More than five years have passed since Dorchester's 1927 school building was razed, bringing an era to an end.
The main section of the old Dorchester Public School building came down May 19-20, 2008. The three-story brick building stood for more than 80 years and had seen as many as four generations of some families pass through its hallways.
Today's more efficient and easy-to-access school building is the fourth school building in Dorchester since the organization of District 44. We at the Times hearing mostly glowing reviews on the new school, complete with more classroom space and meeting rooms, as well as a cutting-edge stage and two gymnasiums.
But we still hear plenty of area residents say they miss the old building, especially now that some time has passed. As it was said on the 1980s television series The Wonder Years, a memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.
But we still hear plenty of area residents say they miss the old building, especially now that some time has passed. As it was said on the 1980s television series The Wonder Years, a memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.
We recently enjoyed re-reading all the May 2008 comments from Times readers who attended school in Dorchester -- readers who took time to recall special memories from their days at the old school. (Click the links embedded in the first paragraph for more comments, in addition to those at the end of this story.)
We hope our readers will take a few moments to share their own wonderful memories that were made in the old schoolhouse.
We hope our readers will take a few moments to share their own wonderful memories that were made in the old schoolhouse.
Roseville, CA
ReplyDeleteI knew 1961 was special!
It was the year of my birth and the year Dorchester went undefeated. By the way, will you be showing the class of "56" senior picture? I have a special reason for that request. Thanks for the interesting article.
P.S.says....
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed the show "The Wonder Years." It reminded me of Lincoln in the 1960's. EEK! I'm showing my age. Oh well, my mother says the old "Andy Griffith" show reminded her of Saline County in the 1950's. Thanks for the memories.
My best memory is getting my first kiss on the fire escape in sixth grade.
ReplyDeleteI remember mrs. rassmussen scaring the stuffing out of us during our days in fourth grade. she made a few of us cry at the blackboard as we struggled with long division. she called on us until someone got the right answer. we made sure we stood straight and as we recited the pledge of allegiance every morning. there were no easy As and no feel good points for participation. she taught the right way. her profession needs a lot more mrs. rassmussens today.
ReplyDeletedorchester 4th grader of 1979
I had the same experience with Mrs. Rassmussen in 4th grade just a few years later. It seemed impossible to please her sometimes, but when you did you knew you did something right and the pride you felt, imeasurable. I still sign my name with the big swoopy "R" that I copied from her signature.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget Susan Weber, my kindergarden teacher, giving a well deserved, light spank to one of the worst behaved kids I've ever seen. Today that boy would be loaded with Riddlin. Teachers in the good old days had to deal with kids properly and they usually did so without hesitation. The school is a constant reminder of the great influences and mentors I had at an early age.
ReplyDeleteMemories of DHS in the '50's are surfacing more now that the school will be razed. A classmate and I decided to see if the new garbage disposal in the home ec room would shred a dishcloth. Well, it didn't and we made a fine mess, ruining the disposal. Cap Schuerof (don't know correct spelling) took the blame for us and saved our necks. He was the custodian and was always helpful.I have many, many great memories of this old building and all my great classmates.
ReplyDeleteBelieve the classmate referred to in the note written April 23 at 4:10pm was me. We did make a fine mess but Cap Schuerof saved the day by taking the blame for us. I miss my friend (the other participant in the garbage disposal story) We had a wonderful time back in the 50's in the old school. We just had our 60th highschool reunion in 2013. Lots of memories shared at that time.
DeleteI believe the drug you are referring to is Ritalin...
ReplyDeleteI remember, when we had a substitue teacher, and one of the kids jump out of the third floor to the landing, scared the heck out of the sub, I'll never forget that.
ReplyDeleteI also has Mrs. Rasmussen - but those were the days when we had 2 grades in one classroom -- 3rd & 4th grades. She was a good teacher, but she didn't put up with any bs in the classroom. During one of her science classes, she was upset because no one could tell her what some of the different internal organs were. I think she was looking for an answer something like the liver or kidney, she kept calling on me - and I finally said "gizzard" She broke down and laughed but she thought I was being a smartass, so I spent the rest of the class in the coat room. Something a boy usually did, not a girl.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous:
ReplyDeleteYou wrote: "Print my entire comment or not at all."
We choose the latter.
Thank you.
I remenber when Mrs. Rassmusen would use her naughty finger to point things out on the black board. Everyone in the class would be laughing and she would get mad because no one would fess up as to why we were laughing.
ReplyDeleteI remember playing volleyball in the old gym for practice and then playing games in the new gym. We had some great teams between 1966-68. Larry Ribble was the coach for volleyball and basketball. Great times in high school.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget forgetting ALL my lines on the stage of the old gym during a play in the late 80's. About 50 of my peers and their parents found out I had no future in acting but they still told me "good job" afterwards. How embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteYou should have posted a picture of the '77 football team. We set some records of our own!
ReplyDeleteDoes any one know if the large bell is still someplace on the Dorchester schoolground? It was mounted on a brick wall and was east of the school next to the playground.
ReplyDeleteThe alumni association is storing it in hopes of creating a new monument once the school renovation is completed. Or at least that's what I was told last year at the alumni banquet.
ReplyDeleteI, too, was there when one of the "legends" of DHS jumped out that third floor window! Poor woman went as white as a sheet! The Class of '80 was famous for such things!
ReplyDeleteClass of 80:
ReplyDeleteYes, we were definitely the greatest! Disco music and all!
Will there be an open house for alumni before the school is torn down, maybe the weekend before? Through I couldn't wait to get out of town in the 70's, I have many fond memories of family and friends there. Would be a great time to see and visit with old friends.
ReplyDeleteA cousin just sent me the article about Dorchester which was in the Lincoln Journal Star in early April, where I read about the school soon to be razed. I found the article to be very interesting and it led me to this blog!
ReplyDeleteMy father was born in Dorchester in 1916 and graduated from Dorchester High School in 1934. Although he is gone now, I have several momentos he kept from his high school years, such as an autograph book full of friends' signatures and good wishes and the letter he earned for track. While his father was OK with his children getting a high school education if they wanted one, Dad told me stories of how he had to sneak out of the farmhouse his family lived in outside of town in order to return to school to participate in basketball or track, as his father did not approve of such "frivolous" things...there were chores to be done on the farm! For nearly 40 years he held a record for one track event which was matched by a young man named Ron Velder in the early 1970's and eventually broken, I believe. Good luck to all who make Dorchester their home today. It sounds like there are some community members looking to build a future for a small Nebraska town that people like my father once called home.
DC Husker....
ReplyDeleteThe letter from the "child" of the 1934 Dorchester alum is very moving. It's good to see that people from all over feel a connection to this area.