Looking Back: Nebraska (And Saline County) In 1861

Not too long ago, we came across an 1861 map of Nebraska -- when the Cornhusker State was still just a territory, not state. (Click on the map for a closer look.)

Just a few years before the 1861 map was printed, the Nebraska Territory had encompassed what is today six or seven separate states. But by the late 1850s, Nebraska had taken the physical form of the familiar shape we call home today.

What makes this 1861 map significant is that even as the U.S. and Confederacy were preparing for war, triggered in part by the Nebraska-Kansas Act, many Nebraska counties had already been formed. In fact, six years before Nebraska would become a state, about half of today's 93 counties were already in existence.

Many of those counties had different names than they have today. For example, today's Jefferson County was Jones County. 

Today's Thayer County was Jefferson County. 

To our north, present-day Seward County was Greene County. 

Saunders County -- which today contains communities like Wahoo -- back then was a large patch of real estate located in the far southwestern corner of today's state boundaries, in the area of present-day McCook. 

Clay County was crunched between Lancaster and Gage.

There were also some counties with some unfamiliar names, like Shorter, Izard, Black Bird, and L'eau Out Court counties. 

And several counties in 1861 had much different geographical boundaries than they do today. Lancaster County, for example, was only half its modern-day size. Same is true for Gage.

But Saline County today is pretty much the same county -- geographically anyway -- that appeared on the 1861 map. That's a bragging right that not many Nebraska counties can claim.

Congratulations, Saline County. You're a true original.

Polka Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, Dance On Jan. 28

Get ready. The Polka Hall of Fame induction ceremony is coming to Tabor Hall on Saturday, Jan. 28.

According to Tabor Hall volunteers, doors will open for this special event at 2 p.m., when the accordian jam begins. 

The inductee ceremony begins at 4 p.m.

A polka dance will be held from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. with the Mark Vyhildal Band and Greg Blecha Band.

A key highlight: Pork, dumplings, sauerkraut, and kolaces will be served.

This one will be well attended, so get there early.

NEWS ROUND-UP: DHS Girls Basketball Team Improves To 8-4

DHS Girls Surge to 8-4: Dorchester's girls basketball team has won its last three contests -- beating Friend, East Butler, and High Plains (Polk-Hordville-Clarks) -- improving to 8-4 on the season. On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Lady Longhorns will face a key test, hosting Class C-2 Cross County (12-3). Meanwhile, with about two-thirds of the season completed, the boys team has struggled with a record of 1-10. The boys did, however, pick up their first win earlier this month against Lincoln's College View Academy. See the schedules for both DHS teams here.

Eastside Bar Publishes Polka Dance Dates: Dorchester's Eastside Bar and Grill has published its 2023 schedule for upcoming polka dances, including one to be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 15. See the full schedule here.

Multiple Lots Still for Sale: According to Realtor.com, more than half a dozen lots are still for sale in the annexed north end of Dorchester. The lots, which are roughly a third of an acre, varying in asking prices between $21,000 and $25,000. Two homes have been built in the annexed area since the development was initiated in 2018. Meanwhile, the Times has been informed that a resident of town who had planned to build on the east edge of Dorchester no longer intends to go forward with the construction, despite taxpayers spending large sums of money to prepare the development. Residents can learn more about Dorchester's housing development plans by attending monthly village board meetings. (The next meeting will be Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Dorchester Community Building.)

Village Board Approves Amended Redevelopment Plan: On Jan. 3, the village board gave its approval to an amended redevelopment plan for Dorchester. In short, the amended plan calls for a cost-benefit analysis, while renaming the development plan to the Village Infrastructure Redevelopment Project. The project will rely on tax increment financing, also known as TIF, to help make new development and upgrades financially viable.

Dorchester Native Doris Eret Richtarik Passes: Rural Dorchester native Ann (Eret) Richtarik, 89, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Lexington with family by her side. Read her obituary here.

New Chapter Begins With New Construction On Main Street

A new chapter has begun for Dorchester's main street.

Just a few months ago, we reported that the old Dorchester Telephone Building -- the neglected, century-old structure that stood on the north end of the village's business district -- had been torn down. 

The telephone building and the lot it stood on had been purchased by Dorchester businessman L.J. Barley in September, according to reports.

At that time, well-informed sources told the Times a new building was planned for the lot, one that could potentially house up to four businesses. 

This week, quick progress has been made on what will be main street's first new-building construction since the construction of the building that housed the Conner Roofing and Gifts back in the late 1970s or early 1980s (currently the site of Tyser's Auto Sales).

According to inside sources, the Times can confidently report that Dorchester's new building will contain the following businesses:

    - R&K Styles salon and barbershop, owned by Shelena Neeman;

    -  A new daycare center (name of the business is unknown), owned by Hannah Marie Railsback.

We have been informed that at least one spot in the building is still available for rent.

Additional information can be emailed to the Times or left in the comments section below this story.

Developing...

Cornhole Shootout Set For Feb. 18 At Tabor Hall

Did you know that the popular lawn game now known as Cornhole was around as early as 1883, originally called "Parlor Quoits"?

Did you know that in September 1974, Popular Mechanics magazine published an article written by Carolyn Farrell about a similar game called "Bean-bag Bull's-eye"?

And did you know the third-annual Cornhole Shootout will be held Saturday, Feb. 18 at Tabor Hall?

Registration will begin at 11 a.m. that day. Shooting starts at 1 p.m. 

There will be a 64 team limit. Players need to be at least 18 years old. Entry fee is $30 per team and there will be a 50% payout. 

Food and beverages will be available.

To register of for questions, call Steve Vyhnalek at 402-641-7061 or Mike Pracheil at 402-641-1921.

NEWS ROUND-UP: Donkey Basketball Returns To Dorchester, Jan. 31

Donkey Basketball Set for Jan. 31: At 7 p.m. on Jan. 31, donkey basketball will return to Dorchester as part of a fundraiser for the Dorchester Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter. The last time donkey basketball made an appearance in Dorchester was 2018, when roughly 600 attended to watch the show. Older readers may recall Dorchester used to host these events long ago. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $7 a piece; tickets at the door will cost $10. Email cassidy.olson@dorchesterschool.org for more details.

Dorchester's Phil Weber Turns 88: Dorchester's Phil Weber recently celebrated his 88th birthday, according to his daughter Lori Weber Schultz. If you see him, wish Phil a happy birthday!

Saline County Sees Success in Latest Drunk Driving Campaign: The Saline County Sheriff's department participated in the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" mobilization campaign from late December to the new year and are calling it a success. During the enforcement period, the sheriff’s office responded to four accidents with no fatalities or serious injuries, and none of the reported accidents were alcohol related. They also reported 22 citations/arrests.

DHS Alumna Marcia Boden Passes: Dorchester-area native Marcia Ann Boden, age 84, passed away Dec. 19 after suffering a fatal aortic aneurysm in Kaiser Hospital, Roseville, California. She was a member of the Dorchester High School class of 1956. Read Boden's full obituary.

Wilber Native Demonstrates Restoring Main Street Can Be Done With Determination

Back in 2016, the Omaha World-Herald covered Steve Ourecky's efforts to renovate and rejuvenate the Fox Hole Tavern -- a fixture on Wilber's main street since the end of World War II.

"Five generations of my family have had a beer there," Ourecky said. "It’s just a piece of the community I didn’t want to see die."

Rural communities need more of the pride demonstrated by Ourecky. We can all learn something from him.

Ourecky’s late grandmother Irma was known as “Mrs. Wilber” for her longtime involvement in the annual Czech festival and the Nebraska Czechs of Wilber, a 60-year-old group that works to preserve Czech heritage through a museum, a cultural center and the annual festival.

Ourecky said that at one time, the tavern had the longest-running contract with Schlitz beer in the state.

The World-Herald story says "Ourecky bought the bar on Jan. 1, and has so far stripped the structure, built before 1888, back to its bricks. He wants to restore it to its glory days in the 1950s. He found an old fox painting that used to hang in the bar, hired a taxidermist to restore old elk and fox mounts that used to hang in the bar, and is re-creating the old wooden booths.

"Ourecky said he’d like to locate one of the old card tables, which, he’s told, had a slate top for scorekeeping and a handy shelf below to park frothy glasses of pivo. A local collector also gave him a batch of Fox Hole Tavern tokens, redeemable for 5 cents apiece, that were used in card games."

“'I’m getting a lot of support from the community,' he said. 'I’m very happy about that.'

"The name of the bar came not from a local critter but from the original owner, who had just returned from World War II, according to Ourecky.

"When asking for a loan from a local banker, he was told to create 'a foxhole that fellow soldiers would want to come back to.'”

This example shows what can be done in Wilber -- and in Dorchester and similar rural communities.

See the Fox Hole article here.

Big Anniversaries For Dorchester Couples

Two Dorchester couples are celebrating really special anniversaries.

Lorraine and Marvin Kohout of rural Dorchester are commemorating their 50th wedding anniversary this Saturday, Jan. 7 with a gathering at Saline Center Hall from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Music will be provided by Angie Kriz and the Polkatoons.

Everyone is invited to the Kohouts' event. The couple requests no gifts. 

Meanwhile, on Dec. 30, Dorchester's Bob and Marva Kasl celebrated their 67th anniversary. Congrats to the Kasl clan on nearly seven decades of marriage.

Readers can alert the Times about special anniversaries and birthdays of Dorchester-area residents by emailing us at dorchester.times@gmail.com.

How Well Do You Know Your Dorchester History?

Dorchester is a community with a deep, proud past.  

When it comes to the history of our community, there is much in our town that we take for granted, and a lot more that most of us with Dorchester ties simply do not know.

The Times staff has compiled a handful of important Dorchester history questions for our readers. See how many you can answer correctly.

1.)  When was Dorchester's main street (Washington Ave.) paved?

2.)  How many newspapers has Dorchester had?

3.)  When did telephone service come to Dorchester?

4.)  How many taverns did Dorchester have in the 1960s?

5.)  Who owned Dorchester's first auto dealer and when?

---------------

Answers:

1.) Dorchester's main street was paved in late April 1936 and opened to traffic again on May 7 of that year.  The funding for the project came mostly from the federal Works Project Administration (PWA) under the Roosevelt administration, which was trying to work its way out of the Great Depression with public works spending. 

2.) Three newspapers have been printed in Dorchester: the Dorchester Star (1870s-1950); the Dorchester Leader (1930s-1940s); and the Dorchester Booster (1941-1946).

3.) Telephone service came to Dorchester in 1905, when 247 phones were installed. The operator and switch board were located in the white building on the north end of main street. In 1952, dial phones came to the community, with 257 dial telephones installed.

4.) In the 1960s, Dorchester was home to three taverns. Other businesses in Dorchester in the 1960s included the bank, two beauty salons, two auto garages, two grocery stores, one mortuary, one produce station, one blacksmith and welder, two farm implement retailers, a laundromat, one meat market, a plumbing and heating serviceman, one restaurant, one variety store, one ceramic store, one drug store, one lumber yard and the Farmers Cooperative.

5.) John Freeouf was Dorchester's first automobile dealer, starting in 1913.  He had to teach his customers to drive with every sale he made.