DORCHESTER, Neb. (KOLN) – The traditions surrounding weddings and funerals have shifted over the years, and the Saline County Museum in Dorchester is showcasing those changes with a new exhibit.
We spoke with Laurie Deibert, who explained that the museum’s “chapel building” has recently been renovated and upgraded with climate control, an important addition for preserving artifacts.
“This building was constructed in 1974,” Deibert said. “It’s recently been modernized with a brand new roof, new ceiling, paint and most importantly air conditioning and heat. Lots of volunteer time went into the renovation of this chapel building.”
Deibert noted that the chapel focuses on major life events often tied to the church.
“We have a lot of clothing artifacts here, because this is one of the few buildings that we have that is climate controlled, ” said Deibert. “We have a funeral display, we have different people who are funeral directors featured, and we highlight some of the rituals that have to do with death. We also have a wide variety of wedding dresses, and many of the artifacts here comes from different churches in the county, such as churches in De Witt, Crete and we have Dorchester hymnals and family Bibles.”
The chapel’s altar, pulpit, and pews came from a church in De Witt, while the baptismal font was donated from a Catholic church in Crete.
“I think this is important to display because our rituals are changing,” Deibert said. “Things that they did in the 1900s are much different than what they do now. The history and how that affects everyone no matter what age you are makes a big difference.”
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