The historic, unprecedented news came on Tuesday night. For the third rare time in more than a century, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2020 has been cancelled.
Continue reading A Covid-19 Era Break in Tradition: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair CancelledTag Archives: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
In Memorium: Longtime Fair Havenite Sheila Haese, 73
Longtime Fair Havenite Sheila Egan Haese passed away at Riverview Medical Center on April 25 from multiple medical complications and cancer. She was 73.
Continue reading In Memorium: Longtime Fair Havenite Sheila Haese, 73Focus: A Fair Finish
The rides are dismantled. The chowder is sold out. The grounds are cleared. Games of chance are won and done. Town tales spun, lifetime friendships rekindled and begun. The 2019 Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has come to a close for another year, but not before a banner finale.
Here’s a glimpse into fair closing night happenings and people on Saturday, from daylight to dark … (Don’t forget to CLICK on each photo to enlarge! Click again on same photo to advance to the next. Enjoy!)
— Elaine Van Develde
Reflection: All’s Fair in the Middle
There have been a lot of significant beginnings and endings lately. The end of summer. The beginning of locals’ summer. The start of school — new chapters and first days.
But, what about the middle? The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair brings me, and probably more than a few others, back to that middle.
Remembrance of the Fair Stock Room Dude — Dad
The following piece was originally published on Aug. 31, 2015. It is being re-run, with changes only in the amount of years that have passed, in memory of my father, Bill Van Develde, former longtime Fair Haven Fire Company member, president and captain of the Fire Police and chairman of the stock room at the fair, on the anniversary of his death on Aug. 31, 1983. RIP, Dad. You are missed. Thank you for all the embarrassing moments that I didn’t appreciate enough. Thank you for making Fair Haven my home. Thank you for being a real dad. See you later at the fair …
By Elaine Van Develde
It’s been 36 years, but I can still see his face and that kooky Brylcreemed hairdo. I can still hear his crazy belly laugh and that signature “Take ‘er easy, buddy!” I can still see him slapping kids on the back, forever clutching his trusty clipboard, pencil perched behind his ear, sweat on the brow and finger wagging.
Continue reading Remembrance of the Fair Stock Room Dude — Dad
Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Balloon Boss & Buddies
The following piece was originally published in August of 2015. Here it is again in honor of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and my mom, Sally Van Develde, to whom this site is dedicated …
Growing up in Fair Haven with parents in the fire company, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time meant time spent inflating punch balls during the day and helium balloons at night.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Balloon Boss & Buddies
Retro Fair Take-Out
It’s something to steep in … the thought of any sort of Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair food. Many do all fair week long.
Continue reading Retro Fair Take-OutFocus: A Fair Start in Fair Haven
Call it a fair beginning. The end of the summer signals the start of The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair — more than a century’s worth of big tradition in the small peninsula borough.
Continue reading Focus: A Fair Start in Fair HavenA Fair Haven Girl’s Fair Haunt
The night is still. A light is on. Trucks are out of the bays. Cartoony faces and ghosts in empty seats on unassembled carnival rides stare back in the dark. Someone’s cooking at the Fair Haven firehouse. It’s fair time.
Continue reading A Fair Haven Girl’s Fair HauntRetro Merry-Go-Round Ride
About a quarter of a century ago, a little girl got on the carousel at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and took a ride.
Continue reading Retro Merry-Go-Round RideGoing Retro with the Secret Fair Clam Chowder Recipe
The following story was first published on Sept. 7, 2016. In honor of the week-long Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and all its tradition, including that famous clam chowder, here it is again …
The recipe for the famous Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Manhattan clam chowder was considered a highly-guarded secret. People flocked to get their fill at the fair, because they could only get it once a year. It was a secret taken to the grave with former Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Chairman James Acker.
Continue reading Going Retro with the Secret Fair Clam Chowder Recipe
Focus: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Opening Night
The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair opened on Friday night under clear skies and a blanket of tradition and hometown comfort.
Continue reading Focus: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Opening Night
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