Part 2: History Lost: The Carll-Doscher Homestead

When we signed off last week, Charles Doscher had passed away, leaving his estate in Dix Hills to his widow Alice, who continued to live there.

Alice was particularly involved with the Nathan Hale Garden Club, serving as president for many years.  She was also involved in philanthropy and helped organize fundraisers for many local causes, including Huntington Hospital.  Combining her philanthropic nature and her love of gardening, she opened up her garden on June 27, 1932 for the benefit of the Little Shelter for Friendless Animals.  Her garden was a secret treasure hidden away in Dix Hills, and so I will include the whole description of its wonder.

According to the July 1, 1932 Long-Islander, "The garden was in full beauty of bloom. Approaching from the South one entered a rose garden, the beauty of which took one's breath, through arches of roses a sundial was glimpsed nestled in a bed of English ivy, beyond a long vista of green with a statue of Pan in the distance, an exquisite arrangement." 

The article continued, "From the garden of roses one entered a garden of delphiniums, soft blues blended with deeper purple greeted the eye in a riot of color. Touches of yellow here and there in other blooms and one poppy has opened to challenge the flowers of softer hues, everywhere borders of the imported violet so large that it resembled a purple pansy.  A tall birdhouse rose aloft at the East end and the gardens were alive with song birds and inquisitive chipmunks." 

But the tour of this beautiful garden was not complete, as the article continued: "The garden of blue was left behind, passing through a gate to wide expanse of cool lawn bordered with blue spruce, maples and elms, green rest chairs invite, but too much beauty was beyond to tarry.  A sparkling pool beckoned, Egyptian lilies spread their faces to the sun, and on its surface darting between the lily pads gold fish dispersed themselves in imminent danger of being seized by the bronze heron poised on the brink.  Again the giant blue spruce, weeping beech and other trees gave welcome shade.  There was a world outside somewhere, a road reminded one of this, but the trees did their utmost to hide it and challenge one to forgetfulness.  Leading from the pool beautiful rock gardens boarded a path to the old beautiful home which breathed the sweetness of hospitality.  In the rock gardens were many species of rare rock plants and old fashioned 'Live Forever,' at least that is what joyous children called it appropriately, for the memory of this garden of beauty will live forever in the hearts of all who were fortunate to view it." 

According to her New York Times obituary, Alice was a rose-culture specialist, and from 1930 to 1940 was the Horticultural Society's representative on the Radio Garden Club, "a weekly broadcast that supplied information to gardeners in a period when radio advice in that field was new." 

Alice applied to the Town of Huntington Zoning Board, "for permission to use her property on both sides of Jericho Turnpike for a chicken farm, till the soil for plants and fruit, raise cattle, conduct a nursery and establish a dude ranch," as reported in the June 4, 1942 Long-Islander. 

The property was zoned residential and Alice Doscher wanted them to change it to commercial zoning so she could sell it to a new owner who wanted to operate a commercial enterprise on the property, as was further explained in the June 25, 1942 Long-Islander.  Her application was granted, despite the objections of some other residents.

Just a few months later on October 29, 1942, the New York Times, announced that Alice Doscher has sold the estate and 226 acres to Gasper Mediavilla, a wealthy Fifth Avenue merchant, for a little over $40,000.  The following week, the New York Times reported that an apartment at The Beekman, located at 575 Park Avenue, was leased to Alice Doscher.  She lived there until she died there on September 2, 1977 at the age of 97, as reported in the September 4, 1977 New York Times. 

After leaving her wondrous garden in Dix Hills, she remained active in the horticulture field, and was presented a special award in 1963 for her contributions to the field by the Men's Garden Club of New York.  Her obituary also listed among her achievements: serving as director and secretary of the Horticultural Society of New York, director of the America Rose Society, president of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York State and Chairman of Horticulture for the Second District of the Federated Garden Clubs.

The October 29, 1942 New York Times article regarding the estate sale stated that Mediavilla would use the property as a "gentleman's estate" and not as a commercial venture.  "The new owner will improve the property, place about 75 acres under cultivation and install a stable of saddle horses.  Besides the house, the property has a superintendent's cottage, barns, garages and other buildings."

By November of the following year, Gasper had moved in and was ready to get rid of much of what remained on the estate.  An auction was announced in the Long Islander on November 4, 1943 of items including, "cows, heifers, horse, mule, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, truck and tractor and farm implements."

In the early hours of March 9, 1948 the Greenlawn firemen spent five hours trying desperately to battle a fire that would claim the 17-room 200-year-old Carll house. According to the March 11, 1942 Long-Islander, "The greater part of the house was burned through from the first floor to the roof and the loss includes destruction of furniture as well as smoke damage to the east wing of the building." 

A driver on Jericho Turnpike noticed the fire just after midnight and called the police. Fortunately the Mediavilla family had gone back to the city for the week and was not inside.  Unfortunately, this meant that the 10-foot iron fence surrounding the property was locked and the fireman had to use a truck to pull the gate free in order to get the fire-fighting equipment onto the grounds. Despite this hard work, the historic house was lost but Gasper Mediavilla announced he would rebuild a new house on its location.

He rebuilt and operated an apple orchard on the property from 1959 until his death on January 8, 1974.  Today it is still owned by his daughter and still operated as an orchard.