Is Dorchester Addressing Its Housing Needs?

Five years ago, this blog published the editorial below. It offered a basic plan to address the village's housing situation -- including the need for new and remodeled homes, and doing something about the problem of neglected and vacant homes. 

We're re-running this editorial in March 2022 in hopes of spurring community discussion about the need to aggressively plan for Dorchester's future. This is more relevant than ever considering housing costs and inflation today, as more big city residents look to move to more affordable small towns.

Housing supply (or lack thereof) affects a community's school population, business support, local government revenue, and quality of life. To have a smart housing plan, the entire community needs to care, not just a handful of elected leaders. Read this editorial and provide feedback in the comments section.

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Two things truly define a small town: the character of its people and the quality of its housing.

With that in mind, here's a statistic that should concern Dorchester residents: Nearly 13% of housing units in the community are unoccupied, according to data collected by Sperling's Best Places. 

Some are empty because elderly residents recently passed or are in nursing homes.  Some are neglected properties that have been vacant for some time.  

We've said it before: Nothing is harder on a town than unoccupied homes -- especially deteriorating, hazardous properties (residential and commercial).

Dorchester's population has been stagnant for decades. (At least we're not losing significant numbers, as many small towns across the Midwest.)  But with the significant loss in farm families due to technology over the last 30 years, Dorchester needs to grow to ensure the well-being of its school and its long-term future.

The good news is Dorchester has a lot of hard-working, involved residents who are making positive change.

The bad news is we need more people to help in order to expedite the progress. It can happen.

Positive change should be focused squarely on housing and bringing new, young families to Dorchester. This includes efforts to attract former Dorchester-area residents back here. 

Young families need to be told about (or reminded of) all the benefits of life in Dorchester, from lower taxes, lower housing costs, safer conditions, and better education standards.

Meanwhile, the strong majority of Dorchester homeowners are working very hard to improve their properties. (See our story on recent home improvements throughout town.) What's more, home price appreciation in Dorchester is up 5.40% over the last year.  

Dorchester homes are a source of pride for the vast majority of our town's residents. That is why it is unfair when a handful of severely deteriorating properties threaten either the health of residents or the investments of nearby homeowners.

Here are steps we can all take, as individuals, to make Dorchester even better when it comes to housing:

• Ask Town Representatives to Impose a Blight Tax and Fees on Vacant Properties: Town residents should ask Dorchester Village Board members to consider a blight tax and fee on abandoned properties in town. (Of course, exceptions would need to be made for properties owned by residents in long-term care and in extreme cases of hardship.) Keep in mind that a recent Times survey of readers found that 64% supported the blight tax concept and another 14% said the village board should at least obtain legal counsel and consider whether such a tax makes sense. Village board members need to hear from residents.

• Gather Willing Investors and Create a Plan for New Housing:  Individuals are needed to invest in Dorchester's housing, whether as residents or investors. This includes DHS alumni, families with ties to our town, farmers, business owners, school staff -- they can collaborate and craft a long-term housing plan for Dorchester.  Maybe a townhouse or duplex development makes more sense in our small town today? Perhaps apartments? Those looking for expert housing help can get it from the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD), to study best practices, success stories, programs and ideas implemented by towns of our size.  

• Incentives for School Staff to Make a Home in Our Community: The Dorchester school board could consider providing financial incentives for DPS faculty to reside in town. This makes sense since every teacher and administrator is paid with property tax dollars imposed on residents. While homes are rarely for sale in town, there are plenty of homes that could be renovated if owners had reason to sell. And lots are currently available to build. Renting is also a possibility, since renters make up 20.91% of the Dorchester population, according to Census data.

• Get Help for Those Homeowners in Dire Need:  Nebraska USDA Rural Development recently announced that USDA is seeking applications for grants to make housing repairs for low- and very-low-income rural residents. The grants are being provided through USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program. For those who truly need financial assistance with home repairs, call USDA's Nebraska office at 402-437-5563. Also, the community foundation and Dorchester Methodist Church seem to be logical places to help elderly and impoverished homeowners with clean-up or basic repairs.

Some will say the Times' plan is too simplistic. To those critics, we ask: How is the current approach working? Better yet, share your ideas in the comments section. You may do so anonymously.

Bob Kasl Celebrates 91st Birthday

We've been informed by inside sources that Dorchester's Bob Kasl turned 91 years young this month.  

Happy birthday to one of Dorchester's most active community members and engaged residents, and one of the toughest guys we know.

Just a few years ago, Bob and his wife Marva were honored by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts when they were designated as Nebraska Admirals in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. 

The Kasls were recognized for their decades of dedication and selfless service to the community of Dorchester, including their activities with the American Legion and Jr. Legion Auxiliary.

If you know of any Dorchester residents celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this month, let us know at dorchester.times@gmail.com. If possible, send a photo of the honoree(s).

NEWS ROUND-UP: Dorchester's Brennaly Vazquez Wins State Wrestling Tourney

Brennaly Vazquez Wins Statewide Little Kids Wrestling Tourney: Dorchester's Brennaly Vazquez captured gold at last weekend's Nebraska youth wrestling tournament, sponsored by NEUSAW, a statewide wrestling organization. According the Dorchester Longhorn Wrestling social media page, other Dorchester wrestlers who placed in the top three positions included Bethany Vazquez (2nd place) and Weston Brandt (3rd place). Boone Smith and Wyatt McClintock were both 8th in their divisions. Congrats to these young grapplers!

Dorchester Foundation Sets New Record for Meals Served: The Dorchester Community Foundation Fund reports that it set a new record for number of meals served at last Saturday's annual steak and hamburger feed. "We’re sure the great weather played a part for our large crowd, but we are going to contribute it to our reputation of serving an awesome steak," the Foundation said. Proceeds raised from the feed will go to the new support Nerud Field's new ball field bleachers and shade system.

Stop at DQ in Crete This Wednesday Evening: All area residents are encourage to stop by Dairy Queen in Crete this Wednesday, March 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. to support Dorchester's Post Prom Committee. According to reports, 10% of all proceeds from DQ sales during that time period will be donated to DHS' post-prom activities. 

DVFD Drive-Though Meal is April 2: On Saturday, April 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., you can let the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue cook for you. The volunteers will be serving brisket sandwiches with potato salad and baked beans as a fundraiser -- so donate generously. You can order on site or call ahead at 402-641-7234 or 402-826-7246. More information is here.

Looking Back: Main Street Dorchester, 10 Decades Ago

 

The photos above provide some of the best images that we have seen depicting Dorchester's bustling main street (Washington Avenue) as it appeared in the 1920s. 

The first photo shows the South Side Garage, located on the west side of the block between 6th and 7th Streets. Henry Sehnert owned and operated the garage from 1925 to 1930, before moving to the other side of the street, where he would operate his Ford garage for half a century. The South Side Garage was located near the present-day car wash. 

Today's City Hall can clearly be seen in the photo, looking north. At the time of the picture, the building housed Citizen's State Bank -- Dorchester oldest continuous business, despite the name change.  Also picture are the post office, and the Masonic and Good Fellows Hall (the second floor of today's City Hall and Donna's Hair Creations.)

Other photos published by the Times clearly show Dorchester's former water tower in the background of the South Side Garage. Prior to the 1920s, this area of main street was home to Skinkle Cafe and the H. Oetkin Machine Shop, according to a 1914-1920 map of Dorchester. 

Just north of the machine shop were Ireland's Dry Goods and Grocery and Randell's Shoe Shop. Continuing north up Main Street -- separated by the narrow alley and present-day bank drive-through -- were the Bank of Dorchester and Dr. Waller's Drug Store.  On the east side of the street on the same block sat the Commercial Hotel; Opera House; Cookus Blacksmith; Parker's Cream and Poultry; the Chamber of Commerce; City Hall; Dillon's Blue Front Cafe; and Malek's Butcher Shop.

Dorchester was a hub of business activity and free enterprise. Times' readers would enjoy hearing any residents, past or present, who have heard stories from friends or family about Dorchester in the 1910s, '20s and '30s. 

Looking Back: Dorchester's Racing Pioneers

The Times originally published this post in August 2008. It has been updated with new information.

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Several years ago, a loyal Times' reader e-mail us with the following: "A recent visitor at the Saline County Museum, seeking information on memories of childhood visits with his Dorchester relatives, asked about the famous Dorchester race car from the 1930s."

The car, as he remembered it, was built and raced by Henry "Heinie" Sehnert, Dorchester's longtime Ford dealer, garage owner, and mechanic. We're told the retired car "hung from the rafters of Sehnert's Garage at 8th and Washington for many years."

This particular Times reader, "History Buff," as well as the visitor at the Saline County Museum wanted to know the rest of the story. 

Where was the car raced? Was it a winner? Does anyone have a photo? What became of the car? 

Pictured in this story is Heinie Sehnert and his race car. Today, in 2022, the car is showcased in the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, sponsored by Speedway Motors. 

Sehnert's S7 Race Car was built in 1927 in Sehnert's South Side Garage -- which today is known as the yellow building on main street just north of the car wash. The S-7 had Ford Model T frame rails with a Frontenac overhead valve conversion on a Ford Model T engine, all re-engineered and built by Heinie.

Pictured above is Heinie at his South Side Garage, which operated from 1925 until late 1930, when Sehnert purchased the building at the corner of 8th and Washington Avenue to expand his Ford dealership. (The South Side Garage building would later house Floyd Beck's John Deere dealership, a roller skate rink, and Wanek's furniture warehouse.) Sehnert's dealership and garage were in operation until 1974, when Sehnert retired, according to the Dorchester Centennial history book.

The car itself was actually raced by a young man named Chris Petersen. Petersen would eventually go on to make a sizable fortune at his father's Petersen Manufacturing facility in Dewitt, where the Vise-Grip was produced and patented. Petersen drove the S7 car in a successful racing career at several area tracks. 

Both the engine and the body of the car are reunited at the museum of American Speed. This was a true barn find, according to the museum's social media accounts.  

The curators of the Speed Museum decided to not restore the S7, but to leave it in its natural state. 

For the record, the Saline County Museum visitor who inquired about the car was Wayne Panter of Lubbock, Texas. His Dorchester relatives were John Panter (Dorchester's first real estate agent in 1884-1885); Dr. S. G. Panter (Dorchester's medical doctor from 1909-1933); and Dr. R.G. Panter (Dorchester's pharmacist from 1888-1911).

NEWS ROUND-UP: Cerny Heading To State Speech Contest

Not Too Late to Sign Up for Baseball, Softball: Did you miss the March 1 sign-up for Dorchester youth baseball and softball? Your child can still participate. Sign-up sheets are at the front office of the school. Call 402-946-2781 for more information.

Cerny Earns Spot at State Speech Contest: DHS' Jacob Cerny received first place at last week's district speech contest, thereby earning a spot at the state speech competition. Ashton Jirsa also placed today at districts, taking fourth place in informative speech.

Village Board to Meet Monday: The Dorchester village board meets Monday, March 7 at the Community Building. Discussion on a potential new hire for the village's open maintenance position, as well as future development plans, is expected. (See the board's meeting minutes from past meetings.)

DHS Alumna Lavina Pisar Melichar Passes at Age 100: DHS Class of 1939 alumna Lavina Pisar Melichar passed away Feb. 25 at age 100 on Feb. 25 in Nebraska City. She was born Sept. 28, 1921 in Dorchester to Frank and Anna Pisar. In 1939, Lavina set out on her journey to become a registered nurse and worked at the Crete hospital for decades. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 5. 

Biden's Big (and Getting Bigger) Blunder on Keystone XL: It's hard to believe, but it has been 14 months since President Joe Biden revoked the Keystone XL oil pipeline permit. At the time, with Fox Business reporting from Dorchester's main street, the move seemed like it would impact only only our economy, killing an estimated 26,000 U.S. jobs and harming our nation's energy security. Now we see the move had global implications, as the U.S. exports less oil (and imports Russian and Middle Eastern oil), thereby emboldening Russia and Iran to move on their global agendas. Thanks, Joe.

Home For Sale: 813 Washington 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. On the rare occasion a Dorchester home is listed, most are sold within a week to 10 days. 

Consider what Dorchester has to offer:

• TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL: A new K-12 school with smaller class sizes and some of the state's best educators. 

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

• LOWER COSTS: Affordable living costs with lower property taxes compared to surrounding school districts.

• 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 12 minutes to I-80. Yet all the advantages of a small, close-knit community.

Today we showcase the latest Dorchester home available.

813 Washington Ave.: WELL-CARED-FOR HOME IN THE GREAT COMMUNITY OF DORCHESTER! Here's a nice ranch style home with large rooms throughout. Main floor offers 2 bedrooms, full bath, kitchen, dining, living room and laundry/mud room. The full basement has a large family room with a with fireplace, bar area, remodeled second bath, non-conforming bedroom and second kitchen area. The two-stall attached garage has a bonus tool room and all this is located on a corner lot with a large covered deck on the back. See the listing.