Looking Back: 40 Years Ago, Dorchester Celebrated Its Centennial

Four decades ago -- July 24-26, 1981 -- Dorchester celebrated its centennial. For those old enough to remember, it was quite an event. Highlights included a new bandstand (a duplicate of the one destroyed by fire in 1956), a centennial pageant, ice cream social, parade, barbecue, street dance, horseshoe tournament, quilt show, and morning worship service.

At the time, you could buy Dorchester Centennial memorabilia at the downtown Centennial Headquarters Building. Caps were $5, top hats were $4, adult t-shirts were $6, and dinner plates were $10. You could even get a Dorchester Centennial spoon for $2.50 (now $12.99 on eBay thanks to Joe Biden's inflation).

There was a months-long build-up to the actual celebration. For example, the nationally known Roger Welsch told tales of pioneer spirit at the Dorchester Centennial grand opening Feb. 15, 1981. 

On April 22 of that year, the centennial committee hosted an Arbor Day tree planting event -- planting more than 100 Scotch Pine seedlings at the Dorchester Cemetery. U.S. Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.) was in attendance. Meanwhile, every Dorchester elementary school student was provided a shrub seedling to take home to plant.

On June 23, 1981, a group of Dorchester residents -- young and old -- met at the Saline County Courthouse. There, Byron Panter, grandson of S.G. Panter (one of the original signers of Dorchester's original charter), handed Bonnie Stehlik Dorchester's incorporation papers from 1881. Stehlik was the first in a team of several Dorchester youth who ran the papers to Dorchester, relay style. (Other runners included Lee Anderson; Time and Julie Axline; John, Joel and Doug Weber; Lenny Gish; Andy and April August; Matt Bolton; Tiffany Slepicka; Sean and Nicole Kremer; W.J. Plouzek; Sharon Axline; and Larry Gish (who organized the run).

When the three-day centennial celebration finally arrived, there were many highlights -- far too many to recall in this short space. But many Dorchester residents and natives still have their copies of the Dorchester Centennial history book and centennial cookbook (compiled by Evelyn Novak and her team).

Home For Sale: 104 Whitmar Ave.

Dorchester's real estate market is booming. This as more people -- especially young families -- want the safety, sanity, affordability, and quality of life offered in our close-knit village. Most homes here are sold within a week to 10 days. It's true.

Consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL: A newer K-12 school with small class sizes and some of the state's top educators. 

• A SAFE AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY: With an upgraded water and sewer system, and a surplus at Village Hall.

• LOWER COSTS: Affordable living costs with lower property taxes compared to surrounding school districts that can overspend taxpayer resources.

• KEY BUSINESS AND PRIME LOCATION: Headquarters for one of the nation's largest agri-businesses (Farmers Cooperative), and situated on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line and along two major highways.

• GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE: A quick drive to employers in Crete, Milford, Friend, and Seward. Just 30 minutes to Lincoln and 10 minutes to I-80. Yet all the advantages of a rural small town.

Today we showcase the latest Dorchester home available.

104 Whitmar Ave.: This is the former home of longtime Dorchester residents Joe and Josie Slama. An open house will be held Sunday, July 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. Very nice ranch home offering four bedrooms and two baths, just awaiting its new owner. Main level offers two bedrooms, full bath, good-sized living room, kitchen and laundry room/mud room. The fully finished basement offers two more bedrooms, 3/4 bath, second kitchen, and living room (see photos in the listing). Basement was finished less than three years ago. Lots of storage space, two-stall attached garage and large back yard.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester's Community Garage Sales, July 23-24

 

Dorchester's Community Garage Sales Coming Soon: Dorchester will be hosting community garage sales on July 23-24. Call 402-946-3201 or stop in Village Hall to get your name on the list if you are holding a garage sale. The village will compose and distribute a list and map to promote your event.

Dorchester Increases Fines for Street Obstructions: The Times has learned that the Village of Dorchester board recently approved an increase in fines for parking interference with use of a Dorchester street. In non-lawyer terms, we'd say that is obstructing public streets. Anyway, the fine has been increased to $50 for the first five days of interference, up from $5. After that, the fine goes to $100, up from $7. The fines have also been increased for improper parking during snow emergencies and in handicapped designated areas.

Village Now Offering Mobile Food Vendor Licenses: Dorchester now offers a mobile food vendor license ($100 annually or $25 a day). Applications can be picked up in the Village office. Food trucks will be allowed from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.

20 Acres for Sale South of Dorchester: Looking for a plot of ground to build your dream home? The Times has been informed about 21.03 acres for sale south of Dorchester. According to the realtor, there is a creek on the western portion of the property and the cropland along the gravel road. There are several large burr oak trees on the property that provide for a private and quiet setting. A new well has been drilled and ready for the pump installation. Learn more.

OUR VIEW: It's Time To Address All Of Dorchester's Neglected Properties

Dorchester is a great little community. Anyone who lives here will tell you that. 

Moreover, village leaders are working overtime to ensure our community remains a safe, enjoyable, friendly town that people want to live in. They sometimes don't get the credit they deserve, including on this blog.

Of course, as with any community, there are a few challenges. Over the past couple of decades, Dorchester has neglected enforcement of property codes. Put bluntly, a handful of residents were allowed to let their properties severely deteriorate and/or accumulate junk, which in turns harms property values and quality of life. 

But in recent years, Dorchester has witnessed a new resolve to clean neglected and blighted properties, thanks to the hiring of compliance code officers. This is the right thing to do to serve all taxpayers, 90% of whom want to live in an aesthetically appealing town where property values go up.

Fortunately, the village's new code compliance officer -- Craig Bontrager -- has been working with village residents and businesses to start getting all areas of the village spruced up. 

In some cases, the residents have junk or out of control vegetation that they are unable to physically or financially handle. In these cases, property owners should contact the village code compliance officer to find out what options they have.

In other cases, some residents simply do not understand the village code and fall out of compliance due to this misunderstanding. If you think you may be out of compliance and want some help or direction in clean up, again, contact the village code compliance officer.

Last month, group of Dorchester United Methodist Church members and the Mennonite Disaster Service helped clean up properties in town. The latter was able to help a local property owner start getting control over his property to bring it back into compliance. This group was arranged by Bontrager.

We think it's unfortunate there are some residents who simply don’t care what their property looks like and are indifferent when it comes to the village code. It is our opinion that these residents should "lawyer up" or consider moving to the countryside, where county officials will deal with you.

According to official communications sent to this blog, Dorchester residents who are out of compliance with community standards will at some point receive a certified letter from the code compliance officer stating the violation and how to remedy it. 

Those who choose not to respond will be warned with an administrative sign posted on their property. If there is no response to this warning, then the village may (and should) declare the property a nuisance will decide how to abate the nuisance. (We also think neighbors should be more vocal in their insistence that next-door properties are kept presentable, but that's another topic for another day.)

If at any point during the village's compliance process the property owner contacts the code compliance officer, a plan to achieve compliance can be discussed and set up. In short, Dorchester is giving those with neglected and messy properties plenty of chances to clean up their act. Take advantage of this opportunity.

If you have any questions about code compliance or how you can be involved in improving your community, call the Village of Dorchester (402-946-3201). 

It's time to address all of Dorchester's neglected properties.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester's 9-And-Under Baseball Team Wins Championship

Dorchester Pee-Wees Win League Championship: Dorchester is home to rich baseball history. Our community was known as a baseball town as early as the start of the 1900s. But in recent years, the village has struggled with participation numbers in boys athletics, especially baseball. So it came as a pleasant surprise last week when the town's nine-and-under baseball team -- affectionately known as the "pee-wees" -- won the SFS League championship. Several sources we spoke to say this championship points to the bright future ahead for Dorchester boys athletics, considering the young crop of talent in elementary school. Congrats to these players and their coaches.

Dorchester Concludes Another Successful July 4 Celebration: The community has wrapped up another successful, well-attended Independence Day celebration -- one that would have made the Founders quite proud. The Dorchester American Legion reported running out of food due to the strong showing. Many showed up for bingo on a hot day. The show-and-shine event had several entries. As volunteer Peg Bergmeyer wrote, "From the great meal served by the Sons of the Legion, pie and ice cream from the auxiliary, bingo, kids games/tractor pull, parade and fireworks, it was a great day."

Village Seeks Assistant Clerk: The Village of Dorchester is currently taking applications for the position of deputy clerk. Click here to apply. Meanwhile, the next village board meeting will be this Wednesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. at the Community Building -- a change from the typical first Monday of the month due to the Independence Day holiday.

DPS Calendar for Upcoming School Year: It's hard to believe, but the start of school is just six weeks away. (Hear the groans from the kids?) Here is the Dorchester Public School calendar for the 2021-22 school year. The month-by-month calendar is online, as well.

State News Media Once Celebrated Rural Greatness: An interesting letter to the editor recently appeared in The Columbus Telegram. The letter referenced a Sept. 22, 1940 article from the Omaha World-Herald. The article, titled "Family of Champions," highlighted the Wielage family of Dorchester and five of their seven children who had excelled in their school and 4-H activities. More than 80 years later, it's hard for many to believe that a large, statewide publication like the World-Herald once wrote positive stories that focused on the achievements of everyday rural residents -- positive news spotlighting something other than oppression that occurred centuries ago, or transgender or gay rights, or man-induced climate change, or "inequity" during prosperous times, or anything else the media deem wrong in their attempt to divide the USA. 

Dorchester's 2021 Independence Day Schedule

Dorchester hosts one of the best small-town Fourth of July celebrations in all of Nebraska. It's personal and genuinely patriotic (at a time when bashing America's history seems to be popular in the news media, on college campuses, and in D.C.) 

Our community's July 4 festival is an annual tradition that draws folks from near and far, including residents from neighboring communities, friends, family, and DHS alumni from across the country.

You will find plenty of things to do in Dorchester on Independence Day, without the hurried (and often rude) crowds of larger communities. The highlight of the day comes after dark with the famous fireworks show, which has been delighting crowds for nearly 30 years.

Check out the Dorchester Fourth of July website.

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Dorchester's Fourth of July Celebration

2021 Schedule of Events

Saturday, July 3

6:30 a.m. sign-in; 7:30 a.m. start .......... Longhorn Stampede Fun Run. Details here.

Sunday, July 4 

All day ........... Splash pad at Dorchester City Park (free to all)

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. ....... Visit the Saline County Museum (free to all)

11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ...... Sons of American Legion BBQ at Legion Building

11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. ...... Auxiliary/Jr. Auxiliary Pie and Ice Cream Social/Raffle at Legion Building

1 p.m. ........ Show and Shine on Main Street

2 p.m. ......... Bingo hosted by Legion Auxiliary at Community Building

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. .......... Kids games, including tractor pull. South of park on 7th St. Sponsored by Farmers Cooperative. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. Tractor pull participants must register.

7 p.m. ......... Parade (Line-up begins at 6:30 p.m. at Co-Op office and parking lot near elevator.)

10 p.m. ........ "The Big Show" -- Fireworks at Nerud Field football field.  

Schedule is subject to Change.

***

Dorchester's 4th of July celebration depends on private support. Dorchester area residents and friends of Dorchester are encouraged to donate online, or send their donations (checks payable to "July 4th Celebration") to: 

First State Bank

4th of July Celebration

P.O. Box 264

Dorchester, NE 68343

What Could Have Been: In 2014, Hopes Were High For New Cafe

In July of 2014, there was a buzz spreading through Dorchester. (We take some of the blame for getting hopes up.) 

Here's what the Times reported seven years ago:

It's some of the most exciting news we have heard in some time regarding Dorchester's business district.

According to several well-placed sources, a new cafe will soon make its way to the west side of Dorchester's main street.

The cafe will occupy the building that was most recently the Dorchester Hardware Store and the additional space in Dorchester Grocery. Older residents will remember the site as the former location of the West Side Cafe and Rec Room.

There's no word yet on when the cafe will open, but we are told the owners are individuals with strong Dorchester ties.

Operating a restaurant or cafe in a small community isn't easy, and Dorchester's newest entrepreneurs have a heavy task ahead of them. We can all recall the short-lived restaurants, ice cream shops, and cafes that have been here in the past. To be successful, this endeavor will need a unique spin on its operations, good marketing, as well as strong support by the community and area residents.

Community members we spoke with are elated by the news and anxious to see the cafe open. In a 2010 Times survey, readers said that a "cafe with a bakery" was one of the most needed businesses in Dorchester. In fact, a cafe commanded the second highest number of votes, behind only a convenience store.

We were not completely off base in our reporting. Former Dorchester resident Michelle Johnson had strong intentions of opening a Dorchester bakery and cafe, and by 2015, she was on her way, as we reported here. 

By July 2015, Johnson and her husband, Brad, were busy with renovation and she was advertising her new business -- called The Party Room -- which was to be located on the west side of main street, next to the U.S. Post Office.

Unfortunately, Johnson ultimately decided it was cost prohibitive to restore the 1870s building -- and her dream of a main street business in Dorchester was never realized.

Today, in 2021, there are reports that renovation of the building continues by its new owners, a Hispanic family with Crete ties. 

We cannot confirm what work has been done or what is planned for the structure. Any insider information may be emailed to the Times (dorchester.times@gmail.com) or left in the comments section below.