The Fonda Blog

Another set of photos… from the Fultonville NY Village Historian… a vault with the name Fonda on the door in the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Canajoharie, NY (about 10 miles southwest of Fonda, south of the Mohawk River).  The interior photo is from the outside, looking through an opening above the door.  I would expect the cemetery administrators would know the names of those interred, but anyone with information on this vault, please let us know.  The locations is at 42.895284749023816, -74.57163870334625.  Hint: The only known Fonda’s buried at this cemetery are Marshall H. Fonda (1860-1926) and his wife, Louisa C. Ilse (1862-1906).  Also see the Findagrave listing here, which shows headstones for them both which are not in the vault.

Update, October 2013 – Found a prominent person who was buried here: (see Rootsweb, Findagrave)
Canajoharie, Feb. 26 – The remains of Douw H. Fonda of Albany were brought to this village today for interment in the Fonda vault, in Prospect Hill cemetery. Mr. Fonda was one of Albany’s best known druggists and at one time was a resident of this village. Mr. Fonda was ill but a few months, and only a few weeks ago was carried in a helpless condition from a burning building. Mr. Fonda was born at Fonda, September 10, 1834. He received a common school education and then engaged in the railroad business. He soon went to New York as a clerk, but again took up railroading and was for a time ticket agent at Palatine Bridge under the late Webster Wagner. In 1853 he became teller at the Spraker Bank, in this village, and two years latter, became its cashier. He held this position until 1865, when he went to Albany and formed the Wholesale drug firm of Fonda & Gagley. Mr. Fonda became sole proprietor in 1877, and in 1879 he established the firm of D. H. Fonda & Co. In 1899 the D. H. Fonda Drug Company was incorporated and Mr. Fonda has been its president ever since. He has not been active in business for a year. Mr. Fonda was a member of the Holland Society of New York. He served two terms as school commissioner. Mr. Fonda was a member of Temple Lodge. No. 14, F. and A. M. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary A. French of this village, and his second wife was Miss Ellen A. Barker of Barre, Vt. Johnstown NY Fulton County Republican, Thursday, March 12, 1908.

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written by admin \\ tags: Cemeteries, Fonda Family, Fulton Co., Landmarks

New sign to be installed in the spring:

Colonie Historic Resource Marker constructed by the Catskill Casting Company of N.Y.

Update after restoration completed:

Fonda Cemetery after restoration - Graves from 1814 to 1863

Franklin, Kevin wrote: (Oct 25, 2009)
Latham Scout Troop 279 has finished (with exception of seeding) the restoration of the Fonda-Lansing Cemetery on Rt. 9 in Colonie.  This was an extensive project taking up every weekend with the exception of one beginning in the last week of August and finishing up on October 18th.   The information I received is that this cemetery was originally located a short distance north of this spot in what is now the curb lane of Rt. 9 north across from Crescent Terrace Road.  When the State of New York widened Rt. 9 back in the 1930’s (probably as a W.P.A. project) the cemetery was moved to its present location and was originally surrounded by triangular shaped concrete posts reinforced with steel rod, commonly seen along the nation’s highways prior to 1950 when they were gradually replaced with wire, and later steel guiderails.
At some point in time during the early 1980’s a wooden ranch type fence replaced the deteriorated concrete posts.  This old wooden fence, along with several unwanted trees and brush were removed and a high spot consisting of plowed stones and dirt from snow removal of an adjacent property was cut down by the State D.O.T.   Some of the largest and oldest gravestones from this site were found to be broken into three pieces when excavated from the ground with the total gravestone measuring in excess of six feet long.  These were repaired to the best of our ability and re-set into their original positions as found.

Fonda Cemetery in Colonie - Rt. 9 at Crescent Terrace Rd

We located pieces of two gravestones broken into many pieces with still many more missing (possibly from the first cemetery move of the 1930’s) and we were not able to put these together.
The new fence is constructed of pressure treated lumber and stained white.   A large piece of blue stone found on the property was used as a threshold at the entrance to the cemetery itself.  I am in the process of ordering a historic marker sign for this site.  The Town of Colonie Historical Society, and Colonie Youth Court will do what we can with our limited finances and time to keep this site presentable.  I appreciate your interest and placing the photos on the Fonda family blog site.  I’ll send you additional photos in another e-mail minus text.
Kindest Regards, Kevin Franklin – Historian, Town of Colonie

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Kevin, Thanks very much for the update.  From the latest photos and from what I saw a couple months ago, the cemetery restoration looks wonderful.  The Latham Scout Troup is to be commended for a great job on this restoration project.  I also appreciate your personal involvement in organizing and communicating on the project execution.
On behalf of the extended Fonda Family, the effort is truly appreciated and I’m sure the souls of those interred at the site are eternally grateful.  I also commend The Town of Colonie Historical Society and Colonie Youth Court for organizing an on-going upkeep effort.  The historical marker will be a nice finishing touch.
I will also keep track of the site from my standpoint as the Fonda Family historian and genealogist.  I’ll update the posting on the Fonda Blog which will include the latest photos and these notes.
Let me know if any further information comes to light regarding the inscriptions.  You mentioned some of the stones were broken into too many pieces to be repaired… I assume these were placed within the graveyard somewhere?  Best Regards, Mark

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Mark: Yes, the broken stones will not be discarded, but placed in a corner of the cemetery.  Thanks for putting the photos and info on the Fonda Family Blog.  I intend to do a newsletter in the near future covering the Fonda family history here in Colonie and the restoration of the cemetery site.  Please look me up the next time you visit from the west coast.
Thanks, Kevin Franklin Cc: Paula Mahan, Supervisor, Town Board, Bebe Morehead, President Colonie Historical Soceity, Violet Colydas, Colonie Youth Court, Brian Burkhard, Latham Scout Troop 279

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Kevin – I was back east last month and actually had a chance to stop by this cemetery.  There was much work still to be done, but I was pleased with the progress.  Maybe by now, work is nearly complete?
In the meantime, I have tried to assemble a list of the gravestones and match them to the genealogy information I have.  I put up a listing on Find-A-Grave.com for the cemetery here.  I show 11 interments, although I know there are a few more which haven’t yet been identified.  I attached the headstone and footstone images which appear to match to each memorial listing… you may want to cross-check with your records.
This is a list of the names and links, matched up to the numbering provided on the listing by R. Arthur Johnson:

The VSV initials are probably for Van Santvoord, whom several of the Fonda’s married in the later generations.  More research is needed to sort out who CEB and IFVSV are.  I will look into my sources as time permits.

Mark

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Early stages of restoration project by the Historical Society of Colonie.  Cemetery Plot in outskirts of Colonie (near Albany). View Map

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Dear Mark: Thanks for the information. The Fonda family spirits must be watching us, or prompted you to contact me. I will be restoring the old Fonda Family Cemetery located here in Colonie on Rt. 9 beginning in early August. This cemetery site was documented back in 1977 by the late R. Arthur Johnson, whose photos of some of the oldest gravestones in this cemetery I’ve attached here for you. They were probably made and crudely chiseled using local stones. The site was cleared of brush and restored by local boy scouts many years ago, but it’s in need of another refurbishment.
Do you live near the Colonie area? Have you seen this cemetery site? I would be happy to send you other information that Mr. Johnson gathered about early Fonda life here in Colonie. I have several other photos of the site taken in the 1970’s plus research from Johnson you could post on your web page. Currently; the site has an old split rail fence that kids from Colonie Youth Court (Nationally recognized program, see link) paint and they pull weeds, etc. from the site. But the fence is all rotted and in need of replacement and the area has become overgrown and the stones tilted and some broken.
It is my goal to repair gravestones, replace the fence, do landscaping, including removal of unwanted trees & brush, and to place a historic marker sign at this site which is highly visible along Rt. 9. This will be a collaborative effort between State D.O.T., a local neighbor, the Historical Society of Colonie, this office, and the Latham Boy Scout troop as an Eagle Scout project for one of their Scouts. It will look nice when finished.
Would you be interested in making some kind of a small donation toward restoration of this cemetery? Every dollar would help. If you can’t, that’s understandable too.
Kevin Franklin, Historian – Town of Colonie, N.Y. – 518-782-2593

written by admin \\ tags: Albany Co., Cemeteries, Fonda Family, Landmarks

State to stick with Fonda bridge plans

Route 30A span won’t wait for bypass study

Daily Gazette – May 4, 2009

Fonda, NY – New York State Department of Transportation officials say they will go forward with plans to replace and expand the Route 30A bridge in Fonda regardless of whether the federal government conducts a feasibility study for a bypass highway connecting Thruway Exit 28 to Route 30A in Johnstown. Initially, the DOT had intended to build a replacement span on the west side of the existing Route 30A bridge in 2010, but after public outcry the plan was shifted to be built on the eastern side. The project is scheduled to start in 2011 and will cost an estimated $5.75 million, which would include alterations at the intersection of Route 5 to make it more suitable for heavy truck traffic.

Stephan Zywiak, left, of the New York State Department of Transportation discusses the plan to replace the Route 30A bridge with Fonda Mayor Kim Flander Thursday night. The DOT conducted a special meeting with residents who could possibly be affected by the project.

“The Route 30A bridge needs to be replaced. It’s a vital enough link that we would not let it deteriorate to the point where it would have to be closed,” DOT Region 2 public information officer Alice Romanych said. “[A Fonda bypass highway] would be a 12- to 15-year project … and the bottom line is we really can’t afford to wait until that feasibility study is completed before we replace the bridge.”

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, said he’s been in contact with officials in both Fulton and Montgomery counties who want him to fight for a $2.4 million engineering and feasibility study for a bypass highway in the next federal transportation bill. Tonko said he’s ready to fight for the study because he believes a bypass highway could cut down on truck traffic and pollution in Fonda. “The feasibility study would provide for a thoughtful, analytical, steady process that gets the traffic from Exit 28 up to the Johnstown Industrial Park by circumventing the village of Fonda,” Tonko said. Supervisors in Fulton and Montgomery counties are poised to formally request the federal government provide 80 percent of the cost for the study, with the counties putting up a combined $480,000.

Fonda Mayor Kim Flander said she was surprised to hear the two county governments were lobbying for a feasibility study to build a highway bypass. She said state DOT officials told her in 2008 that constructing a bypass was not a feasible option as an alternative to replacing the Route 30A bridge. She said she supports the federal government feasibility study but wonders what the point would be after the state takes land from village residents to expand the bridge.

The bridge expansion will likely result in the state forcing the relocation of several Fonda businesses, including Antoinette’s Cafe at the eastern corner of routes 5 and 30A and Mike’s Pizza. “A year ago we talked to the state and asked them about a bypass. We were told a study was already done and based on that study it wasn’t cost effective to do the bypass,” Flander said. “If they’re going to conduct this study while they’re doing construction, I can’t comprehend why they are doing both.”

Romanych said replacing the Route 30A bridge is expected to result in the state purchasing slices of 10 properties and four entire parcels. She said the state hasn’t determined the cost of that part of the project. She said no formal study was done on the cost of building a Fonda bypass highway, but rough estimates indicate it would cost at least $35 million to $45 million.

written by admin \\ tags: Landmarks, Montgomery Co., Municipal

Landmarks with the Fonda Name

Towns Fonda, New York, USA – East central N.Y., on Mohawk River, and the Barge Canal, and 10 mi/16 km W of Amsterdam; Formerly a freight transfer point on the N.Y. Central RR. Mfg. of aluminum prods., apparel, and textiles. Inc. 1850. Name origin – named after Douw Jellis Fonda (1700-1780) in 1850. (Note: A nearby town was once called Fonda’s Bush, but is now Broadalbin, Fulton Co., New York). Fonda Speedway is a 1/2 mile dirt oval, located at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Fonda, NY. Racing at Fonda Speedway started in 1927; 6 events were held from 1927 to 1938. Racing began in earnest in the late 40s. A 1/8th mile drag strip was added in 1957, and was apparently used through 1968. Shirley Muldowney’s drag racing career started on this strip in 1958. [Google Map] Dirt Race Track - Fonda, NY Train Depot - Fonda, Iowa (1894) Fonda, Iowa, USA – North central Iowa, on Cedar Creek, and 14 mi/23 km SW of Pocahontas. Name origin – “Marvin was the name first given to the station and express office, and Cedarville was the name accorded to the post office in Cedar township, located on the banks of Cedar Creek. By the time Cedar township was formed, the town and post office were called Marvin. Marvin was the name picked by the man who donated the land, ordered the plat, and designated that this new little town be named after his friend. The use of the names Marvin and Manson caused confusion to those sorting mail on the trains, and it was suggested that the name be changed. In 1874, AO Garlock and George Fairburn took the post office directory and selected a new name that was not common in Iowa. The name Fonda only appeared once in the directory, the name of a town in western New York state.” [American Towns] [Google Map] Fonda, Vermont, USA – probably named after William Beecher Fonda (1846-) whose family settled in the St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont area in the 1870’s. [Vermont Gazetteer] [Google Map] Could have been... Port Fonda Fonde, Kentucky, USA – Bell County, SE KY., in the Cumberland Mts. at Tenn. state line, 10 mi/16 km W of Middlesboro. [Google Map] Fonda, North Dakota, USA – Rolette County [Google Map] [North Dakota News] Fonda, Wyoming, USA – Goshen County [Google Map] Port Fonda, Missouri, USA – proposed name for what is now Kansas City (see Abraham Fonda) [Google Map] Fonda’s Bush, Montgomery Co., NY, USA (now Broadalbin, Fulton Co.) – Three Rivers – Trappers of New York: “Fonda’s Bush, a place in the Johnstown settlements, so called after Major Jelles Fonda, who took a patent for the lands. The place is situated about ten miles north of each from the village of Johnstown, and the same distance west of north from Amsterdam. Fonda’s Bush signifies the same as if it were called Fonda’s Woods, a dense forest covering the soil at that early period-bush being the usual term for woods on the frontiers of New York.”; Spafford’s 1824 Gazetteer of the State of New York – Profile of Montgomery County: “The principal Village is on the W. line of this Town, in a quarter called Fonda’s Bush, where is the Broadalbin Post-Office, 10 miles from Johnstown. It is situated on both sides of Fonda’s Creek, on the main road from Johnstown to Glen’s Falls, and contains 1 church, 27 dwellings, 14 mechanics’ shops, 4 stores, 2 tanneries, 1 paper mill, a school-house, 2 taverns, and an ashery. This has always been called Fonda’s Bush, but by a late act of incorporation, its cognomen is changed, as a lawyer would say, to Rawsonsville, though the people still adhere to the old name, and probably always will.” [Google Map] Oklahoma Ghost Town Fonda, Oklahoma, USA (Place – now a ghost town; Dewey County; 36ºN 98ºW; Zip Code none; Elev. 1630 ft.) Many, many years ago and approximately 8 miles or so east of Seiling, Oklahoma there was a small community called Fonda, Oklahoma. At that time Fonda consisted of a General store, Blacksmith shop, Post Office and several residences. The store was run by the Tyree family. Near Fonda, Oklahoma and the Canadian River there was a school called Diamond. It was a typical elementary school of the era. A one room, one teacher teaching grades one through nine. There was a barn for the students riding horses, a windmill for drinking water and two out houses. There was no electricity and light came from kerosene lamps. In cold weather heat was provided by a large wood stove in the rear of the room. In 1928 there were about twenty students the majority of which were Indian. Today the original site of Fonda is only an open wheat field. see [Dewey County History] [TopoZone Map] Top Roads Fonda Road - Waterford, NY Fonda Street (renamed Water St. in 1799), Schenectady, NY 12302 – [Google Map] [Schenectady History] Fonda Road, Rockville Center, NY 11570 – [Google Map] Fonda Road, Cohoes, NY 12047 – [Google Map] Fonda Road, Waterford, NY 12188 – [Google Map] Fonda Ave, Oneonta, NY 13820 – [Google Map] Fonda Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49014 – [Google Map] [Battle Creek History] Fonda Road, Firth, NE 68358 – [Google Map] Fonda Street, Paradis, LA 70080 – [Google Map] Fonda Road , Santa Fe, NM 87505 – [Google Map] Fonda Way, Los Angeles, CA 90031 – [Google Map] Fonda Street, La Habra, CA 90631 – [Google Map] Fonda Road, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3S 3X3 – [Google Map] Fonda Way S.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2A 2K2 – [Google Map] Water Fonda’s Island – a small island in the Mohawk river within the town of Schenectady – containing five morgens (ten acres) – lying to the north of the Hoek – in 1736, Philip Livingston of Albany sold it to Jellis Fonda by whose will made Sept. 8, 1737, it was divided among his three sons, Pieter, Abraham and Jacob. The island is now part of the [Isle of the Oneidas], see [Bouwlands Map 1664] [Schenectady Map 1690] Fonda Reservoir – Randall, Montgomery Co., NY – 6.4 Acre Lake – [U.S. Geological Survey] [TopoZone Map] Fonda Lake - Brighton, Michigan Fonda’s Creek – History of Broadalbin: It (Broadalbin) is abundantly watered by numerous creeks and small streams flowing in all directions throughout the town, chief among which is Kennyetto Creek – often, incorrectly, called Fly creek, Fonda’s creek, and sometimes Little Sacondaga. [Google Map] Fonda Lake (now Lake Kora) – Wakely Mountain, Hamilton Co., NY – Most of the Blue Ridge Wilderness Area was at one time owned or controlled by William West Durant, an Adirondack developer active from the mid-1870s through 1904. Former Durant lands include Townships 6, 19, 33 and 34 in the Totten and Crossfield Purchase. 1898 – Durant sells Lake Tuscarora (aka Sumner Lake or Fonda Lake), now Lake Kora, and the surrounding estate to Lieutenant Governor Timothy L. Woodruff, who constructed Kamp Kill Kare. – [Hamilton Co. Reservoirs] [Google Map] Fonda Lake – Brighton Twp., Livingston Co., MI – named for Lewis B. Fonda family which settled in Brighton, Michigan in 1832 from Wynantskill, Rensselaer Co., NY – [Google Map]also Fonda Island & Briggs Lake Joint Water Authority, 11510 Grand River Road, Brighton, MI 48116and Fonda Place Office Center, 10321 Grand River Road, Brighton, MI – [Google Map] Top Buildings Fonda Reformed Church - Fonda, New York Fonda Reformed Church – 19-21 Broadway, Fonda, New York 12068 – The Reformed Dutch Church of Caughnawaga was organized about the year 1758, but the first church edifice was not erected until 1763, when with financial aid from Sir William Johnson, who was entirely non-sectarian in his benefactions, a stone building was erected, along the line of what is now the main street of Fonda, but in this eastern, or Caughnawaga district of the village. The village of Fonda proper, was not built till after 1830. The town Caughnawaga took its name from the old Indian village which had stood there. Fonda was named for Douw Fonda, one of the first settlers of the town, and a Revolutionary patriot. The first pastor of the Caughnawaga church was Rev. Thomas Romeyn, who served the charge 22 years. He was succeeded by Rev. Abraham Van Horne, who was pastor 38 years and preached in both Dutch and English, as Dutch was then giving place to English, in the valley. With his pastorate, the use of Dutch ceased at Caughnawaga. [Church History] [Google Map] Henry Fonda Theatre Hollywood, CA Henry Fonda Theatre – 6126 Hollywood Blvd. – Los Angeles, CA 90028 – A trip down Hollywood Boulevard going east to west first brings you to the Henry Fonda Theatre. Famous for the actor of the same name, the Fonda Theatre is home to many local plays. Originally called the Hollywood Music Box, the newly refurbished theatre has staged many Broadway productions such as Driving Ms. Daisy and concert acts including Adam Ant and Tori Amos. Opened as the Music Box, this theater went through several owners and corresponding name changes. Before being renamed as the Henry Fonda Theater, it became the Fox (not the Fox at Hollywood and Wilcox, which was the old Iris Theatre) and then the Pix Theater. When the theater was still known as the Pix, it had a really nice neon marquee. The Pix was the movie house that premiered “Jaws” on Hollywood Boulevard in 1975. A year later they showed “Rocky”. Not a very large theater but it showed many blockbuster’s in the 70’s before becoming a live venue. [Cinema Treasures] [Google Map] Henry Fonda Theatre Stage Schools & Parks Elizabeth Fonde Elementary School Mobile, AL Elizabeth Fonde Elementary School – school named after Elizabeth Fonde [Rootsweb] (1873-1947) who was born in Mobile, AL, educated at Barton Academy in Mobile. From 1918 to 1924 she served as a member of the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners and in 1926 became President of the Alabama Conference of Social Work. She is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile. – [Google Map] [SchoolTree] [Arkema] Note: Elizabeth Fonde and Corinne Fonde (Fonde Park, below) were cousins. Fonde Park – On Saturday, November 4, 2006, Houston Parks and Recreation Department rededicated southeast Houston’s Fonde Park. Located at 5500 Carrollton and accessible from 2500 Hansford, at its opposite end, the 12.7-acre park was acquired by the city in 1950. The park’s name honors Miss Corinne Fonde [Rootsweb] (1883-1950), a long-time administrator of the Recreation Department and the first deputy director when the Parks Department and the Recreation Department were combined into one city department. Fonde Park - Houston, TX Top Fonde Community Center - Houston, TX The Fonde Community Center, just off Buffalo Bayou near downtown and the Victorian homes of the Sixth Ward, is also named for Miss Fonde. This not-so-ordinary city Parks Department neighborhood recreational facility has well-maintained basketball courts for pickup games where many NBA stars come to play.Throughout the year, the center features a variety of free activities and classes – tai chi classes are popular, and the weight room is always occupied. – [Google Map] [Google Map]

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written by admin \\ tags: Buildings, Geographic, Landmarks, Parks, Roads & Railroads, Towns, Water