The strength of a small, but proud community
Dorchester has long been a community that is proud of its heritage, its ability to host major events and the amenities that have been offered to Dorchester and the surrounding residents.
Dorchester American Legion
Dorchester has had a long and rich history of supporting military veterans. The Dorchester American Legion has played a large role in supporting and recognizing veterans. However, the first incarnation of a military veteran organization in Dorchester included members of the Civil War. The Howard F. Pruyn Post No. 168 was organized in about 1885 with a charter membership of around 78. The post was organized in about 1885 and lasted until 1927 when the last member of that organization passed.
Prior to Dorchester receiving its own American Legion post, a post was created in Abbotsford. World War I veterans from Abbotsford formed the Charles F. Hanson Post 139 in 1919. The post fell on hard times in 1935 as numbers dwindled and members became inactive. In order to revitalize the post, the Abbotsford post combined with Dorchester veterans to form a newly viable Abbotsford Post 139. The meetings were held in Abbotsford until November of 1938 when Abbotsford numbers dwindled once again and it was decided the meetings would be moved to Dorchester.
Dorchester Village Hall hosted the first meeting and in 1940 it was voted to transfer the post to Dorchester. Despite it being reported in the Dorchester Clarion, it is believed that the transfer was not registered with the state and national American Legion organizations. Therefore, those organizations were not recognized by the state, initially. In 1946, the post was renamed to Leach-Paulson in honor of local youths that had been killed in action during World War II. It was also reorganized as Post 517.
Historian Jim Jantsch posted an update in 2016 about the legion: “To bring everybody up to date, the Dorchester American Post 517 is thriving with 46 members while both the Abbotsford and Colby Legion Posts disbanded in 2014.
“Although there is no excitement to write about as things continue without fanfare. The Dorchester Legion Post continues to provide financial assistance mainly to three organizations: The Wounded Warrior Organization; The Fisher House and the Sacred Highground Veteran’s Park in Neillsville, Wisconsin, which honors veterans from all wars/conflicts.”
Dorchester Park Organization
One attraction that draws people from far and wide is the ability to camp, fish or play at Dorchester Park.
The park didn’t always look as it does now. In 1967, Ted Schwoch Jr. and Bill Pinter looked at a park that was in tatters and decided that the village deserved a better recreation area than they’d had up until that point.
In 1968, the village went through the long process of getting approval at the county, state and federal level to create a dam and lake system. After receiving the approval, funds were donated by the Dorchester Lions Club. Other sponsors included: the Dorchester Fire Department, Leach Paulson Post No. 517, American Legion and the Village of Dorchester.
The excavation of the lake was completed in the spring/summer of 1969 and the dam was closed that fall, creating a system that kept the water from running out of the lake.
Over the next few years, the village added bathroom facilities, a shelter house, swimming pool, picnic tables and landscaping to the park.
The park is in great shape today and still hosts many events including softball and volleyball tournaments, snowmobile races and graduation parties and other various events. The park added an 18-basket frisbee golf course in 2014 and refinished the basketball and tennis courts in 2015.
In the fall of 2023, construction is expected to commence on a Veteran’s Memorial Wall in the northwest corner of the park.
The park is also an essential part of the Dorchester Days, having hosted softball and volleyball tournaments in the past and providing a place for people to camp during the popular event.
The village’s flagship event has been bringing thousands of people to Dorchester since 1958. The event has always been the third weekend in June and began as a fiesta sponsored by the Lion’s Club in the village park across from the post office. The festivities included a parade, barbecue, games and a horse riding contest.
The celebration was moved in 1960 to the south end of Front Street where a whole beef was barbecued and 500 people were fed. The main feature was a horse pulling contest. In 1961, the Dorchester Days name was given to the celebration and the first tractor pull was held.
Over the years, the celebration added new features including a kiddies parade, talent show, white elephant auction, tug-o-war and musical entertainment. Miss Pat Decker was named the first Miss Dorchester in 1966.
Throughout the years, many village residents have volunteered their time and money to make Dorchester Days an annual success.
This year, the celebration was bigger and better than ever. On top of the annual truck and tractor pull, the weekend included music by “Boogie and the Yo-Yoz”, “Rising Phoenix”, “Stray Dog” and “Lonie G” Karaoke, a 150-gun salute by the American Legion and a wood chainsaw carver, comedians Rob Brackenridge and Jonnie W., Fireworks, breakfast in Memorial Hall with a conversation on the history of Dorchester, a Bloody Mary 5k run/walk/crawl, car, truck and antique tractor show, a recipe contest, chicken dinner, rib fest, parade, coin scramble and ATV pulling. Supplementing those events was a carnival with rides and amusements all weekend as well as bingo.
The Dorchester Lions Club got its start in 1956 and has been a longtime supporter of the community in many ways.
The Lions Club in Dorchester began with 28 charter members and Jerry Radlinger served as the first club president. By 1973, the club had 39 members which included seven of the original members. The club raised money for community projects including Dorchester Recreational Park, Dorchester Library, children’s fishing pond, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Santa Claus Day, Halloween parties and athletic teams.
