The Fonda Blog

Fonda buildings become history

Written By: Michelle Monroe

ST. ALBANS CITY — The buildings at former Fonda paper products plant site have been taken down and now meticulous cleanup work will begin, according to St. Albans City Director of Planning Chip Sawyer.  “It’s coming along really well,” said Sawyer of the demolition that’s taking place on Lower Newton Street.

Only a small structure, outfitted with hoppers remained at the site this morning and those soon will be taken down with a crane. Materials from that portion of the complex will then undergo asbestos abatement and any recyclable metal will be reclaimed.  Thus far, 1,160 tons of general debris have been removed from the site along with 65 tons of mildly contaminated debris, Sawyer reported this morning.

There are a couple of areas within the former factory where there is a high level of PCBs – a class of chemicals which have been linked to cancer – and those areas will be sealed off and permanently fenced, explained Sawyer.  Currently, the pieces of the buildings are still being sorted through and cleaned. Recyclable materials are being gathered and recycled as part of that process, as well.

About a month of work remains, said Sawyer today. The basement will be filled in and all of the cleaning areas and materials will need to be dismantled and cleaned.  As part of the demolition, steps have been taken to insure water does not leave the site and stormwater is being treated on site before being sent to the wastewater treatment facility.  Funds for the demolition project have come from the State of Vermont and the Northwest Regional Planning brownfield’s loan program. Total cost of the demolition, which began on Sept. 15, is roughly $900,000.

The paper products factory was built in 1942 and was acquired by Fonda in 1980. In 2002, about 245 people were employed at the plant, which was sold to Solo in 2004. A year later Solo announced its intention to close the factory, and the doors were shut for good in 2006. When Solo announced the closing there were 168 employees. In some local families multiple generations have been employed at the plant.  The site, which straddles the town-city divide, is now owned by the city.

The future of the site is still undecided, but a feasibility study for a co-generation facility found that a facility generating 10 megawatts of electricity along with steam heat — fueled by wood chips — would be able to pay for itself in approximately seven years. The city is investigating the possibility of a private company building such a facility at the Fonda site.

Clock ticks for Fonda building

Written By: Leon Thompson, St. Albans Messenger

Demolition bids’ deadline Tuesday

The Fonda Solo Building will be demolished this summer.

ST. ALBANS CITY, VT –– Crews responsible for demolition of the vacant Fonda/Solo plant on Lower Newton Street could be mobilized and ready by May 1, according to one of the city’s development leaders.  Contractors’ bids to raze one of the largest enclosed spaces in the city, are due at City Hall Tuesday. Jim Tischler, planning and development director, told aldermen during their regular meeting last week that he hopes to have a contractor’s bid to them by the second week of April.
The city has secured all funding necessary for the $600,000 demolition project, including two grants totaling $400,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and $200,000 from a state brownfields program.
The city purchased the 120,500-square-foot building on a 4.5-acre parcel in 2007 for $300,000.  Toward the end of 2010, the state approved a phased-in mitigation plan to clean the contaminated site, once used to manufacture paper products. The first phase calls for demolition of the two buildings and to keep the area protected until the city has a development project in place.  “It was the administration’s position that the best way to show the community that the project needs to move forward is to proceed with the use of that grant money and get the buildings demolished,” Tischler told the city council last week.

The Fonda / Solo brand lives on, with headquarters in Illinois and manufacturing worldwide.

Two weeks ago, about 65 people – more than has graced the inside of the plant for years – went on a walk-through of the site for potential bidders.  Tischler said the city has already received 24 sets of plans from bidders all over New England and the Midwest.  Ward 5 Alderman Joe Luneau wondered $600,000 was adequate. Tischler said demolition could come in under bid. Project specifications also require the city to recycle some materials at the site.  During demolition, workers will fence off the area and post signs that warn of contamination in the area. Contaminated areas will be covered with gravel for protection.  The winning contractor will provide flaggers for traffic control and also remove debris without going through neighborhoods, Tischler said.
Last November, the city council unanimously chose Weston and Sampson, a Peabody, Mass., environmental consulting firm, to oversee razing of the Fonda/Solo plant. Weston and Sampson also facilitated the bidding process for demolition.  During the demolition process, the city has been working with three EPA officials, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Northwest Regional Planning Commission.  The city had wanted to raze the building by the end of 2010, but delays bumped that goal to this July, the end of the current fiscal year.  The city has a redevelopment concept in mind for the site, with several contenders interested in it, but city officials have been reticent in releasing any details.
The Solo Cup Company, which purchased the paper products manufacturing plant from Fonda, closed the facility in 2005 and laid-off 168 employees.  The proposed remediation would occur at the surface level, with sub-grade remediation (soil clean-up) occurring once a new business has committed to the site, so that remediation and construction can happen simultaneously.  Brownfields testing in 2008 revealed contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trichloroethene (TCE), and some metals were in concentrations above regulatory limits.
In the 1960s and 1970s Fonda was a leading U.S. food container company that provided paper cups and other paper products which among other uses, were found at large professional sports venues. The ink used to manufacture other products contained PCBs – potentially toxic environmental compounds – and was spilled on the concrete floor, leaving it contaminated.  Groundwater on the western side of the building also contained TCE, a cleaning solvent that previously was used in anesthesia.
Also see previous post here.  Solo Cup Company info here.

Note: It is not certain why the company originally took the Fonda name, but there is a family branch which settled in the area in the mid-1800’s and a local town used to be called Fonda Junction.

written by admin \\ tags: Business, News, Vermont

Hank Fonde halfback at Univ. of Michigan (1944-1948) (Photo credit: Joel Thurtell)

Former U-M Football Player/Coach Henry Fonde Dies

Published: Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Former University of Michigan football player and coach Henry Fonde, who also coached the Ann Arbor High School football team for 10 years, died at the age of 85 early Sunday morning of complications brought on by Alzheimer’s disease.  A visitation for Fonde will be held on Thursday from 4-9 p.m. at the Vermeulen Funeral Home, located at 46401 W Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth, followed by a funeral service at First Presbyterian Church in Northville at 11 a.m. Friday.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Fonde came to the University of Michigan in 1944 as part of the Navy’s V-12 program and studied engineering while contributing to the strong Wolverines football teams of the mid-to-late ’40s.  Known to many as Hank, Fonde’s highlights as a player included scoring the lone touchdown in Michigan’s 7-3 victory over Ohio State in 1945 and tossing a 45-yard touchdown pass in the 49-0 win over Southern California in the 1948 Rose Bowl.
Fonde compiled a 69-6-4 record (with four of his losses coming in his final season) coaching the Pioneers from 1949-1958, after which he joined Bump Elliott’s staff at Michigan.

Hank Fonde Team Photo

“It still amazes me how many people know the name ‘Fonde’ and it’s because of him,” Fonde’s son, Chuck said. “He made such a mark in this community, both through Ann Arbor High School and the University of Michigan. A lot of people knew him, a lot of people loved him.”  Fonde remained on the staff at Michigan through the 1968 season and became an academic advisor for the football team when Bo Schembechler replaced Elliott in 1969.
“I just remember him being one of the nicest gentleman I’ve ever met in my life,” said longtime Michigan assistant Jerry Hanlon, who arrived on campus with Bo in 1969. “He was that kind of a person. He had everybody’s best interest at heart. The players loved him, and when he decided to leave Michigan as academic advisor, I thought it was a big loss.”
Seth Gordon can be reached at sgordon@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6108.

Hank Fonde (Photo credit: Joel Thurtell)

Henry Fonde’s record in the Fonda family tree is here.  He has a Wikipedia entry here.

The following obituary was excerpted from the Ann Arbor News on MLive.com on 5/5/2009:
“Hank Fonde passed away May 3rd 2009 at the age of 85 years. He was a graduate of U of M School of Engineering and Masters in Education. Head football coach at Ann Arbor High School & Assistant football coach at U of M. Owner and operator of the Stretch & Sew Fabric Store in Farmington Hills for many years. He is survived by his children: our class of ’67 member, Karen (Joel Thurtell) Fonde, Chuck (Linda) Fonde, Mark (Stacey) Fonde, Julia (Max) Davis and Anne (Bill) Potter, his grandchidren: Adam, Abe, Ben, Megan, Rachel, Hayley, Beck, Chelsea, Danielle, Regin and William. He was predeceased by his wife Edith (nee Jordan) and grandchild Aaron. Visitation was Thursday May 7th  at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 46401 W Ann Arbor Road (btwn Sheldon & Beck) Plymouth. The Funeral was Friday May 8th at First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Main, Northville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association . To leave a message of condolence, log on to www.vermeulenfuneralhome.com”

Another good story about Hank Fonde, written by his son-in-law, Joel Thurtell – “I beat Ohio State!”

Andrew Fonde’s record in the Fonda family tree is here.  A cemetery memorial for him is here.
His details: 16-Feb-1798 – Supreme Court of Philadelphia, Oath of Allegiance; 1800 US Federal Census, Southwark, Philadelphia, PA (Andw Funday, household of 6); 1810 US Federal Census, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA (Andrew Fundy, o. Porter, household of 11); 1820 & 1830 US Federal Census, New Orleans, New Orleans Parish, LA; 1822 New Orleans, LA City Directory (Rev. Andre Fonde, Accountant, at 116 St. Philip cor. Perdido); d. New Orleans, LA (Cholera); bur. Girod St. Cemetery, New Orleans, LA

Excerpt from “Ancestors of Charles Henry Fonde” website
“It is believed by the family that Andre Fonde came to America from France, but that the family originally came from the Lombardy area of Italy, and that Fonde was originally spelled Fondi. There is a town in Italy called Fondi, located on the west coast about halfway between Rome and Naples. David Fonde quotes the Chambers Encyclopedia, published in England, as describing Fondi this way: “A small town in Italy on the Appian Way between Rome and Naples, located near a pestiferous swamp and noted during the Middle Ages for its brigands and horse thieves.” The family story is that during some political disturbance it became necessary for an early Fondi to escape from his own country if he could. This may have been when Napoleon overcame Venice and gave Northern Italy into Austrian (German) control. There is a poem written in Italian among the Fonde papers which lends some credence to this theory.”
“According to a letter written by his great-granddaughter Elizabeth Fonde, Andre relocated in France, where he served as a scrivener, writing documents beautifully in more than one language. Later (between 1790 and 1794) he removed to America, probably to Philiadelphia, where records of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania document that he either made a Declaration of Intention (to become a citizen) or an Oath of Allegiance on February 16, 1798. (Philadelphia Naturalization Records, edited by Wm. Filby, Gale Research Co., Detroit, MI, 1982, page 197). His nationality is given as French.”
“We have copies of letters that Andre Fonde wrote, one from New Orleans to his wife in Philadelphia, and another (1818) from Philadelphia to his son, John P. Fonde, who had recently moved to Washington, D.C. It is believed that Andre and Sarah Fonde moved to New Orleans before 1830 and that they are buried there. Although their marriage in 1794 and the baptisms and burials of several Fonde/Fondy children are recorded at Christ Church (Episcopal), Philadelphia, not all their known children are in these records. (Henry and John Philip are not recorded, nor is the birth of two Fondy children who were buried at Christ Church — Calipso in 1803 and Andrew in 1801). I have made some estimates about the birth order of these children and their dates of birth.”

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Fonde, Michigan, Sports

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

written by admin \\ tags: Entertainment, News, Village of Fonda

Church to be Demolished to Expand Store

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

written by admin \\ tags: Churches, News, Village of Fonda

Olga Fonda Finally Arrives

September 2011 Interview in Melroze Magazine.

Casting Bits: Hope Davis, James Rebhorn and Olga Fonda Join Real Steel

slashfilm.com – June 1, 2010 – Hope Davis (About Schmidt), James Rebhorn (Independence Day, The Game) and Olga Fonda (Love Hurts) has been cast in Shawn Levy’s futuristic robot boxing movie Real Steel. No word on what roles they will play.

General Information (Olga Fonda)

tvrage.com – Olga Fonda was born Olga Tchakova on October 1, 1982. She is 28 years old. She was married under the name Olga Fundamynsky until 2008. Born and raised in Moscow, Olga came to the United States at 14 years of age. She has been seen in several small uncredited upcoming roles in films including Little Fockers, Crazy Stupid Love, and Reel Steal.

Former Winthrop exchange student takes on Hollywood

Olga Tchakova has made it to Hollywood and adopted one of its famous last names: Fonda.

Olga Tchakova has made it to Hollywood and adopted one of its famous last names: Fonda.

Some people might remember her as a 14-year-old exchange student at Winthrop High School in 1996-1997 who came from Uhtka, just above the Arctic Circle in Russia. She later returned to attend the University of Maine at Augusta. Now she’s in a much warmer place and making her way as an actress and model as Olga Fonda. “Living in Los Angeles has given me an opportunity to pursue my dreams and has been able to open the doors to unlimited possibilities,” she said recently via e-mail.

Fonda’s introduction to America began with the Auclair family in East Winthrop. “Well, first of all, I was able to learn English,” she said. “I was also introduced to the beauty of the American culture through my lovely host family, my teachers and all of my friends in Maine. They believed in me and encouraged me to always follow my dreams.”

Fonda now speaks English with a hint of a Russian accent. “Her English is really great,” said Debora Hillier (formerly Auclair), who was her host mother. “From the third month she was a chatterbox; she has such a wonderful command of languages.” Several members of her former host family joined her recently in Boston for the East Coast premier of the movie “Love Hurts,” where she appears as Valeriya. “Olga plays a Russian ballerina love-interest of the young star,” said Hillier said. “She very convincingly breaks his heart as she did to a few of the Winthrop boys.”

“Love Hurts” premiered at the Strasbourg International Film Festival, the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival in California, the 15th Annual Boston Film Festival, La Femme Film Festival in Los Angeles, and the Savannah Film Festival. Fonda said it will be screened at the Orlando Film Festival and the Big Apple Film Festival and has a theatrical opening in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. More info about “Love Hurts” is at www.lovehurts-movie.com .

Hillier, her husband Jim Hillier, and her son, Paul Auclair, attended the Boston Film Festival where the movie won Barra Grant the best director award and took the best comedy award at the Boston Film Festival. “Lovely Olga wanted to be a model,” Hillier said. “It was her aspiration and she never lost sight of that goal.”

At the UMA admissions department, Kristen Duplessis recalled Fonda as a bubbly, outgoing work/study student. “She was very successful doing student tours,” Duplessis said. “She’s such a sweetheart.” At UMA, Fonda majored in financial management. “I want to thank everyone at Winthrop and at UMA for letting me become a part of the exchange program and welcoming me into their schools, community, lives and hearts,” Fonda said. “It was an unforgettable experience and I will cherish the memories and friendships I have made in my heart forever.” When she’s back East, Fonda tries to visit her friends in Winthrop and Augusta. Hillier is hoping she can make it to Maine for a visit this year, and Fonda, too, said she hopes to be back soon.

Fonda still models for television and print commercials. She stands about 5-foot-8, and spent time modeling in Japan, Italy and the United States. She has appeared in “Nip/Tuck,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Melrose Place,” “Entourage,” and in many television commercials and advertising campaigns, including print ads in “Vogue,” “Bazaar,” and “Cosmopolitan.” “I am looking forward to continue working with creative and dedicated directors and actors,” Fonda said. “There is so much that I want to do, people to meet, places to visit. I want to do it all! As an actress, I would love to take the audience through the journey of a story in the most believable way.”

links: Olga Fonda on IMDB, Facebook, Wikipedia

written by admin \\ tags: Entertainment, Hollywood, West Coast