Oceanside’s own Susan B. Anthony

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 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 a year in rent, she also donated $2 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 percent of the cost to purchase the property to the fire house when it exercised its option.

A natural and forceful public speaker, Doane became a spokesperson for the New York suffragist movement. The Empire State Campaign Committee sent Doane all over the state to speak on behalf of equal voting rights for women and against child labor. Doane believed that her personal experiences made her an effective and persuasive speaker on these issues. While Doane was generally treated with respect, she often spoke to hostile crowds; Doane frequently spoke of the time when a baseball was thrown at her during one of her presentations.

Doane’s outspokenness and visibility led to her being a Democratic candidate for the New York State Assembly in 1926. Doane’s political platform largely mirrored her strong support of the policies of then-Governor Al Smith. Despite being in a heavily Republican district, Doane ran against incumbent Assemblyman Edwin W. Wallace. Doane surprised no one when she challenged Wallace to three outdoor debates to be held every night throughout the district during the last two weeks of the election. Despite her efforts, Doane was defeated in the election by Wallace, who had previously served as both a village trustee and mayor of Rockville Centre.

Doane remained active in politics. She became a Democratic State Committeewoman and the Vice-Chairperson of the Nassau County Democratic Committee. Doane was an ardent supporter of Governor Smith’s presidential run in 1928. Over the years, Doane continued to be a featured speaker for organizations throughout the state while keeping her Oceanside farm as her home. Even after she eventually sold her farm, Doane continued to live in the area until her death.

Based on her abilities as an attorney, businesswoman, orator and politician, Doane’s actions likely helped pave the way for other women to succeed. While many of her ideological positions were contrary to the events that occurred in Oceanside during the 1920s and 1930s, Doane likely had her opinion heard in the debates involving the community’s governmental and organizational structures, business and political affairs, and overall development. Despite her efforts, thus far Doane’s legacy does not reflect her accomplishments; rather, Doane has fallen into relative obscurity. And while she deserves better — like so many other individuals whose efforts helped shape our community — Jeanne Marion Doane is just another Oceansider lost in history.

Seth J. Blau is Vice President of the Oceanside Education Foundation (OEF), a non-profit organization with goal of helping students of the Oceanside School District obtain a sense of local history by discovering, preserving and displaying the history of our community. Anyone who wishes to share stories, memories and experiences involving life in Oceanside is welcome to contact OEF at 145 Merle Avenue, Oceanside, NY or oef@schoolhousegreen.org.