Article date: June 27, 2001

By: Mary Jordan

There is a vast history behind the Avtex Superfund site in Front Royal, which is why some local groups are working to preserve it.

The Avtex Stakeholders group, a representative body of people and organizations interested in site related issues, and FMC Corp., which is responsible for the cleanup of the site, are working on a project that will focus on the location’s history.

The Avtex Legacy Project consists of collecting artifacts, photos and oral memories of past employees.

"It’s a big part of the industrial era that hasn’t been recorded yet," said project coordinator Sue Riner.

Avtex Site Manager Doug Bement said he hopes the community will "recognize the worth of the project" and contribute to the cause.

So far, Riner has collected photos of Avtex at various points in history, service awards from former employees, FMC Jewelry and pins and several Avisco News newsletters— a monthly publication about the Avtex site.

"We’ve got a lot of the pieces, we have a lot of material that will tell interesting stories," Bement said.

Bement and Riner said they would like to display these artifacts in a museum. For the time being, Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Stephen Heavener has agreed to let them store the items in the basement of the former administration building.

Riner said their focus of the Legacy Project is to go beyond the manufacturing work that was done at Avtex and get into the lives of the people that worked there.

Because some of the oldest former Avtex employees are in their 80's Riner said she has been conducting interviews on audiotape to capture their stories.

Riner said 26 people have been interviewed so far, but they have a growing list of over 80 people who they want to interview. Riner said they already have 30 hours of oral histories on tape.

"There’s a wonderful story to be told," Riner said. "We’re fortunate to have living history right here before us."

Riner said the interviews go "far beyond the job," into areas like family life. Many employees who worked at Avtex had other family members who also worked there, she said.

Riner added that many employees were associates with the stigma of working in a "pollution site." However, most are happy to see the redevelopment project taking place, Riner said.

"They are taking pride in the site again because it is being cleaned up and it’s being turned into a productive use again," she said. "They’re very interested in seeing this site being turned around."