Doctor’s House

Stepping back in time, imagine Glendale in 1888. A small town of just 300 souls, nestled amongst citrus groves and strawberry fields. Here, amidst this idyllic landscape, rose Doctor’s House, a Queen Anne-Eastlake style Victorian, built by E.T. Byram. Doctor’s House wasn’t always in Brand Park. Its original location was on East Wilson Avenue, a testament to Glendale’s burgeoning growth. Its unique name arises from a fascinating piece of its history. Four different doctors, each prominent in their time, occupied the house successively in its early years. The first, Dr. Charles Virgil Bogue, even used a room as his office, much to the chagrin of Mrs. Bogue, who preferred patients to enter through the back. Doctor’s House also played host to a captivating figure of the silent film era, Nell Shipman. From 1917 to 1920, she resided here, transforming the home into a haven for herself, her family, and an assortment of animals, including, reportedly, two bear cubs. Imagine her, a pioneering woman filmmaker, walking these very halls. The Dzaich and Kordich families, Croatian immigrants with a compelling story of their own, became the next residents of Doctor’s House. They purchased the home in 1921, splitting it into two residences, and filling it with the warmth of family life for over five decades. They even hosted neighborhood children on their porch, gathered around the Kordich’s radio, listening to tales of The Lone Ranger. Doctor’s House, however, faced a near-demise in 1979, when it was slated for demolition. The newly formed Glendale Historical Society rallied to save the house, securing its donation to the city and undertaking the herculean task of moving it to Brand Park. The move itself was a spectacle, requiring the house to be split in two and transported on flatbed trucks during the dead of night. The restoration that followed was a labor of love, with volunteers meticulously returning the house to its former glory. The octagonal gazebo on the property, a charming addition, wasn’t part of the original house. It was constructed much later, in 1999. Today, Doctor’s House stands as a living testament to Glendale’s rich history, its walls echoing with the stories of doctors, filmmakers, immigrant families, and the dedicated community who ensured its survival.