Dorchester's Community Clean-Up, Oct. 16-23

It's time to get your property cleaned up -- because the white stuff isn't that far away.

The Dorchester Fall Community Clean-Up will be Oct. 16-23, according to information provided by the village government.

As a reminder, the village's dump site hours will be 

• Saturday, Oct. 16 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Monday - Friday, Oct. 18-22 (1-7 p.m.)
• Saturday, Oct. 23 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)

The dump is closed on Sundays. Call Village Hall at 402.946.3201 if there are questions about accepted items.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Last Weekend To Use Dorchester's Water Park

DHS Volleyball Wins 1, Loses 2 This Week: The DHS volleyball team picked up a win this week, beating Class C2 Shelby/Rising City on Sept. 23 at the High Plains Community triangular. But the DHS dropped two other matches, one to High Plains and another to Osceola on Sept. 21. The Orange and Black Attack is now 3-8 at the midpoint of the season. Next up for DHS is a Saturday, Sept. 25 tourney at Nebraska Lutheran in Waco.

Longhorns Football Team Suffers Loss to Hampton: The Dorchester High School football team's 2021 campaign has struggled due to injured players and a young roster. The squad lost their fourth straight contest on Friday, Sept. 24, losing to Hampton 39-16. The entire game can be viewed here. DHS must now prepare for their Friday, Oct. 1 road contest against a tough Sterling team.

Last Weekend for Dorchester's Splash Pad: Thursday, Sept. 30 is the last day to use Dorchester's splash pad in the city park. After that, it will be shut down until next May. Hours are 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Sept. 29 Deadline to Register For Dorchester's Women's Volleyball

For those interested in participating in Dorchester's women's three-on-three volleyball league, the deadline to register your team is quickly approaching.

Sign-up is open until Thursday, Sept. 29, according to an e-mail sent to the Times. 

Sign-up forms can be obtained at Village Hall, or by clicking here.

Again, the registration forms must be received at Village Hall no later than Sept. 29. Team registration fee is $30. 

League play begins  Oct. 11 at the Dorchester gym and runs until Dec. 13. 

Participants cannot be currently enrolled in high school. Due to COVID-19, only players may attend matches.

FLASHBACK: Dorchester's Old Water Tower Came Down 8 Years Ago

Eight years ago this month, Dorchester's skyline changed significantly when the old water tower -- a Dorchester landmark since the early 1900s -- was taken down in a matter of hours. (In the spring of 2013, the new water tower, complete with modern village logo, had gone up in the southeast corner of the village near the railroad tracks.)

While the new water tower, with its imposing shadow and modern shape, was welcomed by most town residents, in September 2013, we heard several residents talk about how they would miss the old tower's rustic charm and iron grit.

Records show Dorchester's old water tower had been located south of the City Park since the late 1880s. 

It is believed that the old tower was constructed prior to the the passage of Dorchester's $15,000 water works bond in 1914. The exact construction date is unknown due to a 1913 fire that destroyed all of the village records.

Over the decades, the structure had undergone several upgrades and renovations.  

Dorchester leaders decided in 2010 to replace the old tower based on cost estimates to refurbish it, as well as its short life expectancy even if the restoration been completed.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester Street Improvement Plan To Be Discussed Oct. 4

Public Invited to Dorchester Street Improvement Plan Discussion: Dorchester residents may attend the village board's consideration of the community's long-range street improvement plan. The event will be held at the Dorchester Community Hall on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The board will take up a one-year and six-year street improvement program. Any interested person is invited to attend this public hearing and to present pertinent information, data ,or views or to request additional information or background regarding said street improvements plans. The purpose of the hearing is to afford full and complete public knowledge and discussion of the community's street improvements plans prior to adoption.

Pulled Pork Dinner at Methodist Church This Sunday: Tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 19), from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., some seriously good eats will be available for dine-in or take-out at the Dorchester United Methodist Church. Everyone is invited. On the menu will be pulled pork sandwiches, scalloped potatoes and coleslaw, pork and beans, and a delicious homemade dessert. The meal can be picked up at the Dorchester United Methodist Church (612 Lincoln Ave.) or feel free to it it there! For pick-up, call 402-946-3091 or 402-641-5170. Free-will offering.

DHS Volleyball Team Goes 2-0 for the Week: The Orange and Black Attack captured their first two volleyball victories of the season this week, beating rival Friend in four sets and Nebraska Lutheran in five. The young Longhorns are showing big improvements as the season advances. Next up for DHS will be a road contest at Osceola (5-2) on Tuesday, Sept. 21 and a triangular at High Plains Community on Thursday, Sept. 23.

FLASHBACK: DHS Homecoming, 60 Years Ago

Maybe this photo will jog a few memories.

This image is from Dorchester High School's 1961 homecoming -- featuring the homecoming king and queen candidates. 

Thanks to a loyal Times reader for e-mailing this blast from the past.

How many of you can recall when this photo was taken? A couple of individuals on our staff can.

Pictured in this photo, from left to right, are: Jimmy McReynolds, Bill August (No. 11), homecoming king Doug Sysel (No. 10), Dan Tesar (No. 3), Sharon Nohavec, homecoming queen Judy Woehrle, Connie Johnson, and Cindy Drake. 

Once a Longhorn, always a Longhorn.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester School's K-12 Enrollment Up Once Again

Dorchester School Enrollment Sees Third Straight Year of Growth: K-12 enrollment at Dorchester Public School continues to grow, albeit it slowly. The school is currently at 215 students, compared to 204 two school year's ago. (This highlights why Dorchester needs as much housing as possible, including getting families in vacant homes.) Meanwhile, Superintendent Daryl Schrunk is encouraging students to participate in many extra-curricular activities. Schrunk notes that these activities are one of the key advantages of attending a smaller school -- and that some of life's greatest lessons are learned in the out-of-the-classroom activities.

DHS Teams Off to a Slow Start This Fall: Dorchester High School's fall sports season is off to a tough start for both the volleyball and football squads. The very young volleyball team has dropped its first six contests. But this week will give the Orange and Black Attack a good chance at picking up their first win since they'll face 0-5 Nebraska Lutheran on Tuesday, Sept. 14 (away), and 1-4 Friend on Thursday, Sept. 16 (at home). Meanwhile, the football team has lost its first three games and gets a much-need bye this week. Next up is 1-2 Hampton on Sept. 24 (away).

Crete Pumpkin Festival is Fast Approaching: The Crete Great Pumpkin Festival is set for Oct. 2-3. Among the featured activities this year will be: Bouncy ball and pumpkin drops; car show; carnival games; craft show; farmers' market; great pumpkin displays; hayrack rides; petting zoos; live entertainment; pumpkin pie eating contest; scarecrow and pumpkin competitions; and more. See all the information here.

Looking Back: The School Buildings Of Dorchester

Did you know that Dorchester is currently on its fifth school building in the past 149 years. It's true.

More than a decade after the construction of the current Dorchester Public School building, we're taking a look at the history of the structures that have housed our community's educational system.

The first term of school taught in Dorchester occurred in 1872 at a select school held in the McIntyre family home, which happened to be Dorchester's first house and was located near the present Methodist Church. 

Also in 1872, District No. 44 -- the present school district -- was organized, even though there were only 21 children of school age residing in the district.  

Later that year -- nine years prior to Dorchester's official founding -- nearly $3,000 in bonding authority was approved to build Dorchester's first schoolhouse, which was a two-story building. The first floor of the 1872 school was used for school instruction, while the upper level was used for public meetings and worship services. In fact, it was here that the Dorchester Methodist Church first organized around 1874.

By 1879, more than 100 pupils were enrolled in Dorchester Public School. 

By 1883, the town's longest running newspaper -- The Dorchester Star -- was advocating for the construction of a larger school. 

Six years later, in 1889, district patrons approved $12,000 in bonding authority to build a new school that was built in 1890 (pictured above). What a grand structure it was. (It sat where the current new gym is.)

During the 1911 school year, Dorchester was formally organized as a K-12 district. The class of 1914 was the first DHS class to graduate from an accredited twelve-grade high school. 

As more area families placed greater importance on education, the 1926 Dorchester school board voted to build a new school -- just 35 years after the completion of the 1890 school building. The bond election was successful by a two-to-one margin and a new three-story school building was completed in December 1927.  It sat where the current DPS Library is.  (The DHS Class of 2020 was the first class not to have attended school in the 1927 building.)

A large addition to the 1927 school was approved in May 1963 for approximately $300,000. It included the present-day basketball/volleyball gymnasium, cafeteria, hallway classrooms, and music room. 

The 1964 gym and cafeteria are still standing and in use.  Both have been renovated in recent years and look as fresh as the rest of the school building, which was constructed for $4.5 million during the summer of 2008 following overwhelming voter approval.