Marcellus Hartley Dodge Jr.

Summary

Marcellus Hartley Dodge Jr. (July 29, 1908 – August 29, 1930) was the heir to the Remington-Rockefeller fortune. He lived at Giralda Farms in Madison, New Jersey. He died in a car accident in France.[1]

Marcellus Hartley Dodge Jr.
Dodge in 1930
BornJuly 29, 1908
DiedAugust 29, 1930(1930-08-29) (aged 22)
Parent(s)Marcellus Hartley Dodge Sr.
Ethel Geraldine Rockefeller

Life edit

Dodge was born in Madison, New Jersey to Ethel Geraldine Rockefeller and Marcellus Hartley Dodge Sr.[2] He was a grandson of William A. Rockefeller Jr., co-founder of Standard Oil; great-grandson of Remington Arms Company founder Marcellus Hartley; and grandnephew of Standard Oil's other co-founder, John D. Rockefeller. Dodge was often referred to as "Hartley."[3]

Dodge was instantly killed in an automobile accident on August 29, 1930, when his car struck a tree on the Bayonne-Bordeaux road in Mogesca, France. The accident occurred shortly after his graduation from Princeton University in June 1930, where he played football. Two passing motorists, Henri Dupin, and Paul Theau, pulled Dodge's body, and the still living Ralph Applegate, from the burning car. Dodge's carotid artery had been severed, and the car's engine was pushed against the back seat. Marcellus Hartley Dodge Sr. went to the site of the accident, looked at the car, and talked to Dupin and Theau.[3][4][5] Dodge's mother, Geraldine, had sent him there as a diversion from his hobby of aviation, which she felt was too dangerous.[6] Dodge was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Legacy edit

To honor Dodge's memory, his parents funded the Dodge Gateway on Princeton's campus in 1933,[7] and contributed to the construction of the Marcellus Hartley Dodge Physical Fitness Center at Columbia University. Dodge's mother also gave Madison, New Jersey the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building that was dedicated on Memorial Day, Thursday, May 30, 1935 to house its police department.[8] The building later housed Madison's Borough Hall. His mother also donated a memorial to him at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, which was founded with extensive efforts by his father.

External list edit

  • Marcellus Hartley Dodge Jr. at Find a Grave
  • "About the Hartley Dodge Foundation". hartleydodgefoundation.org. Retrieved 2023-02-12.

References edit

  1. ^ "Madison remembered Hartley Dodge on his 100th birthday". NJ.com. August 13, 2008. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  2. ^ "Marcellus Hartley Dodge Dies. Ex-Remington Arms Chairman. Philanthropist Inherited $60 Million". New York Times. December 26, 1963. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  3. ^ a b New York Times. August 31, 1930. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "Names make news". Time. July 16, 1928. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  5. ^ "Killed". Time. September 8, 1930. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  6. ^ "Liner Will Bring Body of M.H. Dodge. Family Secretary Announces Coffin Will Leave Havre on lle de France Thursday. Visits Scene of Accident. Talks With Witnesses of the Tragedy and With Authorities at Magescq". New York Times. September 2, 1930. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  7. ^ "Dodge Gateway". Princeton University. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
  8. ^ "Madison Police Department". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-30.