Since 2007: The News, Events, History and People of Our Town, Dorchester, Nebraska
Monday, October 26, 2009
NEWS BRIEFS: Residents Warned To Boil Water For Consumption
Report: Boil Your Water: Kelly Brummett reports that "all Dorchester residents need to vigorously boil all drinking and cooking water until further notice, or use an alternate source." She notes "there are contaminants in the water." This warning "is posted on the marque and there is a notice posted in the post office." Call the Village Office for more information at (402) 946-3201.
Ducks Unlimited Banquet Next Week: On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Saline County Ducks Unlimited will hold its annual banquet at 6 p.m., at the Saline County Fairgrounds, Ag Hall, in Crete. Contact: Robert, (402) 826-9052 or kf51110@alltel.net.
Importance Of Small Town Grocery Stores: DHS alumnus Mike Feeken sent us an story from the Boomtown Institute on the importance of hometown grocery stores. "Rural grocery stores are small businesses, providing jobs and generating tax revenue that support the community. Without a local store, the payroll and tax revenue that our food purchases generate go elsewhere. ... Similar to a school, post office, restaurant and churches, a grocery store makes a community a more attractive place to live. Grocery stores can also be social places where you run into neighbors in the produce aisle, introduce yourself to someone new in town, or catch up on local news with the cashier. Without a local grocery store, residents miss out on these benefits." The story notes several models used by communities around the nation to keep their local grocery store. See the story by clicking here.
You are just now posting this on here when this happened last week. Yeah the kids were sent home one day telling their parents, don't drink the water. If I didn't have kids in school or go down town to see the marque, how was I suppose to know about this problem. I do not drive through town very often. I think this town needs to inform its residents much better, because I may have come home that day and drank the water or cooked with it, thank goodness I didn't. The city lady says well how do you suppose we inform you. Well let me tell you, you knew you were gonna be working on the water, so a day or two before you could have sent letters out in the mail. Very poor planning, just hope no one will get sick from not knowing. If so, sue them. lmao
I was wondering what happened to the blinds for the old 'Sehnert Garage' building? I remember back when one of the Sehnert sons was in town visiting and offered to buy blinds and hang them, but the owner refused, saying he was going to do that himself. Well it's been at least a year and a half since. I don't walk in town often, but walked bye the other night and while seeing the old cars was nice, seeing the rest of the mess wasn't eye appealing. The town needs everyone working together to make a difference. Tyser, the Village, and the Fire department have all updated the fronts of their buildings and improved the downtown. Lets keep up the good work.
I agree with the second posting... we don't go downtown everyday either and if we didn't happen to get on here to end up seeing it we would be useing the water as normal. What is wxactly going on with the water and how long do they think we will need to boil it ?!?!?! They need to shoot out postcards or some way of alerting the residents of these issues !!!!! I am thankful to the Times for reporting this story !!!! Keep up the great work, with out you all we would be in the dark on SO many issues !!!!!!!!! ~Grateful
I agree, this little town needs to communicate with their people a lot better. I see the roads finally got smoothed out. thought I was going to lose the whole bottowm of my car driving around doing errands last week. which the village could have printed off the flyers and delivered to the people who live in Dorchester, I doubt whoever is working for the village were that busy to not of helped. so how long is it going to take Dorchester to get this water cleaned up? i believe it took what 2-3 years to clean up the uranium last time? poor planning on the village staff shouldn't constitue emergencies on the people who pay their bills on time for which the village can run smoothly!!
Notices should have been mailed to all people using the water in Dorchester. How lazy can someone be? I too hope that if I or my family or anyone gets sick that they sue as wellllll. Fix the well problem already. How many years do we have to wait? How do we attract new businesses and families when we don't take care of what we have or try to improve the things that we do have?
Ok, I am glad people agree with me about this water situation. I know this is not the times fault, but this story was posted on here on Monday the 26th, and the kdis came home on the 22nd or 23rd and said we can't drink the water. I am so mad at the city for our water situation, why can't we have good water. They are lazy at the city office. Potholes don't get fixed properly, etc.
I thought at one time someone said Dorchester only had enough water left to last till 2010. Does anyone know if this is true? Also why cant the town build a modern water treatment plant like other towns its size.
Please realize that only 2% of water is actually used for drinking water the rest is used for watering lawns washing clothes and showering, It would cost a mint to make sure it is all perfectly clean thats why people use filters at home.
I think that Dorchester should do what crete does and charge per gallon. This way the people that water there lawns for days would be would be paying for it. Either that or make them use a gray water system to reuse there water to water the lawn.
Thank goodness I have filtered water, but so if a family can't afford filtered water, they are drinking dirty water. That is just gross and wrong. Some of the stuff I have seen come out of my regular faucet is horrifying.
I thought that you need to boil your water even if you have a filter. The filter does not take out bacteria. Maybe you have some special filter that gets everything, but ours doesn't. Buy the way, does anyone know exactly what type of bacteria is in the water???
There is funding for water system improvements, however: State and Federal sources will require the use of individual water meters for each household. (Much like every community in the 21st century already uses.)
ok, for one, i know i wasn't blaming the "times people" for the water situation. for two, i thought this blog was for the towns people "sounding off". and for three, what are the towns people supposed to do about the water situation? I thought I was doing my part by paying my bill! I didn't know I had to go down there myself and regulate. I mean really, I am off my duff everyday, I hope you aren't talking about the towns people. I am sick of this dirty crap they call water. it is SICK. get it together dorchester! it's 2009
To Phil, you are correct every town should be charging per gallon. At this moment there are cities/Villages that are being challenged in court about charging minumums and flat fees. The problem w/ a town the size of Dorchester is I am assuming they don't have the money to put meters in every home.
I will say that it seems a little ridiculous to be paying the same amount for our water even though it is "recommended" that we do not drink it. My family drinks a lot of water and now not only do I have to pay the same for my water, but I also have to buy bottled water. This can be rather expensive when you drink a lot of water in your family.
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Main Street Dorchester in 1906 with ponies from Col. Thompson's Elmwood Pony Farm.
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The Dorchester Times is your community news source. We rely on information provided by area residents, community leaders, school officials, students and alumni. If you know of a Dorchester-area event or story, send your stories to Dorchester.Times@gmail.com. Photos are also welcomed. If you would like to be notified when the Times publishes a new post, send us your e-mail address and we will add you to our contact list.
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
See what Dorchester-related items are for sale on eBay by clicking here. It should be noted that the Dorchester Times is neither affiliated with eBay, nor do we receive compensation from the company.
1909 Dorchester baseball team.
Share News With Your Fellow Community Members
Let us know if there is something that you want to see covered or featured in the Dorchester Times. E-mail stories, photos and news tips to Dorchester.Times@gmail.com.
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?
Report: Boil Your Water: Kelly Brummett reports that "all Dorchester residents need to vigorously boil all drinking and cooking water until further notice, or use an alternate source." She notes "there are contaminants in the water." This warning "is posted on the marque and there is a notice posted in the post office." Call the Village Office for more information at (402) 946-3201.
The paper posted at the grocery store didn't say that the water "needed" to be boiled. It was "recomended" to be boiled
ReplyDeleteYou are just now posting this on here when this happened last week. Yeah the kids were sent home one day telling their parents, don't drink the water. If I didn't have kids in school or go down town to see the marque, how was I suppose to know about this problem. I do not drive through town very often. I think this town needs to inform its residents much better, because I may have come home that day and drank the water or cooked with it, thank goodness I didn't. The city lady says well how do you suppose we inform you. Well let me tell you, you knew you were gonna be working on the water, so a day or two before you could have sent letters out in the mail. Very poor planning, just hope no one will get sick from not knowing. If so, sue them. lmao
ReplyDeleteReminder to our readers:
ReplyDeletePer our Sept. 30 post, the Dorchester Times Web site will no longer feature stories or editorials written by our staff.
All content must be sent to us at Dorchester.Times@gmail.com
I was wondering what happened to the blinds for the old 'Sehnert Garage' building? I remember back when one of the Sehnert sons was in town visiting and offered to buy blinds and hang them, but the owner refused, saying he was going to do that himself. Well it's been at least a year and a half since. I don't walk in town often, but walked bye the other night and while seeing the old cars was nice, seeing the rest of the mess wasn't eye appealing. The town needs everyone working together to make a difference. Tyser, the Village, and the Fire department have all updated the fronts of their buildings and improved the downtown. Lets keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteTime for the town board/office to get a website. NPPD economic development does websites for free.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the second posting... we don't go downtown everyday either and if we didn't happen to get on here to end up seeing it we would be useing the water as normal. What is wxactly going on with the water and how long do they think we will need to boil it ?!?!?! They need to shoot out postcards or some way of alerting the residents of these issues !!!!! I am thankful to the Times for reporting this story !!!! Keep up the great work, with out you all we would be in the dark on SO many issues !!!!!!!!! ~Grateful
ReplyDeleteI agree, this little town needs to communicate with their people a lot better. I see the roads finally got smoothed out. thought I was going to lose the whole bottowm of my car driving around doing errands last week. which the village could have printed off the flyers and delivered to the people who live in Dorchester, I doubt whoever is working for the village were that busy to not of helped. so how long is it going to take Dorchester to get this water cleaned up? i believe it took what 2-3 years to clean up the uranium last time? poor planning on the village staff shouldn't constitue emergencies on the people who pay their bills on time for which the village can run smoothly!!
ReplyDeleteNotices should have been mailed to all people using the water in Dorchester. How lazy can someone be? I too hope that if I or my family or anyone gets sick that they sue as wellllll.
ReplyDeleteFix the well problem already. How many years do we have to wait? How do we attract new businesses and families when we don't take care of what we have or try to improve the things that we do have?
I agree with the person above that the dorchester times is a blessing. I wish you guys would still do articles like you used to.
ReplyDeleteanother city employee bashing.....
ReplyDeletehas been going on since this blog started.
and........whats with critizing individual people. Get off their backs.
i know this wont get printed......doesnt agree with the blog editors.
Ok, I am glad people agree with me about this water situation. I know this is not the times fault, but this story was posted on here on Monday the 26th, and the kdis came home on the 22nd or 23rd and said we can't drink the water. I am so mad at the city for our water situation, why can't we have good water. They are lazy at the city office. Potholes don't get fixed properly, etc.
ReplyDeleteI thought at one time someone said Dorchester only had enough water left to last till 2010. Does anyone know if this is true? Also why cant the town build a modern water treatment plant like other towns its size.
ReplyDeletePlease realize that only 2% of water is actually used for drinking water the rest is used for watering lawns washing clothes and showering, It would cost a mint to make sure it is all perfectly clean thats why people use filters at home.
ReplyDeleteI think that Dorchester should do what crete does and charge per gallon. This way the people that water there lawns for days would be would be paying for it. Either that or make them use a gray water system to reuse there water to water the lawn.
ReplyDeleteTo everyone complaining about people being lazy at the city office.Get off your a$$ and your computer and do something about it.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I have filtered water, but so if a family can't afford filtered water, they are drinking dirty water. That is just gross and wrong. Some of the stuff I have seen come out of my regular faucet is horrifying.
ReplyDeleteI thought that you need to boil your water even if you have a filter. The filter does not take out bacteria. Maybe you have some special filter that gets everything, but ours doesn't. Buy the way, does anyone know exactly what type of bacteria is in the water???
ReplyDeleteThere is funding for water system improvements, however: State and Federal sources will require the use of individual water meters for each household. (Much like every community in the 21st century already uses.)
ReplyDeleteok, for one, i know i wasn't blaming the "times people" for the water situation. for two, i thought this blog was for the towns people "sounding off". and for three, what are the towns people supposed to do about the water situation? I thought I was doing my part by paying my bill! I didn't know I had to go down there myself and regulate. I mean really, I am off my duff everyday, I hope you aren't talking about the towns people. I am sick of this dirty crap they call water. it is SICK. get it together dorchester! it's 2009
ReplyDeleteTo Phil, you are correct every town should be charging per gallon. At this moment there are cities/Villages that are being challenged in court about charging minumums and flat fees. The problem w/ a town the size of Dorchester is I am assuming they don't have the money to put meters in every home.
ReplyDeleteisnt our water tested each month.
ReplyDeletesamples are sent to be tested and i believe that the must be coming back ok.
Bacteria in water- can only be removed in home by Ultra Violet light systems. VERY EXPENSIVE!!
ReplyDeleteI will say that it seems a little ridiculous to be paying the same amount for our water even though it is "recommended" that we do not drink it. My family drinks a lot of water and now not only do I have to pay the same for my water, but I also have to buy bottled water. This can be rather expensive when you drink a lot of water in your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks should be given to Ed and Marvin for keeping up this old town.
ReplyDelete