Powell, the founder of Fredonia Animal Hospital, has retired after 57 years as a veterinarian. He was recently honored at a celebration of his retirement with his family.

Dr. Powell began his career in medicine before he even became a teenager. His mother talked him into seeking a job, and eventually, he worked for Dr. J.C. Turner in Cassadaga through high school.

After he graduated from Cassadaga High School in 1960, Powell attended Cornell University. He earned his degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in 1967 before moving back to Western New York.

Powell worked for a few months in both Cortland and Randolph upon his graduation, but when he visited home for Thanksgiving in the late 1960s, he noticed a for sale sign in the window of a Fredonia building. The location especially, on Route 60, inspired a call to the realtor. Shortly afterward, Powell and his wife, Linda Darling Powell, purchased the building and established the Fredonia Animal Hospital in 1969.

Dr. Josef Powell is shown on the job many years ago.

“I’m deeply appreciative of all the people who have supported me over the years,” Powell said. “The support staff that we’ve had at the office, it’s a small business of people we had who were like family, and that’s the way we liked it.”

Powell’s first large animal client was Leonard Aldrich of the former Aldrich Dairy, while “Cookie” Johnson was his first small animal patient. Over the years, he has seen clients from multiple generations of local families.

“As long as I’ve been here, I’m seeing fourth generations coming into the office. Some of these families have been with me since the beginning,” Powell said.

In recent years, Powell has begun to take a step back from the job. He eventually sold the Hospital to Dr. Jon Redfield, who has continued to operate the facility as Powell reduced his workload over the years. Moving forward, Dr. Redfield, his wife Sharon, and the Fredonia Animal Hospital staff will continue to provide the compassionate care the community has become accustomed to at the Animal Hospital.

“It feels good that it’s going to go on,” Powell said.

Pictured is the original Fredonia Animal Hospital building upon its purchase in 1969.

In addition to his day-to-day professional responsibilities, Powell was also active in the community at various professional organizations, including more than 50 years as a Fredonia Rotarian and as a member of the Chautauqua County Veterinary Association, but Powell is humble when it comes to the impact he had on his community.

“I didn’t walk on water,” Powell joked. “… but I did the best I could.”