Oceanside remembers an important woman

The Oceanside community has a history of producing and supporting female candidates for elective office as recently seen in its support for Town Supervisor Kate Murray and County Legislator Denise Ford’s in their respective re-elections. On more local levels, over the years the Oceanside community elected individuals such as Kathryn P. Strang , Rita Trenz, Clementine O’Brian, Helen Sullivan, and Georgianne Paruch to various public offices.

While largely forgotten over the years, former Oceanside resident Jeanne Marion Doane was an influential political figure in the early 20th Century. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Doane moved to the United States when she was 10 years old. She spent her early years in the United States working in Manhattan sweatshops before getting an opportunity to become a secretary. She worked as a secretary for the United States District Court in Brooklyn before becoming a confidential secretary for John Archbold at Standard Oil and New York City Mayor William Gaynor. Doane also studied law and, at 34 years old, was admitted to the New York Bar in 1908.

Doane purchased a farm in Oceanside on the Domar Canal and quickly became involved in local affairs. Along with her son, Doane founded Domar Developers, Inc., with an office at 9 Park Place in Long Beach. As president of the company, Doane used her business to benefit the community. For example, shortly after South Side Hose Co. No. 2 was founded, Doane – through Domar Developers – not only leased the land to the fire company on Oceanside Road near Alice Avenue to build a fire house for only $1.00 a year in rent, she also donated $2.00 to the firehouse to cover the cost of the first year’s rent and an option to purchase the land. Domar Developers later donated nearly 40% of the cost to purchase the property to the fire house when it exercised its option.