ID: ind03649
Name: Douglass Cadwallader FONDA
Given Name: Douglass Cadwallader
Surname: Fonda
Sex: M
Birth: 07 JAN 1894
Death: 03 NOV 1977
Age: 83y 9m 27d
Note: b. Orange, NJ; 1900 & 1910 US Federal Census, Orange, Essex Co., NJ; 1920 Manhattan/Bronx (NY) City Directory (Fonda, Douglass C - clk Guaranty Trust Co); 1925 New York City Directory (Fonda, Douglas - sec-treas H E Seymour & Co Inc Long Beach NY); 1930 US Federal Census, West Orange, Essex Co., NJ; 1940 US Federal Census, Manhattan, New York Co., NY (Douglass C Fonda, b. 1897, NJ, Head, Verna H); 1944-1954 Stamford CT City Directory (Fonda, Douglass C - pres Fonda Gage Co); SSDI Fort Lauderdale, Broward Co., FL; Club Polo Player, regional events; winner of numerous Motor Boat Regattas in the 1930's on the Potomac River, Lake Geneva, et al.; was National Champion at same in 1937. In 1923, while driving his car in Brooklyn, was nearly killed by a two-car elevated train which fell on the hood of his car, just after he slammed on the brakes and jumped out. He helped pull a dozen people out of the train compartment to safety before police arrived. 2nd marriage to Verna Hoover ended in a highly-publicized divorce in 1951. Founded the Fonda Gage Company, manufacturer of oil well equipment; [Ellis Island Passenger Records: Douglas Fonda; 1907; Ryndam; Rotterdam, South Holland, The Netherlands; US citizen]; o. Banker, Sportsman, Manufacturing Executive (president, Fonda Gage Co., Stamford, CT); [New York Times: Jun 26, 1921 - SAW THE TRAIN FALL ON TOP OF HIS AUTO - Driver of Machine jumped From Under as Cars Toppled to Street. - STORIES OF EYEWITNESSES - Train Made a Nose Dive Like a Falling Airplane, Says One. Nobody had a better view of the Brooklyn elevated wreck yesterday or came closer to it as a bystander than Douglas C. Fonda of Llewellyn Park, West Orange, N. J., whose automobile was stopped by the first car of the train falling squarely across the hood. The escape of Fonda and his friend, James Menkes of 1,430 University Avenue, the Bronx, from death was one of the most remarkable of the afternoon. Fonda was driving, on his way to Manhattan. The car was a Dodge; one of the wagons used on big estates to meet trains and get baggage. He heard a grinding sound and heard the sizzling of crossed electric wires while a short distance from the tracks. He said he jumped before the train fell, although others who saw him said he sat in the car a few moments afterward, apparently dazed. "I was going about ten miles an hour," said Fonda, "and knew that the car couldn't gather enough momentum to shoot past the elevated structure in time to prevent my car from being smashed. The train was beginning to topple when I jammed on my brakes, yelling to my friend. It wasn't three seconds until the first car of the train was resting on the hood and front dart of the top of the car. We ran about forty feet after jumping from the auto and when we turned around the two-car train was lying on the ground. "Hearing the cries of the people inside the cars we went back, and with others helped pull out several of those in the cars. I must have helped ten or twelve out before the police shoved us out of the way. I pointed to my car and told the officer that it was mine. And the officer said, "Well, what can be done?" Lewis C. Awell, 45 years old, of 844 President Street, Brooklyn, President of the Lewis C. Awell Company, manufacturers of paints and varnishes, was one of the passengers on the first car. He had been reported dead by the police, but was found at his home, suffering from internal injuries and many cuts. His daughter said he could not tell his story, but said: "My father was on the way to Jamaica to confer with business associates. He was riding in the rear part of the first car when it left the track and fell to the street. We lost consciousness, but after being taken out of the debris by a patrolman he was identified through cards he carried and sent home. He had in his pockets SR00.000 worth of securities. He has been badly injured, but we hope for his recovery." One of the unusual escapes was that of A. M. Pear, a merchant of Asbury Park, who was in the rear car near the front door. "There were about thirty people in our car." he said. "We were coming along Flatbush Avenue at a fair rate of speed. Just as we reached Atlantic Avenue, there was a grinding noise, which I later learned was the applying of the brakes. The car lifted to the right. There was a little girl about 14 years old sitting beside me. She became hysterical and she rushed toward the window. I grabbed her and said, 'Don't jump.' There was a blinding flash, and the car was filled with a dense pungent odor. It was all over in a second. We hit the ground with a terrible thump...]; [U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 - Douglass Cadwallader Fonda - b. 7 Jan 1896 - Orange, NJ; res. New York City, NY - White; emp. Douglass C Fonda Co.; contact: Captain Robert L Crandall - Valdosta, GA; phys. 5' 10" ht. - 175 wt. - Brown eyes - no abnormalities]; [U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 - Name: Douglass Cadwallader Fonda; Birth Date: 07-Jan-1896; Birth Location: Orange, New Jersey; Passport Issue Date: 17-Jan-1925; Residence Location: Monla of Fum Ugmore, New York]; [Upsets Mark Brilliant Regatta at west End Boat Club - Chester Times, Chester, Pa., Monday, August 17, 1936 - Sensational Field - Mullen's victory was thus confined to the Class C race, where he captured both heats from a sensational field that had 14 starters, including such famous drivers as Fred Jacoby, Jr, leading American pro driver; Douglas C. Fonda, of Orange, N. J., and Tommy Tyson, Chestnut Hill youngster. The wind swept course and the choppy waters caused a number of accidents. Two boats ran wild, one of them sinking to the bottom, later to be recovered with grappling irons by Nip Pace of the West End Club. That craft was the Mickey Mouse, owned by C. Mulford Scull, of Atlantic City. The Miss Ricochet V, tossed her driver - Douglas C. Fonda, at the start of one of the heats and ran wild. For a time the runaway stayed on the course and about a half mile up the river veered sharply to the right, going dangerously near the many craft and finally standing on end in about the middle of the river The boat was undamaged and was easily recovered. Aside from the spill, Fonda had a big day. He captured the Class A crown, placed second in both the B and C events on points, and might have added more points in the Class P race if his boat had not behaved so unruly. Fonda defeated two favorites to win the Class A. honor; Tommy Tyson, Intercollegiate champ, and C. Mulford Scull, who's boat went to the bottom. Tyson was shut out for the day and failed to gain in the seasonal scoring in which he was one of the leaders.] >> www.fonda.org <<
Father: Harry Beadle FONDA b: 14 FEB 1866
Mother: Selina Hetherington CADWALLADER b: 23 DEC 1871
Marriage 1
Margaret NICHOLS b: 23 AUG 1896
- Married:
1921
Religious Marriage
- Married:
- Divorced:
- Note: wedding date estimated
Children
 Douglass Cadwallader FONDA Jr b: 30 NOV 1922
Marriage 2
Verna HOOVER b: 10 SEP 1902
- Married:
11 FEB 1939
- Divorced:
1951
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Home Page: Fonda Family Genealogy
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