Since 2007: The News, Events, History and People of Our Town, Dorchester, Nebraska
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
NEWS BRIEFS: DHS Graduate Is President-Elect Of Neb. Architects Group
DHS Grad Kristi Nohavec Elected Next President of Nebraska Architects: AIA Nebraska, a Society of the American Institute of Architects, has announced the election of its 2009 Board of Directors, including the organization's President-Elect Kristi Nohavec who is employed by the Clark Enersen Partners, Inc. Nohavec is a 1989 graduate of DHS and currently resides in Lincoln. "The American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society," according to the organization's Web site. Last year, Nohavec was honored with the Midlands Business Journal's "40 under 40" award. She gave back to her hometown by designing the new shelter in the Dorchester City Park. We at the Times tip our hats to Kristi for her accomplishments in her young career.
DHS Grad Kayla Stehlik Earns Volleyball Accolades From Morningside College: According to the Sioux City Journal, 2007 Dorchester High School graduate Kayla Stehlik was named Morningside College's most improved improved player for the school's 2008 junior varsity volleyball team. In addition to the most improved player award, the 5-10, sophomore outside hitter was also honored with the team's JV hustle award during Morningside's post-season awards banquet, which was held last Sunday. As a senior at DHS, Stehlik was named to the Lincoln Journal Star's Class D1 All State Honorable Mention volleyball squad in late 2006, along with her classmate Amanda Hochstetler. Morningside's varsity team was an NAIA national tournament qualifier during the 2008 season and finished 37-6 overall, according to the team's Web site. We congratulate Kayla for her honors and hard work. To see more on Morningside College volleyball, click here.
Just Hot Air?: The Lincoln Journal Star is reporting Saline County "could become the wind capital of Nebraska." In an article by reporter Algis J. Laukatis, we are told "several companies (including a British business) are interested in developing wind farms in the central and western parts of the county, and some landowners were already contacted to sign long-term contracts to place wind towers on their land" and that a landowner could earn $2,000 to $14,000 in annual payments for each turbine." While wind turbines in our area might be great for property tax revenues, no mention is made of how such wind farms could increase Nebraska electricity rates, which are currently eighth lowest in the nation. Moreover, no mention is made of what rights adjacent landowners would have when it come to the obstructive views or noise caused by the wind farms -- or what the impact would be of transmission lines crossing the county in order to connect the turbines, which produce little electricity compared to coal, nuclear or even hydro-powered generators. Saline County residents can find out more about the wind projects -- and voice their support or opposition -- by attending upcoming 7 p.m. meetings at Saline Center on the following dates: Jan. 15; Jan. 17; Jan. 22; Jan. 26.
The populist press corps has painted a rosy of wind energy, which is the darling child of lefty groups like the Farmers Union and others who hope to live off government subsidies. What they don't tell you is that in order for wind to generate enough power to replace a typical power plant, it would take up to 300 square miles of wind turbines. That is the size (and view) of New York City for one wind farm!
I listen to a nationally syndicated radio show called "Money Talk" on the weekends. It's pretty fair and straight down the middle politically. A few weeks ago, they interviewed a well recognized and respected energy expert named Charlie Maxwell. They asked Charlie to comment on using wind energy to combat the energy crises. Charlie said the first problem is the wind doesn't always blow. (Reminds me of Saline County on a hot, steamy July or August night.) Sometimes when you have heavy hot spots, there isn't wind for a long period of time and you have to replace that energy with coal or some other fuel. You would have to build that extra capacity because you never know when you would need it. Plus, it takes a lot of energy to make the infrastructure for wind energy, and there are other problems with it, such as birds that get killed in the propellers. People also don't like the noise they make. And there aren't many places to build them. Even when they do produce electricity, the wind farms are often in areas that they would need to transport the energy produced to where it is needed. Charlie said we are working on superconductor transmission lines, but that is probably 20-30 years away.
Charlie pointed out that if the U.S. really wants to produce "cleaner" energy and not bankrupt people with energy bills, it must pursue more nuclear energy (like France, which is 90% nuclear) and develop coal-to-liquid plants, since the U.S. has an estimated 350 years of coal supply.
Of course we could just do nothing and return back to the 19th century when the oil runs out.
If the wind does not blow for a week out of a Nebraska year, it would be dramatic.
I would be proud to have one in my back yard. Every pivot corner should have one.
I understand they are expensive, but what would you rather have, electricity or nothing.
If we get a big solar storm, we may just get a taste of "no energy" when all our communications goes down, and all the computer curcuit boards get fried. Those wind turbines may be the only thing that get us back on track after that!
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Main Street Dorchester in 1906 with ponies from Col. Thompson's Elmwood Pony Farm.
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Dorchester Cooperative feed mill fire in the 1950s.
Dorchester: A Good Little Family Town
Dorchester, Nebraska (est. population 630) is located in northern Saline county. Close in proximity to Interstate 80, Dorchester is only 25 minutes from the state capital of Lincoln (est. population 250,000) and about 55 minutes from Omaha (metro population 725,000).
Dorchester's median resident age is 37 years. In 2005, Dorchester had a median family income of approximately $35,600. The median house value was about $63,000. About 95 percent of Dorchester residents commute to work via Interstate and highways.
The village has a quality public school, which received a $4.1 million expansion and modernization in 2008; it offers a small classrooms and individualized attention. Total enrollment of grades K-12 is around 230-250 students.
Ancestries of the Dorchester area are primarily German (42.4%), Czech (24.9%), Irish (12.5%), English (5.4%), and Dutch (4.9%).
Dorchester's West Mills, 1910. The mill, built by some of the area's first settlers, sat on the West Fork Big Blue River and was completed in 1864.
Dorchester-Area Job Listings
Live in Dorchester and still find a career in almost any sector. See today's latest Dorchster-area job listings by clicking here.
Dorchesters's Elmwood Pony Farm and W.J. Thompson, auctioneer, in 1912.
Join Dorchester Community Foundation Today
Want to make Dorchester an even better place to call home? Join the Dorchester Community Foundation. The Foundation and its fund have already spurred several community improvements, such as the city park renovation and the new 'Welcome to Dorchester' signs. To donate, simply click here.
Dorchester Historical Facts
* On July 4, 1871, the railroad reached Dorchester.
* Incorporated in 1881, Dorchester's population grew from 200 to 500 by 1882.
* In 1882, Dorchester had 90 buildings, 35 of which were businesses or public facilities. Brick buildings lined both sides of Washington Avenue for two blocks.
* Dorchester's longest-running newspaper was The Dorchester Star, which was published until the late 1940s.
* By 1889, Dorchester's population is said to have reached 800, while the town housed an opera house, a two-story brick schoolhouse with a bell tower, and four churches.
* By the 1910s, Dorchester had electricity, a water tower and a fire department.
* Dorchester's main arteries, Highways 6 and 33, were graveled in the 1940s.
* Dorchester's first irrigation well was drilled on Chris Weber's farm and rural electrification was finished following WWII.
Dorchester's Main Street, 1908, looking north.
A Village with History
Dorchester is one of the "alphabet towns" on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad line built west from Lincoln. The town site was selected for its pleasant location in the northern part of Saline County, about eight miles west of Crete. This situation is an attractive one, being on the level prairie land, midway between the West Blue River and Turkey Creek. The first named stream is three miles north, and the latter about the same distance south from the town. Dorchester was platted in 1870 and incorporated in 1881. The name "Dorchester" came from either for a suburb of Boston by that name or a town in England. No one is sure. Two of the very first settlers were James Seely and Edward McIntyre, who both made Dorchester their permanent home.
Dorchester's Methodist Church circa 1889-90, shortly after the building was moved from Pleasant Hill.
Turkey Creek stock farm, circa 1885, south of Dorchester.
Dorchester: In The Beginning
Here is a look at Dorchester around 1890, less than a decade after its official incorporation, as documented by Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska:
* POPULATION: "About 300, and is made up of a substantial and progressive class of citizens, who are moral and industrious. ... The town grew but very little until the year 1879, for the reason that Pleasant Hill, on Turkey Creek, a short distance south, was the county seat and naturally drew a trade for quite a large scope of country."
* BUSINESS: "The business and professional interests of the town are represented by three general merchandise stores, two drug, one grocery, one furniture, two hardware, and two millinery stores, one bank, two restaurants, two hotels, three livery stables, a post office, one newspaper office, two elevators, two lumber yards, two coal yards, two blacksmith shops, two lawyers and four physicians."
* SCHOOL: "The schoolhouse is a good one. The schoolhouse was built in 1872, since which time the public schools have been continually kept up. The present schoolhouse is 24' x 40' in size, two stories high. The school is graded and consists of three departments. The house is found too small, and arrangements will soon be made to increase its size."
* CHURCHES: "There are three substantial churches."
* HOMES: "The residence portion of the village is made up of neat houses of different styles of architecture, but none of them very large."
* NEWSPAPER: "The Dorchester Star, which was established August 21, 1881, by H. C. Bittenbender, who edited it until January 19, 1882, when he sold it to Ryerson & Bullock, the present proprietors. The Star is a bright weekly paper, five-column quarto, in size, and is Republican in politics."
Portrait of three boys in costume on a dirt road in Dorchester, early 1900s. One is dressed as a Uncle Sam, while the other two are dressed as Native Americans, complete with feathered headdresses, fringed clothing and bows. Photo by Russell Freidell.
Dorchester Homes For Sale
Dorchester offers friendly, small-community living for families and individuals. The cost of living here is one of the nation's most affordable, while the quality of life is tremendous. Click here for the latest Dorchester area real estate listings.
The "famous Dorchester race car" from the 1930s, built and raced by Henry Sehnert, the village's longtime Ford auto dealer.
Dorchester Items On eBay
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1909 Dorchester baseball team.
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The Old Dorchester School used from 1890-1927.
Current Dorchester Demographics
Click here for the most up-to-date information on Dorchester, including information and statistics on our residents, housing, school, businesses and climate.
Dorchester's train depot as featured in a postcard from the early 1900s.
Today's city hall as it appeared circa 1920, when it housed the Citizens State Bank, post office and Masonic Hall (upstairs).
Gathering at Dorchester's fairgrounds, 1908
TIMES POLL: What Issue Is Most Important When Voting For School Board Members?
RESULTS: Student Behavior/Perfomance -- 48.1%; Teacher/Staff Evaluation -- 16.3%; Cooperation With Village -- 15.4%; New Spending -- 14.4%; School Renovation -- 5.8% (104 votes)
Freeouf's Garage & Livery of Dorchester, circa 1925
Dorchester's Charles Havlat was the very last U.S. soldier killed in action in the European operations of WWII. Private Havlat was shot May 7, 1945, while on patrol in Bohemia, by German soldiers who were unaware a ceasefire had been declared.
TIMES POLL: Bring Back The Summertime Street Dances?
RESULTS: Yes -- 78.4%; No -- 21.6% (102 readers surveyed.)
The Dorchester telephone building, which housed operators and switchboards, as it appeared in the 1920s.
TIMES POLL: When Do You Get In Touch With Old DHS Classmates?
RESULTS: Alumni Tournaments -- 62.7%; Stay in touch regularly -- 18.6%; Homecoming -- 8.5%; Christmas/New Years -- 6.8%; Fourth of July -- 3.4%. (59 votes)
Dorchester Methodist Church around the turn of the 20th century
Dorchester's First Baptist Church (year unknown)
TIMES POLL: What Is Dorchester's Best Quality?
RESULTS: The people of Dorchester -- 32.6%; School -- 18.5%; Close to larger towns -- 17.4%; Cost of living -- 16.3%; Other -- 9.8%; Organizations and businesses -- 5.4%. (92 readers surveyed.)
Dorchester Christian Church, circa 1908
Depot, telegraph office and elevator at Dorchester, circa 1910
Dorchester's Elmwood Pony Farm, owned by W.J. Thompson, 1912
TIMES POLL: What Is The Most Positive Development In Dorchester Lately?
RESULTS: City Park Renovation - 40.2%; More Civic Participation - 22%; Main Street Improvements - 13.6%; Growth Of Co-op - 13.6%; Nerud Field Project - 10.6%. (132 votes.)
Dorchester's July 4th G.A.R. parade, 1908
Dorchester's two-story depot, built in the 1870s, housed the station agent and his family upstairs
TIMES POLL: Which Era Had the Top Male Athletic Talent?
DHS Grad Kristi Nohavec Elected Next President of Nebraska Architects: AIA Nebraska, a Society of the American Institute of Architects, has announced the election of its 2009 Board of Directors, including the organization's President-Elect Kristi Nohavec who is employed by the Clark Enersen Partners, Inc. Nohavec is a 1989 graduate of DHS and currently resides in Lincoln. "The American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society," according to the organization's Web site. Last year, Nohavec was honored with the Midlands Business Journal's "40 under 40" award. She gave back to her hometown by designing the new shelter in the Dorchester City Park. We at the Times tip our hats to Kristi for her accomplishments in her young career.
y Journal, 2007 Dorchester High School graduate Kayla Stehlik was named Morningside College's most improved improved player for the school's 2008 junior varsity volleyball team. In addition to the most improved player award, the 5-10, sophomore outside hitter was also honored with the team's JV hustle award during Morningside's post-season awards banquet, which was held last Sunday. As a senior at DHS, Stehlik was named to the Lincoln Journal Star's Class D1 All State Honorable Mention volleyball squad in late 2006, along with her classmate Amanda Hochstetler. Morningside's varsity team was an NAIA national tournament qualifier during the 2008 season and finished 37-6 overall, according to the team's Web site. We congratulate Kayla for her honors and hard work. To see more on Morningside College volleyball, click here.
Nebraska." In an article by reporter Algis J. Laukatis, we are told "several companies (including a British business) are interested in developing wind farms in the central and western parts of the county, and some landowners were already contacted to sign long-term contracts to place wind towers on their land" and that a landowner could earn $2,000 to $14,000 in annual payments for each turbine." While wind turbines in our area might be great for property tax revenues, no mention is made of how such wind farms could increase Nebraska electricity rates, which are currently eighth lowest in the nation. Moreover, no mention is made of what rights adjacent landowners would have when it come to the obstructive views or noise caused by the wind farms -- or what the impact would be of transmission lines crossing the county in order to connect the turbines, which produce little electricity compared to coal, nuclear or even hydro-powered generators. Saline County residents can find out more about the wind projects -- and voice their support or opposition -- by attending upcoming 7 p.m. meetings at Saline Center on the following dates: Jan. 15; Jan. 17; Jan. 22; Jan. 26.
Congrats to the girls.
ReplyDeleteAbout the wind farm, if I have to stare at something like that, I'll be moving. Utterly ridiculous.
I always get the "feeling" that the Times is against the wind farm project.
ReplyDeleteWhat is so wrong with the wind farms. It is a clean way of getting energy. What is so wrong with that?
ReplyDeleteThe populist press corps has painted a rosy of wind energy, which is the darling child of lefty groups like the Farmers Union and others who hope to live off government subsidies. What they don't tell you is that in order for wind to generate enough power to replace a typical power plant, it would take up to 300 square miles of wind turbines. That is the size (and view) of New York City for one wind farm!
ReplyDeleteI listen to a nationally syndicated radio show called "Money Talk" on the weekends. It's pretty fair and straight down the middle politically. A few weeks ago, they interviewed a well recognized and respected energy expert named Charlie Maxwell. They asked Charlie to comment on using wind energy to combat the energy crises. Charlie said the first problem is the wind doesn't always blow. (Reminds me of Saline County on a hot, steamy July or August night.) Sometimes when you have heavy hot spots, there isn't wind for a long period of time and you have to replace that energy with coal or some other fuel. You would have to build that extra capacity because you never know when you would need it. Plus, it takes a lot of energy to make the infrastructure for wind energy, and there are other problems with it, such as birds that get killed in the propellers. People also don't like the noise they make. And there aren't many places to build them. Even when they do produce electricity, the wind farms are often in areas that they would need to transport the energy produced to where it is needed. Charlie said we are working on superconductor transmission lines, but that is probably 20-30 years away.
Charlie pointed out that if the U.S. really wants to produce "cleaner" energy and not bankrupt people with energy bills, it must pursue more nuclear energy (like France, which is 90% nuclear) and develop coal-to-liquid plants, since the U.S. has an estimated 350 years of coal supply.
Forget the longhorns............................................... just call us the dorchester turbines............ or the don quixote's
ReplyDeleteOf course we could just do nothing and return back to the 19th century when the oil runs out.
ReplyDeleteIf the wind does not blow for a week out of a Nebraska year, it would be dramatic.
I would be proud to have one in my back yard. Every pivot corner should have one.
I understand they are expensive, but what would you rather have, electricity or nothing.
If we get a big solar storm, we may just get a taste of "no energy" when all our communications goes down, and all the computer curcuit boards get fried. Those wind turbines may be the only thing that get us back on track after that!
JR Wolfe
I'd rather have cheap electricity.
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with the way we generate electricity now? If someone mentions global warming, I'm going to have Cynical Richard get his gun.
When the sea level goes up 40 feet from the melting ice caps and you idiots all drown the world will be a better place. The time for new ideas is now.
ReplyDeleteIf California and New York go underwater, we'll all be better off!
ReplyDelete