Peninsula House in Sea Bright in the 1970s. Photo/George Day EXCLUSIVELY for R-FH Retro
This Retro Pic of the (George) Day is a reprise, just because it speaks to everyone so much about winter and some Sea Bright love. Sometimes you just can’t get enough of this kind of view and the memories it stirs …
If you’re winter daydreaming of snow-capped visions of warm paradise memories, your thoughts may drift to the iconic Peninsula House. It’s as if it was still there. Sometimes, if you close your eyes, like any good memory, you can see it. It all comes back — blankets you in a Tsunami of heart smiles.
A day at the beach for Rumson Deane-Porter students in the 60s Photo/courtesy of Cindy Crowley
Oh, summertime is winding up already. And Rumson-Fair Haven area folks have been soaking up the positive beaching it vibes and renewal of close encounters with their days at the beach and clubbing it, as they do.
Elisha Slocum poses on Sea Bright Beach circa 1937. Photo/courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazucca
The sun is shining again and things are warming up, so we’re thinking back to summer days and a bit of a daze from decades way back in Sea Bright. Call it a retro summer day’s capture with many different messages.
Peninsula House Swim Team of the mid-1970s Photo/Facebook collection of Joanne DiStefano Garelli
Well, the sun made a promising appearance today, bringing with it warm thoughts of togetherness and teaming up for sun-kissed, carefree canoodling and a good swim.
Peninsula House Swim Team of the mid-1970s Photo/Facebook collection via Joanne DeStephano Garelli
It was teaming today — rain.
And in some parts of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, like Sea Bright, the precipitation and high tides were forecasted to bring the usual coastal flooding to Sea Bright — or pools of water taken to the street, at least.
So, in keeping with wishes for voluntary swimming (rather than doggie paddling across the street) and sunnier days, the Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to the mid-1970s a different kind of team — not teaming rain, but swim team(ing).
This is the old Peninsula House Swim Team. Check out those freestyle tans, toothy grins and suits. Remember Peninsula House, commonly dubbed P-House? It was a popular, affordable beach club to team up with RFH buds and join back in the day. Recognize any of the RFHers win this pic?
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
Peninsula House in Sea Bright in the 1970s. Photo/George Day
Yup. Summer’s coming soon. The spring weather lately (finally) has been cooperatively nice.
So, that in mind, we look back to the days of summer in the 1970s and a classic beach club — when, honestly, beach clubs were affordable for all.
Peninsula House in Sea Bright was more than a beach club. It was a bar and lounge by the sea with several rooms and porches dedicated to different interests. No place will ever be the same. Rumson-Fair Haven area people called it P-House.
It was a classic.
So, with our Retro Pic of the (George) Day, tell us about your favorite P-House memories.
And, thanks, once again, to the great George Day, for yet another great memory on film!
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