A Eulogy
by Mark Williams

I would like to offer a eulogy for the passing of a dear old friend who had reached the ripe old age of 100-years (1906-2006).

Despite the collection of clowns who have mis-managed the grand old dame of electronic powders; she persevered, changing and evolving with the times until the incompetence of her managers finally became too much.

Life began in 1906 by the often colorful Dr. Augustus Rossi; Civil Engineer and Draftsman who, contrary to his Italian name, emigrated from France. First settling in New York City and then, to the power City of the world; Niagara Falls.

At his newly acquired site, located outside of the City limits, Dr Rossi began experimentation with single phase furnace operations for the production of titanium alloy, a strengthening compound, used in the production of steel for the expanding railway industry.

Throughout his tenure, the plant grew and expanded into an array of buildings from post and beam construction, riveted columns to the modern day pre-fabrication. Calciners and mix tanks provided not just titanium but ceramic powders for the likes of Kohler and lead for fine china.

During WWII Tam contributed to the often maligned Manhattan Project providing calcined uranium for the use and manufacture of the atomic bomb. A legacy frowned upon by today’s judgmental society, but a concentrated and unilateral effort by all of the Niagara Falls manufacturing sites that history and our government has chosen to ignore.

In 1946, Dr. Rossi merged with National Lead Industries, later known as NL Industries for the manufacture of paint pigments for Dutch Boy Paints. Locals will recall the now long gone water tower with the Dutch Boy logo.

Though, another example of Tam’s ability to change with the times; this process left it’s own legacy of lead based paint contamination an addition to the already present boron nitrate and uranium contamination.

In 1979 NL Industries decided to divest itself of Tam by closing down. The excuse was that the facility was too small to continue operation which could have been genuine because, to NL Industries credit, they assumed all contamination liability and still do to this day.

However, the spirit of Dr. Rossi revealed his guardianship when Cookson America purchased the facility and began the modern day production of dielectric powders for the semi conductor industry simultaneously continuing the production of ceramic and lead based powders for fine china.

I was employed with Tam from 1989 until 1997 as an Engineering Assistant and Design Draftsman plus worked as a consultant from 1997 until 2000. Ironically, the managers would respond with the “deer in the head lights” stare if my name were mentioned to them.

After a bitter strike, Tam was sold to Ferro Electronics Materials in 1999 and it appeared that this sale was a positive move for the history of Tam with all of the improvements that initially followed.

Unfortunately, the process engineering group, headed-up by the Napoleon-Complex Lyn LaBrake and his organ grinder monkey, with his groping hands and sexual comments, Tim Stone, was allowed to grasp hold of the reigns of power and the demise of the once grand lady began.

I close this eulogy with my personal epitaph that Ferro Electronics will not be allowed to simply walk away from this 35-acre manufacturing site but will provide indefinite employment opportunities in the form of ground contamination remediation, monitoring and a site care taking work force.

Perhaps Dr. Rossi will get the last laugh after all.