Résumé

Partner, [Frank B.] Gibson, Dorn and [Albert G.] Slocum, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1888. In 1888, their office was at 838 Temple Street.

Principal, Fred R. Dorn, Architect, Los Angeles, CA; in 1903, Dorn rented Room 232 of the Douglas Building in Los Angeles;

In a short profile of Dorn in 1895, the Los Angeles Herald said: "Mr. Dorn has been a resident of Los Angeles for nine years, and has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession about six years. At the present time, he has in hand several structures, notable among which may be mentioned a three-story brick lodging house for A.F.M. Strong at the corner of Fourth and Hill streets, to cost $17,000; a three-story commercial block for Marsh & Gage, on Third street, to cost $8500, and a family hotel for P.A. Gama, 58 by 155, to contain stores below and 65 rooms above, and to cost $30,000, which is being built at Seventh and Olive streets. Besides these Mr. Dorn designed Gray Gables, corner of Seventh and Hill; the residence of Rev. A.C. Smithers, 1147 South Hope street; the residence of Frank Humphreys, 3217 Grand avenue; the residence of W.H. Routzahn, Grand avenue and Jefferson streets; the residence of T.W. Phelps, Ninth and Providence; the A.F.M. Strong residence, 838 Alvarado; the J.C. Michener residence, 1501 Grand avenue; the Geo. P. Allen block, 238 and 240 East First street; the Owens Bros.' block, Broadway, between Third and Fourth; the Christian church, Eleventh and Hope; the residence of W.W. Howard, Adams and Hoover streets. It is needless to say that he enjoys a large and lucrative business. The work of his office has increased rapidly during the activity which has marked real estate improvement in the city during the past year." (See "Hallett and Pirtle Block," Los Angeles Herald, vol. 44, no. 115, 08/04/1895, p. 6.)

Relocation

Rufus H. Dorn, Frederick's father, moved the family within New York State during the 1860s-1880s, before resettling in Los Angeles, CA, by the mid-1880s. Like his three older siblings, Frederick had been born in Port Henry, NY, in the east-central part of the state on the shore of Lake Champlain. This town had been settled by the mid-18th century, and became a lumber milling and shipping port as well as an iron-ore production center. The Dorns lived in Port Henry from at least 1858 until 1866.

The NY State Census of 1875 listed Rufus Dorn, his wife Maria, and their four children--Mary, Charles, William and Frederick--dwelling in Rochester, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1875 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 08/24/2023.)

By 1880, the family had resettled in Saratoga Springs, NY, where Rufus established a practice. They resided 43 Park Place according to the 1880 US Census. The household consisted of Maria, Wallace and Fred. Wallace and Fred were still in school. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Saratoga Springs, Saratoga, New York; Roll: 929; Page: 495B; Enumeration District: 089, accessed 08/24/2023.)

Dorn relocated to CA by about 1886. (See Harold Kirker, California's Architectural Frontier, [Salt Lake City: Gibbs M. Smith, Incorporated, 1986], p. 207.) In 1888, Dorn resided at 838 Temple Street in Downtown Los Angeles, CA. He registered to vote on 06/16/1888, and lived with his brother William Wallace Dorn, a carpenter, and father Rufus H. Dorn, also an architect, at the same Temple Street residence. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 977994, accessed 08/23/2023.)

In 1887, Rufus Dorn designed the Rochester, a large Second Empire dwelling at 1012 West Temple Street. It is not clear if this was the same building as 838 Temple Street noted as the residence of the Dorns in 1888. As noted by Los Angeles historian Floyd B. Bariscale, this three-floor dwelling eventually became an apartment house owned by the Van Nuys Family. The preservation of the house in the 1960s and 1970s became the subject of litigation with the end result being that it was razed by 1979. (See Floyd B. Bariscale, Big Orange Landmarks.com, "No. 11 - West Temple Apartments (The Rochester)," published 04/05/2007, accessed 08/24/2023.)

Frederick dwelled with his father and mother at 1121 Maple Avenue in Los Angeles, CA, according to 1892 CA voter records. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1892; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 976929, accessed 08/24/2023.)

In 1903, Dorn lived at 414 East 27th Street in Los Angeles. He remained living at this address in 1908. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1908, accessed 08/24/2023.)

The 1920 US Census noted that Fred lived with his wife and son Paul A. Dorn at 1126 4th Avenue in Los Angeles. At the time, another family roomed with the Dorns, the Mosers. They included Jeff C. Moser (born c. 1892 in CA), Grace C. Moser (born c. 1892 in CA), and their two children Barbara Moser (born c. 1915 in CA) and Majorie Moser (born c. 1916 in CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 63, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_107; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 180, accessed 08/24/2023.)

The architect died in Redlands, CA, on 05/19/1934, about a month before his 68th birthday.

Parents

His father was the architect Rufus Herrick Dorn (born 09/17/1830 in Florida, NY-d. 02/05/1911 in Los Angeles, CA). The majority of his career was spent in NY State, but he did work as a contractor according to 1892 Los Angeles voter records.

His mother was Maria Louisa Rice (born 05/13/1831 in Montreal, QC, Canada-d. 01/09/1901 in Los Angeles, CA). Maria's parents were Appleton Rice (born 09/21/1797 in Petersham, MA-d. 1862 in NY) and Mary Meacham (born 04/10/1805 in Argenteuil, QC, Canada-d. 07/24/1855 in Moriah, NY).

Frederick Dorn had three siblings: Mary Elva Dorn Slocum (born 09/11/1857 in Port Henry, NY-d. 08/29/1939 in Los Angeles County, CA), Charles Herrick Dorn (born 07/31/1860 in Port Henry, NY-d. 09/08/1939 in Los Angeles County, CA) and William Wallace Dorn (born 12/02/1862 in Port Henry, NY-d. 03/21/1937 in Los Angeles County, CA).

Both Charles and William worked as carpenters in Los Angeles, CA.

William married Martha Helen Kinney (born 05/14/1866 in Atchison County, KS-d. 01/31/1923 in Los Angeles County, CA)

Spouse

Frederick Dorn married Alice Dunford Austermell (born 06/30/1870 in IL) on 02/08/1894 in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 08/24/2023 and History of the Bunn Family of America, James Alfred Ellis, ed., [Chicago: Romanzo Norton Bunn, 1928], p. 157.)

An article on Alice Austermell appeared in the Los Angeles Examiner, 07/04/1904, p. 5, with a portrait.

The 1920 US Census indicated that Alice Dorn worked as a singer in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 63, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_107; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 180, accessed 08/24/2023.)

As a widow, Alice Dorn lived at 1126 4th Avenue in 1939. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1939, p. 607.)

Children

Alice and Frederick had three children: Genevieve Alice Dorn Kerrigan (born 02/03/1896 in Los Angeles, CA), Paul Austermell Dorn (born 02/26/1898 in Los Angeles, CA-d. 12/01/1966 in Los Angeles County, CA) and June Marion Dorn (born 09/18/1900 in Los Angeles, CA-d. 06/27/1902). (See History of the Bunn Family of America, James Alfred Ellis, ed., [Chicago: Romanzo Norton Bunn, 1928], p. 157.)

Biographical Notes

As per Los Angeles County voter registration records of 1892, Fred Rice Dorn stood 5-feet, 10-inches tall and was Caucasian with a "fair" complexion. His eyes were listed as gray and hair brown, and the voter document indicated that he had a "scar on right thumb." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1892; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 976929, accessed 08/24/2023.)

Voter records of 1908 indicated that Fred Dorn was registered as a Republican. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1908, accessed 08/24/2023.)