Augustus 'Gus' Gondolf Sr.

Augustus Edwin “Gus” Gondolf Sr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 8, 1892. His father, Edward Gondolff was the son of Peter Gondolff Sr., who brought his family to the United States from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. The family first settled in Pennsylvania. Most of the Gondolff sons dropped the second “f” during their early years in the United States. In the 1890s Edward Gondolff, the only son who did not change his name, came to Camden and became the owner of 409 Market Street, adjacent to the Temple Theater, where he ran a bar and restaurant known as the Temple Saloon and later as the Temple Bar & Hotel. It was here that Gus Gondolf (who DID drop the second “f”) grew up.

Gus Gondolf apprenticed as a stationary engineer on coal furnaces, and seeing which way the wind was blowing, became one of Camden’s first auto mechanics. By 1917 he owned his own garage. At that time he and his wife Winifred resided at 414 Beckett Street in South Camden with their two sons, Edward and Donald. A third son, Augustus E. “Gus” Gondolf Jr. was born on March 29, 1918.

During the 1920s the Gondolf family moved to Parkside, residing at 1462 Belleview Avenue. By 1942 he was working as the Superintendent of the New Jersey state motor vehicle inspection station at 1140 Wright Avenue. Tragedy struck the Gondolf family in December 7, 1944 when oldest son Edward Gondolf was killed in action during the fighting around Lemberg, France.

Gus Gondolf Sr. died in 1951 and was buried at Harleigh Cemetery. His wife, last a resident of Somerdale NJ, joined him in 1976.

Edward Gondolf, proprietor of the Temple cafe and hotel at 407 Market street, died early this morning at Cooper Hospital from penumonia after an illness of ten days.

Mr. Gondolf, who was 48 years old, came to this city about twenty years ago from Philadelphia and began business at 409 Market street. After remaining there a few years he purchased the lot adjoining and built the present place of business. He was a member of Mozart Lodge of Masons, Siloam Chapter, R. A. M.; Camden Forest, No 5, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and Camden Lodge of Elks. No arrangements have been made for the funeral. He is survived by a widow and two children.

Gus Gondolf and co-workers at the N.J. Auto Inspection Station — 1140 Wright Avenue, Camden NJ.

A Barrington man went to county jail for 30 days after Judge Dzick ruled him guilty of passing worthless check for rental of an auto.

The sentence— 30 days and $25 fine— was imposed on Ralph Visco, 35, of 338B Barrington Manor Apartments. Visco, police said, operates a filling station at 100 Grove Street, Haddonfield.

He was arrested on complaint of Augustus Gondolf, manager of an auto rental agency, 35 North 5th Street. Gondolf charged Visco tendered him a worthless check for $178 last December 10.

When arraigned today, Visco told Prosecutor Anthony Lario he wanted to make restitution and took a check from his pocket.

Dzick said he thought Visco had “a lot of nerve offering to make good on a bad check with another check” and added:

“I’m getting a little tired of persons passing worthless checks and I don’t care whether the checks are made good later … the crime occurs when the check is first passed.”

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Alexander Chambers; 50, of 635 North 5th Street, was held for grand jury action, charged with rape on a 14 year-old girl. He pleaded not guilty, Chambers was arrested on a complaint of the girl’s mother.

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Judge Dzick fined two men $10 each for assault and battery. Fined were John Tubman, 635 Locust Street, and James Jones, 238 Chestnut Street.

The home of the Gus Gondolf Sr. family, in Camden’s Parkside neighborhood, not far from Camden High School, and Farnham Park.

GONDOLF—In sad and loving memory of Edward R. Gondolf, who was killed 3 years ago, December 7, 1944.

My heart cannot tell what to say;
God alone knows how I miss him.
In a home that is lonesome today.
The depths of sorrow I cannot tell;
And while he sleeps a peaceful sleep,
His memory I shall always keep.

Sadly missed by his wife, Sally Gondolf.

GONDOLF—Private Edward Ray. In loving memory of our dear son, Edward, who gave his life at Lemburg, France on December 7, 1944. “In our hearts he lives always.” Deeply missed by Mother and Dad, Don and Gus and Grandma Gondolf.

Thanks to Lynne Gondolf for her help in creating this page.