Dr. Frederick Paulding Dodge (1859-1937)

He was the first child ever born in the military barracks at West Point, and a great-grandson of William Paulding, twice Mayor of New York and the builder of Lyndhurst. As a teenager, he began to gain attention as a youthful Hamlet, and for professional purposes, he adopted his mother's maiden name. One of his early successes was as Romeo to Margaret Mather's Juliet. This production had a long run in New York and then played for two seasons on tour. Another important engagement was as Captain Absolute in a presentation of "The Rivals," the cast including Joseph Jefferson, Mrs. John Drew, William J. Florence, Viola Allen, Edwin Varry and George Denham. He next played Cassius to the Brutus of Richard Mansfield, but from 1910 devoted himself to readings and dramatic recitals. For years thereafter he gave one-man performances in schools, colleges and clubs across the country. For a long period he gave regular dramatic recitals at the old Waldorf-Astoria (and later at the Plaza), in Greenwich (Connecticut), and for many years he made a regular Western tour in February and March. He did not confine himself entirely to the drama in his repertoire, but included readings from Dickens, Browning and some Americans, among them Willa Cather. 

For his contributions to the drama, Dr. Paulding received the degree of Doctor of Letters from Holy Cross College. He had a fine library on the theatre and had a collection of mementos of old actors. He never married and resided with a cousin, Miss. Fannie A. Wood, at 15 East Newell Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey.