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Aug 31
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At The Railyard: Fonda Johnstown & Gloversville Review
Post by trmania on Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:13 pm
…when the sewing machine came into popularity in the middle of the 19th century, it caused a boom in textile production. In Gloversville, New York, the main product of the textile industries was fine leather gloves. 20 years later, there were 116 glove and mitten manufacturers, and the Fonda Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad was constructed to haul their products out to market. What would it be like to experience the railroad 80 years later, in a simulator? We’ll find out in this review…at the railyard!
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LINKS
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Official “At The Railyard” website:
http://www.attherailyard.com/
Have your own opinions about this route? Share them here:
http://www.attherailyard.com/apps/forum … e-railroad
Fonda Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad by Paul Charland:
http://www.trainsim.com/file.php?cm=SEA … fjg_v1.zip
FJ&G Historical Information and Photos:
http://www.fjgrr.org/FJGRR.ORG.html
Nick
Other links:
CSX & Amtrak Trains in Fonda, NY
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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.
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Sep 05
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Sep 04
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I received these photos from Becky Kaufman of Seattle who is tracing her lineage from Michigan back to the Knickerbocker family of Rensselaer, New York.
Rebeckah Fonda is buried in Schagticoke, Rensselear, New York in the Knickerbocker Family Cemetery. She was born 14 Apr 1718 in Albany, New York and died 8 Jan 1800 in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., New York. The Find-A-Grave cemetery listing is here.
 Rebeckah Fonda Knickerbocker gravestone. |
 Knickerbocker Cemetery next to mansion in Schaghticoke. |
 Recent picture of the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke. |
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 Oil painting which hangs in the Knickerbocker Mansion. |
 The sketch which appeared in Harper's Magazine in Dec. 1876 (Vol. 54, p. 42) |