Dorchester Times: NEWS ROUND-UP: Athletics Honors And Job Openings

Thursday, April 27, 2023

NEWS ROUND-UP: Athletics Honors And Job Openings

Schrunk Honored at Athletic Banquet: This week, Dorchester Public School Superintendent Daryl Schrunk was honored at the DHS athletic banquet for his seven years of leading the school. "Thank you, Mr. Schrunk, for all you have done for Longhorn Athletics and our school," read the school's social media post. As previously reported, Schrunk -- who was hired by DPS in 2016 -- has announced he will resign at the end of June to become superintendent in Randolph, Neb. in order to be closer to his family. Dorchester's next superintendent, Curtis Cogswell, is a veteran school administrator and considered by many educational professionals to be among the state's top 10%, sources say.

School Carnival Next Friday: On Friday, May 5, plan to attend Dorchester's 2023 School Carnival. This free event, open to all ages, will offer fun for the whole family -- with games, face painting, bounce houses, a photo booth, food and more. The event is being organized by the Dorchester PTO.

Village Seeks Full-Time Utility Superintendent: The Times has learned that the Village of Dorchester is seeking a qualified individual to serve as a full-time utility superintendent. This long-term position will supervise and perform duties in the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the sewer and water systems; streets; storm drainage; parks; city equipment; public buildings; heavy equipment operations; and other tasks as assigned for the village government, as well as oversee the assistant utility superintendent and all seasonal employees. Candidate must be in good physical condition and possess a valid Nebraska driver’s license and a clean driving record. State Certification as a Grade 4 Water Operator and a Class L Wastewater Operator license are required (or the ability to obtain proper licensure within a year of employment). Preferences for electrical experience. Pay based on experience and certification. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please contact the Village Clerk at (402) 946-3201 for an application and complete job description or visit the village website. Email dorchesterclerk@gmail.com with questions.

Part-Time Summer Position Available: Know of a college student looking for steady summer work? The Village of Dorchester is looking for a dependable, energetic individual, preferably 18 years or older. A valid driver’s license is required. Work hours are flexible between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Applications must be submitted no later than May 12; forms are available at Village Hall, or on the village website. Email dorchesterclerk@gmail.com with questions.

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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 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.

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: 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."