And just like that, she's gone.
Exactly 80 years and five months after the old Dorchester school was occupied for the first time, the front portion of the building was razed Tuesday. (Equipment and teachers moved into the old school on Dec. 20, 1927 -- eleven months after district voters approved construction of the building -- according to the Dorchester Centennial history book.)
One onlooker who watched the demolition e-mailed the Times, saying: "It wasn't until the building came down did we realize how much work and thought had gone into that building. ...It wasn't until the first wall was knocked down did I realize how many memories that place held. Brick by brick, the old girl was a tribute to the construction and work ethic of that era. She served us well and did us proud."
We couldn't have said it better. We will miss the old school, which stands proudly only in our memories now.
The following pictures were sent to us by a loyal reader and contributor. (UPDATE: 5/21, 10:30 a.m.) New pictures of the fall of the north chimney have been added. (To get a closer view, simply click on the photo.)
I'm gonna miss that place. It was the strongest link between the alumni of DHS regardless of age or era.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm going to miss the DHS that I will always remember and love too, but now it's part of history so let's focus on our future and think about how great our school will continue to be for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pictures and updates of what is now Dorchester Public School's past. Please continue to keep us updated with pictures of our future.
I'll have to say I was not prepared for the emotions I felt during the portion of the razing that I witnessed. 5 generations of my family including me and my three sons graduated from DHS. Lots of memories , I'll have to say I cried. It will be nice to watch my daughter graduate from the new school but I will miss the old school. Full circle.
ReplyDeleteFor the first 18 years of life, that building was all we knew. Most people reading this blog are a product of that building.
ReplyDeleteIt's forever engrained in my mind and best memories.
In the end it's not the building, but the people who make the school, and the town, what it was and what it is. The legacy is being carried forward now by the teachers and the leaders...
ReplyDeleteThough, speaking for myself, they should have used explosives instead of a claw. Like ripping off a band-aid, the quicker the better.
In reference to the article regarding the Dorchester Times, I read it every day, sometimes twice a day and enjoy it so much. Many thanks to all of you who developed and keep this site current. As I read it, I feel the pull of my roots which were stimulated to grow in this dear little town. Knowing how difficult it is to maintain such an informative blog site, hopefully you can keep it going. Through this site, we see a little history, a lot of current activities and much hope for the future. I think you will be surprised by the long term effects of the Dorchester Times. Perhaps some of us who read the articles will donate to the Community Foundation which will help improve our "home town" even more. Again, many, many thanks for this informative and stimulating site!! Hopefully the blog writers will focus on more positive comments in the future.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dorchester Times for bringing us a story that has provoked a rollercoaster of emotions these past few days. It’s like graduation day itself, a time tinged with nostalgia and a yearning for a future yet unknown. For those of us who left the area, especially us old timers (class of 56!), there is a tendency to view things through the haze of sentimentality. This means discouraging what is viewed as negative comments and a yearning to hear what placates our memories of long ago. To the Dorchester Times, I would encourage you to continue printing those comments that are considered unpopular or even negative. Our town, county, and state will not move forward without vigorous discussion from all sides. To those who left the area, I would encourage you to be receptive to befriending former Dorchester residents and Nebraskans when they contact you with hopes of connecting with “homefolk.” Please do not forget the gracious hospitality taught to us by our parents. The late Lena Weber comes to mind. She always had time even though it may have not been expedient or convenient.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!
Would you mind posting a link or more information regarding the Community Foundation.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Sad? Yes, it is tough to see our old school go down. But as I've often said, if you want memories, go to the museum. Schools are about the future.
ReplyDeleteDorchester's next generation will be a better lot because of this investment in the community. Now do us all a favor and start talking to your kids, today, on why it's important that they consider coming back to the area after graduation. That's the only way to get a real return on your education dollars.
To Anonymous (6:20 p.m.):
ReplyDeleteThe best contact for more information on the Dorchester Area Community Foundation is Carol Olson. Her e-mail is Colson@farmersco-operative.com.
Anyone may join the Dorchester Foundation at $20 annually or $250 lifetime; these dues are used to pay the quarterly dues to the Nebraska Community Foundation.
As the Foundation explores future projects -- such as "Welcome to Dorchester" signs -- we encourage all our readers to join the DACF. This is one organization that can make a difference.
Make checks payable to: Dorchester Area Community Foundation, c/o Peg Bergmeyer, 101 Washington, Dorchester, NE 68343. You may specify the project or fund to which your donation should be directed.
I bet the new building does not last 80 years. It just makes me marvel how wastefull we are. That building was a better construction than anything built today.
ReplyDeleteAS far as the future, our young people are going to vote us all into slavery, by embracing socialism on a large scale in the next election. Schools are not about the future, proper teaching is, and that is badly lacking today with all the leftists in education. In the early 70's in that old building I was fed a big bunch of Marxist crap, and I cannot think it has gotten better.
Wake up! Its the Constitution stupid!
We're pretty strict constitutionalists and capitalists, Anonymous. But we're not about to give up on our young people or electoral process.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the world's current affairs are a bit depressing.
That's why we choose to focus our efforts on Dorchester and make it the best community we can -- without the socialist leanings, of course.
Does more federal wealth redistribution (tax dollars) go to schools or farmers/wealthy landowners? Perhaps both subsidy policies need to go away.
ReplyDeleteWe don't ask for much, but we ask that readers keep the conversation germane.
ReplyDeleteThe comments related to this story should pertain to the school.
Thank you.
Subsidies, i.e. direct payments, were designed to lower the cost of food. They DID, not much in the last 2 years, lower the cost of food by producing a huge stock of commodities which are mostly corn. Without them the corn prices would’ve gone up even more. They are not designed to make farmers money. Many farmers wouldn't mind losing DP because the market would correct itself.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing the new school!
to mr. woerner
ReplyDeleteyou are such a smart young man.
you have come so far since your high school days..
keep up the good work
I know this is about the school, but I wanted to respond to Anonymous, May 21, 554pm. Yes, it is important for the townfold to be hospitable to outsiders, I believe Dorothy Beekley is a true ambassador for Dorchester (as was Lena Weber) and there are probably a lot more who would fit into this category. Also, believe the negative comments must be published as there are two sides to all issues, but my heart breaks everytime I read racist remrks as well as calling other bloggers idiots, etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous:
ReplyDeleteWe know for a fact there are no racist comments published on the Times' Web site.
The Times' staff works hard to ensure readers adhere to comment guidelines (e.g., no overtly personal attacks; no expletives; no racial, ethnic or religious slurs).
We wanted to point out that fact.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThis is Anonymous, May 21, 5:54pm. I know it's a strange name, but I felt compelled to clarify my remarks. I was not referring to the town or its residents. I was referring to Dorchester alum that have moved away. I was encouraging those who move away to be receptive when contacted by Dorchesterites or Nebraskans who may have relocated to the same city as the alumni. It's always nice to have a good network of homefolk for us "expatriates." In other words, take the hospitality we learned from our elders here in Dorchester and pay it forward.
I understand fully wanting to connect to former Dorchesterites. Having become pretty much handicapped, I don't get around much any more, so I've been attempting to reach out on the web. That's how I found the Dorchester Times. I always keep an eye out on Facebook and MySpace too.
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion... again, with complete understanding to the volunteer status of the Times staff... create a forum where discussions, such as this one, which is no longer related to the original articla, can take place.
Whomever has posted the wonderful pictures of the demolition, could you keep us updated (with pictures) on the progression of the new building. I am not able to get to Dorchester on a frequent basis through the summer, but would love to see the progression. Thank you
ReplyDelete