Tag Archives: John Ekdahl

Swimming in Retro ‘P’ House

It’s just one of those days — an everybody-in-the-pool kinda day.

It’s the kind of day when a Rumson-Fair Haven area person wishes he or she could take a swim, sit on a poolside porch overlooking the ocean and rock. Really rock … in a rocking chair at the old iconic Peninsula House.

It’s been gone for years, but the memories of the giant old hotel-turned-beach club are definitely not. It’s a pretty sure bet that anyone who grew up in the area has at least one story tucked away in the memory and ready to tell about the place that was a beach club by day (and a reasonable one at that) and seaside club by night.

Most locals met up at P House for socializing one way or another, be it at a swim meet, to take a little non-competitive dip, lounging by the ocean in the summer, or rocking in those rocking chairs on that wrap-around porch or to the tunes of one of the bands at night.

So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day take us back to the spot with some shots of Rumson’s well-known longtime mayor, John Ekdahl, poolside and megaphone in hand for a meet, the entrance to the grand place, some familiar area ladies on the porch and the swim team of yesteryear.

 

Take a gander and tell us your favorite P House memory.

Peninsula House Swim Team of the mid-1970s
Photo/Facebook collection

— Photos/Facebook collection screenshots

Rumson Mayor Inducted into Hall of Fame

As a testament to his decades-long service to the borough, Rumson Mayor John E. Ekdahl has been inducted into the Elected Officials Hall of Fame.

The honor was bestowed upon him recently by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities during the 24th Annual Mayors Legislative Day on Feb. 24 at the State House Annex in Trenton.

“The Elected Officials Hall of Fame recognizes these officials who have selflessly guided their communities through the good times and difficult times, often with little recognition of their public service,” State League of Municipalities President Joseph Tempesta, Jr., also mayor of West Caldwell Township, said. “This small token of appreciation focuses a light on their sacrifices over lengthy tenures, demonstrating how much they care and serving as excellent examples of civic pride for all citizens to emulate.”

The honor is reserved for local municipal governing body members who, as of December 2015, served for more than 20 years in elected municipal office. And that length of public service for Ekdahl has been nearly double that — or roughly 38 years.

Mayor Ekdahl began his formal service on the borough’s Zoning Board of Adjustment in 1978, serving as its chairman from 1991-95. He was elected to the Rumson Borough Council in November of 1996 and was appointed mayor in 2004 when Mayor Charles S. Callman stepped down. Since then, he has been re-elected three times. His current term ends on December 31, 2019.

There are currently 566 inductees in the Elected Officials Hall of Fame.

Congratulations, Mayor Ekdahl! And thank you for your service!

Lookin’ Back on Good R-FH Times

Rumson Mayor John Ekdal and Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli enjoy a time together. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson Mayor John Ekdal and Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli enjoy a time together.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

In light of the tremendous amount of sadness lately in the Rumson-Fair Haven area, our Retro Pic of the Day focuses on better times.

Pictured here are our Rumson and Fair Haven mayors having a great time after the A.J. Bruder Memorial Race in Rumson a couple of years ago.

These two look like they’re up to something, ever as friendly as both are.  Remember?