The sign hanging in front of Dr. Hackett’s office ostensibly tells what is located inside: Alpine Veterinary Clinic, the original veterinary office in Alpine and one of the oldest businesses in town. Office Manager Connie Noble suggests that the sign outside stands for the indomitable spirit of honest and old-fashioned business in the Alpine Community.
Hackett hung up his shingle, a large wooden sign mounted in front of the office shortly after he opened Alpine Veterinary Clinic in December 1975. The original sign stood until this past winter when severe thunderstorms swept through San Diego county and the sign collapsed.
Locals knew that Hackett had suffered a stroke three years ago and, when the sign came down in the storm, office staff started to hear rumors in the community which suggested the business was closing down for good. In reality, although Hackett no longer comes to the office, he still directs the daily workings of the veterinary practice from his home office, taking calls and making business decisions.
Hackett himself had told Noble that when it was all over and he truly was finished with business, he would lock the door and pull the shingle. When Noble turned up at work and found that the original sign had collapsed under the torrential rains, she called the doctor and told him that it was time to decide whether he was going to close the clinic or rally and fix the sign.
Thus, a new sign went up within days to quell any rumors in the community, with help from a caring family.
“It was Tommy LaNier and his family who helped us get the new sign up. The old one lasted 42 years and I tell people that this one is going to last for 84 years because nothing has changed,” insists Noble.
“We have fabulous, wonderful, lifelong clients who see Dr. Hackett as a friend, not just a business owner and a doctor, a veterinarian.
I worked for Dr. Hackett many years ago and at the same time for the Alpine Sun for Bonnie & Fred Teckmeyer