A Legacy of Care: The Surprising Story of a Building that Served Both Animals and People By: Sophia Lian (A Roslyn Landmark Society High School volunteer)
What is now a medical office building on Bryant Avenue was an animal hospital that served the pets in the community. Even before it was converted into an animal hospital around the 1890s, J.M. Witte utilized the building as a barn or storage space.
Roslyn architect Henry W. Johansen designed the façade for veterinarian Dr. William Dohm. A “Dog Hospital” sign once hung in front of the building. In 1968, the medical building that previously provided assistance to animals, became one that helped people. Under architect Guy Ladd Frost, the animal hospital was transformed into a new medical office building. However, traces of the animal hospital are left in the overall design of the medical building that currently stands. Frost drew inspiration from the Dr. Dohm facade in the construction of the whole building. The original facade was also reinstalled, retaining a part of the original structure.
Learn more: https://www.roslynlandmarks.or...
Sources:
Kroplick, Howard, and Peter Crifo. “Howard Kroplick.” Roslyn Landmark Society, January 1, 1967. https://www.roslynlandmarks.org/profiles/dr-william-dohms-sick-animal-hospital.
1 Comments
I recall Dr. Dohm not so much for his service as a vet, nor my use of same but because of the automobile he drove and parked rear round at the driveway spot to the left ( south side) of his building. It was a 1933 Franklin Olympic 4 door sedan. He bought it new ( most likely at the W, Pase dealership ) Pase had several locations in the NY metro area - one in Huntington where Pase lived and also others ion Brooklyn and N.Y. City.
The Franklin was an air cooled car luxury built in Syracuse, NY from 1902 to 1934. One of the few air cooled cars built in America. Their Olympic model like Dr. Dohm had was a result of the Great Depression - Franklin made the Olympic series car that was another offer to the general public but not quite as costly as its Airman series of cars. ( Charles Lindbergh owned and drove a Franklin and used it to visit his friend in Sands Point , Harry Guggenheim but that is another story) . The Doan car by the time I saw it in the mid 1960s had over 300,000 miles on it. Well worn but still working well . I had a 1931 Franklin with a custom built body on it so was one of the few Franklin owners here on long island that always kept an eye on the Dr.'s car. A teenage girl from Albertson bought Dr. Doan's Olympic Franklin and drove it for several years. It was eventually sold and the last I heard was someplace in southern New England .