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Sep 05
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Daniels went down to Fonda
Concert among events at fair
September 5, 2010 By AMANDA WHISTLE, The Leader-Herald
Charlie Daniels plays his fiddle during the song “Devil Went Down to Georgia” during his concert at the Fonda Fair on Saturday.
FONDA, NY – With the stroke of a bow on a fiddle, a crowd in the sold-out arena at the 169th Fonda Fair knew what Charlie Daniels was going to play next. The unmistakable notes followed by the unforgettable lyrics, “The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal,” and with that the crowd rushed the stage for the classic they’d been waiting for all night. Seating for 2,000 people was set up in the Arena between chairs and bleachers. The show sold out shortly after 7:30 p.m. as people took their seats in anticipation of one the fair’s most well-known bookings to date. Tickets were sold in advance at Price Chopper and at the door.
As Daniels walked to the stage dressed in blue jeans, boots and cowboy hat, fans lined up along the ropes raising their cameras and cell phones hoping to get a nod and a photo from the legendary fiddler. Sue Yamrozy of Scotia got to the show early enough to snag a seat in the front row for her first time to see the Charlie Daniels Band live. This year also marks the first year Yamrozy has attended the Fonda Fair. “It was something to do on a Saturday night,” she said, adding that the $20 charge to see an American legend was a steal.
For 9-year-old John Cressy of Glen, who plays the fiddle, seeing Charlie Daniels was the highlight of the fair. John, donning his cowboy hat and a red handkerchief around his neck, is a fair regular with his family, who are members of 4-H and compete in many of the livestock competitions and horse shows. “This is awesome,” said his mother, Margie Cressy. “It’s Charlie Daniels right here in Fonda.”
Daniels played a variety of classic favorites, including “Long Haired Country Boy” and “The Legend of Wooley Swamp.” Drummer Pat McDonald also stole the show for about 10 minutes with a solo. “Here’s a small gesture of thank you,” Daniels said as he played “In America” for the those in the U.S. Armed Forces after saying the pledge of allegiance. This year’s Fonda Fair Junior Princess, Tiffany Sargalis, looked forward to meeting Daniels all week, her mother, Wendy Sargalis, said.
All of the winners in the pageant are invited to meet the fair’s Saturday night performers each year. Wendy said Tiffany’s sister, Kimberly, met Trent Tomlinson when she won Junior Princess in 2005 and Tiffany remembered the excitement. Kelly Knoop of Fort Plain and her friend, Nicole Casolari, both 23, also had passes to meet Daniels and said he seemed like he was just excited to meet them as they were to meet him.
“He was very polite. It was wonderful,” said Casolari, of Rochester. “I let him know I think I’ve been listening to his music my whole life and he said ‘I think I’ve been playing music since before you were born.'” Knoop said though past acts at the fair have been great, the Charlie Daniels Band is legendary. “It’s a huge deal for us,” she said. “Others have come here, but he’s a legend.”
Daniels said before the show that meeting fans is something he looks forward to at each show. “Every night before we play we have a meet and great,” Daniels said. “I always enjoy that.” As for Daniels’ favorite song to perform, he said he loves them all.
Saturday was “Country Folks Day” and also featured open gymkhana, 4-H livestock shows, the 4-H aerospace exhibition and rocket shoot and a demolition derby. The Fonda Fair continues today with fireworks tonight at 10 p.m. The last day is Monday with a parade scheduled at noon.
Amanda Whistle covers Montgomery County news. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com
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Jul 21
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Church to be Demolished to Expand Store
WNYT-TV, Albany, NY – 07/20/2010 – Subrina Dhammi
170-yr-old Church in Fonda to be Demolished
Fonda, NY – For the first time in about 170 years, there will no longer be a place of worship at 42 W. Main Street in Fonda. In 1842, a group of methodists built a small wooden church at that address. It was so popular, they had to expand a year later. “Then on April 12th, 1912 there was a fire that started in the drug store next door,” said Fultonville Village Historian, Ryan Weitz. He’s also the unofficial Historian for the village of Fonda. Weitz is putting together a piece on the history of the old church. At 18 years old, he’s the youngest Historian in New York State. He was appointed to the position when he was 15 years old.
After the fire, Weitz says the church was built again, this time it was brick. The building was vacant from 1967 to about 1986, when the Village Bible Church bought it. Then in 2005, the House of Zion moved in. Today, the stained glass windows on the historic structure are gone. Tarps flap in the wind, covering the openings. The doors are locked. And the sign displayed, letting everyone know what kind of church this is, is gone.
On Monday, the entire building is expected to come down. “It’s a shame to see an old building like this be torn down for the expansion of a gas station and small convenience store,” said Weitz. The Stewart’s store two doors down at 38 W. Main street is often congested. The parking lot is small and gas pumps cramped. Stewart’s approached the land owners of 40 W. Main Street, and 42 W. Main Street, which is where the church is located. Both agreed to sell the land.
The most recent congregation at the old church, was Messianic Christianity, lead by Pastors Richard and Denise Allen. For the past five years, they’ve rented the building. “It’s such a beautiful building, and it still had some life left in it,” said Pastor Denise Allen. Messianic Christianity combines the teachings of both Christianity and Judaism. “We had 3 pastors ordained as Messianic Rabbis in that building, and that’s historic,” said Pastor Allen. She will continue to hold services at a church she built on her property at 580 Dillenbeck Road in Palatine Bridge. The small white building has a blue border, and the letters are decorated with glitter. Flowers surround the entrance. No more than 30 people can fit inside the church at one time. “Some people say gee, we never met anyone like you, I say thank God, it’s ok to be different.”
If you want to find out more about Pastor Denise Allen’s church, email her at Deniseallen01@aol.com
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May 30
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A moment in history…
Fonda, NY Train Wreck
“The wreck occurred on July 18, 1947 at Fonda, NY. My grandfather was the engineer operating engine number 2775, an L2a Mohawk I believe. He was the only one injured. It tied up all four tracks of the mainline for quite some time. He said the tower man switched his train into the back end of a work train sitting on a siding. He also said they never saw the tower man again after the wreck.” Don Relyea, May 2010
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Also shown at Railroads of Madison County
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May 30
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A moment in history…
Hotel Roy Burned
Fonda Landmark Destroyed – Night Porter Injured While Escaping
Hotel Roy Fire - Fonda, NY - 1909
Syracuse Herald, Syracuse, NY, 26 Jan 1909
Fonda, NY – Jan 26 — The most disastrous fire that has visited this village since 1899 was discovered about 2 p.m. yesterday in Hotel Roy. The fire was first discovered by Miss Agnes Miller, an employee of the hotel, and before she could give the alarm, the entire building was filled with smoke. The fire is thought to have originated in the laundry, which was located in the cellar of the hotel. The Fire department was called out and shortly afterwards word was sent to Fultonville for assistance, and the firemen from that village – were soon on hand to give their help. The firemen worked faithfully, but all their work only seemed to help the blaze, and at 1 o’clock the entire structure was a roaring furnace.
When it was seen that the hotel could not be saved, streams of water were turned on the buildings on the opposite side of the street and they prevented the fire from spreading.
Shortly after the fire was discovered, John McMaster, who was the night porter in the hotel, and who was asleep in his room on the third story, on the west side of the hotel, was awakened and being unable to enter the all, opened the window and hung by his hands on the window ledge for several minutes, when the bricks became so warm that he lost his hold and fell to a roof below. He received a bad gash across his forehead, a badly burned arm and a broken hip. He was taken to Amsterdam hospital on the 4:52 train. Hotel Roy was erected by John V. Borst in 1836, and was one of the old land marks of the village. In 1892 Wells and Ward Streeter of Gloversville purchased the hotel of the late Jacob Snell and have since conducted the same. The building was destroyed and the loss is estimated at about $40,000 with an insurance of $25,000.
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Apr 28
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ESS EXTRA!! – Fonda Speedway, Fonda, NY
Empire Super Sprints – April 25, 2010 – by Dean ReynoldsThe “Track of Champions” continues to thrive in Upstate, NY under the promotions of Ric and Laura Lucia and the race directing of Marty Beberwyck. While many tracks are pulling back the reins with the state of today’s economy, Fonda Speedway goes on the offensive by adding bigger events with a very aggressive schedule for 2010.
Be prepared to experience real racing action and actually feel the thunder at the track of champions! Fonda Speedway boasts over 50 years of championship dirt track racing just off exit 28 of the New York State Thruway at the Montgomery County Fair Grounds; less than 30 minutes from Albany. This famous egg shaped half-mile oval has seen the likes of Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Shirley Muldowney, Pete Corey, Steve Kinser, Brett Hearn and Jack Johnson just to name a few.
Fonda’s history dates back to 1927 since the AAA days. NASCAR Grand National division toured Fonda in the 50’s with Petty, Baker, Johnson and others visiting the small hamlet. The ¼ mile dragstrip opened in 1958 (Closed in 1969) with the legendary Shirley Muldowney starting her career in Fonda.
For the better part of four decades now, big block modifieds have called this half-mile, odd shaped oval home. Lazzaro, Corey, Johnson, Lape, Coville, Romano are names of Fonda lure with names such as Varin, Delorenzo, a second generation Johnson, Trombley, Camara and others play host to big crowds weekly.
In 2010, Fonda will once again kick off and close the full point season for the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints with the 7th annual Earl Halaquist Memorial on May 29th and the crowning of the 27th Anniversary champion on Sept. 25th as a part of the historical McDonald’s Weekend. Also, Fonda will play host to the All-Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars, where many ESS teams will be on hand to support, for the first time ever the Lucas Oil Late Model Tour, the Thunder Series for mods with Utica-Rome Speedway and tribute nights for the late Lou Lazzaro and Dave Lape.
ESS drivers of local interest will be Cory Sparks, Jami Russell, Jessica Zemken, Warren Alexson, Jared Fink, Mark Zemcik, Tyler Rice and many-time Fonda Speedway champion Bobby Varin who will make another appearance in a winged sprint car on each night. Fonda is also the closest to several New England racers such as Anthony Cain, Russ Bennett and Billy White.
ESS Facts – Fonda Speedway:
ESS Events Run: 8
Different Winners: 7
Most Wins: Justin Barger (2)
Last Event Run: Sept. 26, 2010
Most Recent Winner: Lance Yonge
Fonda Facts:
Location: Exit 28 off of I-90, Montgomery County Fairgrounds
ESS Date(s): May 29th and Sept. 25th
Track Promoter: Ric Lucia
Track Phone: (518) 853-4235
Website: www.fondaspeedway.net
Sites of Interest:
Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (45 min. away).
The famous Howes Caverns in Howes Cave (30 min. away)
Historical Fonda Speedway display at the local McDonald’s right in Fonda
City of Albany just 30 min. away.