The Fonda Blog

Out of Our Past

August 8, 2009 – Battle Creek Enquirer.com

100 years ago today, 1909: A race riot on the carnival grounds was averted by Constable Fonda last evening when a gang of Italian laborers, who crowded the grounds, started a rumpus with a Battle Creek lad. There were several car loads of the foreigners on a side track near the grounds and every night they been attending the carnival. Last evening one of these armed with a tickler was amusing himself when a local lad grabbed it. Frenzied for the moment, the laborer seized the boy and in the scuffle the Italian’s coat was nearly torn from his back. From all parts of the grounds, the Italians began to rally to support of their friends. Things looked ominous for a while, but Constable Fonda stepped in, jerked the fellow off and told the American boy to make his escape. – Historical information is provided by local and family history librarian George Livingston of Willard Library.

Newton LaVerne Fonda (Battle Creek Constable)

Note from fonda.org – the bio for Constable (Newton LaVerne) Fonda: b. Pennfield, MI; 1880 Census, Athens, Calhoun, MI; 1907 Battle Creek City Directory; 1900 Census, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co. MI (indexed as La Verne N Ferredy); 1910 Census, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co. MI (indexed as La Verne Fods); 1920 & 1930 Census, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., MI; 1921 Battle Creek City Directory, LaVerne (Nellie) Fondy (under-sheriff); bur Athens Twp., Calhoun Co., MI; o. Hook & Ladder Co. Foreman, Street Car Conductor, Deputy Sheriff, City Constable; [battlecreekenquirer.com – Dec 8, 2006 – Name of officer killed in 1926 to go on memorial – Trace Christenson – The Enquirer – An accidental shooting killed a Battle Creek police officer 80 years ago. Clayton Weed was a patrolman and just 26 when he died April 14, 1926, 15 days after he was shot in the leg inside police headquarters. According to newspaper accounts, Weed and other officers were in the headquarters just before 10 p.m. Weed was sitting when a revolver fell from the holster of officer Floyd Bailey and fired, hit the chair and lodged in Weed’s leg. Officer Bailey was exonerated in the shooting by Chief LaVern Fonda, but the chief ordered that all officers were to carry their revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer. Weed was not added to the department’s list of officers killed on duty until 1987, after Deputy Chief Terry Tobias researched police records and learned more about the death.]; [World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 – Newton LA Verne Fonda (LaVerne); White; b. 8 Feb 1874; Registration Place: Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., MI] >> www.fonda.org <<

written by admin \\ tags: History, Michigan, Municipal

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

Provincie Fryslân is inviting Americans with Frisian roots for a Festival and Friesland Day in New York

Thursday, 18 june 2009

Friesland (one of the northern provinces of the Netherlands) is inviting Frisian emigrants, descendants of immigrants and other Americans with Frisian roots for the Special Friesland Day on September 12th at the New isLand Festival in New York. By logging on to www.fryslan.nl/madeinfriesland interested parties can visit the festival at a discount.

This year the Netherlands are commemorating and celebrating 400 years of friendship ties with America. The province of Fryslân (Friesland) will also participate in the festivities in New York in September. The highlight is the Friesland Day on September 12th at the New isLand Festival on Governors Island off the coast of Manhattan. Frisian emigrants, descendants of immigrants and other Americans with Frisian roots will have the opportunity to visit the festival on September 12th, or any other day. For a pass giving access to the festival site, they do not pay USD 35, but only USD 25.

NYC Governors Island

Friesland Day: September 12th
The Frisian Oerol organization, together with several other organizations, is organizing the New isLand Festival on Governors Island. From September 10th to 20th 2009 the theme on the island will be the best the Dutch (and Frisian) theater and festival circuit has to offer. A number of Frisian artists will be performing. On September 12th Friesland Day will take place. This is a special day for everyone who feels connected with Friesland. During the day a book will be presented on 400 years of Frisian – American relationships. Also Frisian artists will be performing, such as the composer Sytze Pruiksma, fado singer Nynke Laverman and the striking poet Tsjêbbe Hettinga.

Frisian contingent gets sending off to festival in NYC Sept 10-20

Signing up through the website
Interested parties can sign up through the dedicated website www.fryslan.nl/madeinfriesland. Submissions will be treated in order of entry. A limited number of discount vouchers is available. The discount card voucher can be exchanged for a discount on the pass on the day of choice.

Background information
In 2009 it has been 400 years since Captain Henry Hudson with his Dutch East India Company ship the ‘Halve Maen’ visited what is now known as New York. This led to the founding of the colony of New Netherland and the city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan a few years later. These historical facts are cause for various governments and organizations to give a new impulse to the relationship between the Netherlands and the United States. Given the particular historical relationship of Friesland with America, the province will join in the commemoration of 400 years of friendship with America. In February 1782 the Frisian States were the first in the Republic of the United Netherlands to recognize the independence of the United States of America. In 2009 it has also been exactly a century ago that a bronze plaque, the Memorial of Gratitude to the Frisian States was offered by America.

With the slogan ‘Made in Friesland’ the province, together with Frisian companies and institutions, will be presenting the qualities of Friesland. The aim is to strengthen existing relationships and explore new ones. From September 1st to 20th various activities will be organized in New York, such as a presentation on water technology at the H209 Water Forum, the opening of the Fryslân House for entrepreneurs and Friesland Day during the New isLand Festival on Governors Island.

For more information on the New isLand Festival, visit www.newislandfestival.com.

written by admin \\ tags: History, Holland, Notables, Settlers

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

Exhibits — Lorenzo Fonda: A Retrospective

Embassy of Italy - Washington DC - June 2007

(a past event… for the archives) The Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute are cosponsoring an exhibition of artwork entitled “Lorenzo Fonda. A Retrospective.” The exhibit will be on display at the Italian Embassy until July 6, 2007. Maestro Fonda was born in Piran, Istria, in the former Yugoslavia in 1947. His family later moved to Trieste. He received a doctoral degree in medicine and surgery in 1976. His first personal show took place at the gallery “La Luna” in Perugia in 1969.

In 1984 Fonda had his first show in the United States at Andreas Galleries, in Washington D.C. His large canvas work “Trittico per la Pace” (1985) was presented to the town of Assisi, and is now permanently exhibited in the Sala della Conciliazione in Assisi’s Town Hall. In 1989, on the occasion of the USA / USSR Summit “Green Glasnost,” organized by actor Robert Redford, in Sundance, Utah, a large work of his became the symbol of that historical encounter. The work is now on display at the Institute for Resource Management. One of Fonda’s works is part of the permanent collection of the Michetti Museum in Francavilla al Mare, Italy. He has worked as set designer for Shakespeare in Jazz, with the direction of Giorgio Albertazzi, and, most recently, for the Teatro dell’Opera of Rome’s production of Richard Strauss Salomé.

written by admin \\ tags: Achievements, Art, Events