs heavier then they were 20 yrs ago, their shoe size is 2 sizes bigger. They aren't gonna get smaller.
Woman's Health data.
BOB. I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT IT WILL COST MORE THAN 15.00 A MONTH, THEY REALLY DONT KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL BE FOR EACH CITIZEN, IAM NOT AGAINST THE SCHOOL, IAM JUST NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL AFFECT OUR HOUSEHOLD. NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. ASK WILBER HOW MUCH IT ENDED COSTING THEM, IT WAS ALOT MORE THAN THEY TOLD THEM, ASK THE CITIZENS THERE. LIKE I SAID IAM NOT AGAINST THE NEW SHCOOL.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a computer glitch.
ReplyDeleteI don't say negative things about
people. I always try to find the positive in everyone.
Someone else must hold a grudge against Mr. E . I'm sure he did the very best job he was capable of doing.
Well, this is a 15 year old thread. Shirley, oops I mean surely some aspects must be clearer by now.
ReplyDeleteThe 1927 building's gym had a tile floor. Basketball bounces differently. I was there when the building addition and "new" gym was constructed in 1963.
Actually sad to hear/read the 1927 building was raised in 2008. Fond of that building and the wooden music house to the east.