It was 50/50 announcing business as usual for John Riley on the last night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. It was also his 69th birthday.
Someone got a hold of the mic that’s usually always in Riley’s hands and announced that the birthday on Saturday.
So, Monday’s Retro Pic(s) of the Day is dedicated to Riley.
Riley is pretty modest. And he looks exactly the same as he did back in the early 1970s when this editor first met him during her childhood.
Riley has been a lifetime Fair Havenite and a decades-long member of the Fair Haven Fire Department. He also worked in the borough’s Department of Public Works seemingly forever.
He always has a smile on his face. He wears his modest, gentle demeanor and love of hometown on his sleeve and in his eyes.
Happy Birthday, John Riley! Thank you for all you’ve done for the love of Fair Haven!
As Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
That’s sort of how it goes when the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair ends after it’s traditional end-of-summer week-long stint — because it’s never really over.
The fair never really ends. And most of the people running it are still around year-round.
So are the fairgoers in the area. It’s called community. And it’s something that may culminate annually at the fair, but is a mainstay of life in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.
But there is that annual closing night. There are also some fair traditions that have not ensued over the years. Do you know what they are?
We do.
Did you know? …
• that there used to be a high wire act on closing night? It dates back to the mid- to late- 60s and early 70s. I think Batman may have actually been there, too.
• There also used to be a band playing nightly on the front balcony of the firehouse. The bands King James and His Court and Pete Galatro’s Orchestra were staples. And, in later years, there was carnival music piped onto the grounds. Notice that there is no longer any music?
• Candy apples, a longtime fair treat, are no longer made and sold at the fair.
• There used to be a booth where you could win Kewpie dolls and many of them served as toilet paper covers, with embroidered skirts to cover the roll.
• There was also a booth where television sets and other smaller appliances were prizes.
• There was no super 50/50. There was a car raffle.
• There was a carousel ride.
• The Zipper has been a fair ride since the dawn of time.
Generations of Fair Haven Fire Department people have worked the fair for decades. Tradition. Some things never change. It ain’t over.
As closing time for the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair came, yet another old picture popped up, and there was a little chat on the fair grounds with a present co-chairman of the fair and the stockroom guy of more recent years — Andy Schrank and Frank Leslie.
Frank Leslie and Andy Schrank on the last night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Schrank, now one of three co-chairs, took us back in time a bit. He reminded us of the times when there was only one chairman. Before there were the present three, Gary Verwilt, former longtime Knollwood School teacher, had the job. Back in the day, though, from the late 1960s to the late 80s, that guy was James Acker.
So, the Retro Pic of the day features a photo of Acker peering out of the stockroom at fair time somewhere in the middle of those years.
What does the chairman do? Well, it’s what it sounds like. He has to make sure that everything is up and running right, son Bill said.
There’s some haggling that goes on over purchases, rentals and state operation licenses.
In then end, though, it’s all boils down to just making sure things are always running smoothly. And they always have.
James Acker, or Jimmy, as my dad called him, always had a sincere smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes, especially when talking about the fire company. He always looked people straight in the eyes when talking to them, too. He was just a nice guy who, his son reminds us, was stubbornly dedicated when it came time to chair that fair — but always a friend.
“I remember going to New York to Conelle’s to buy stuff (prizes) for the fair and rent the tents,” Bill said. “When Dad and Mr. Conelle got together, it was like watching two dogs fight over a bone. But when it was done, Mr. Conelle and Dad were like old friends again.”
Yes, James Acker was loyal. He loved his fire company and his friends. A perfect example of his extreme loyalty was his helicopter dad manner when protecting the fair’s famous clam chowder secret.
He had the secret recipe to the much sought-after soup. He got it from an old Fair Haven friend. He made that chowder with that recipe, Acker kids getting things cooking beside him, for decades.
As promised, Bill said, the recipe went to the grave with him. He had promised the hander-down of the hush-hush concoction that it would never be shared with another soul. It wasn’t.
It was a measure of commitment to the best for Jim Acker, loved his fellow firemen — enough to make sure he got the fair the best chowder around. And it was bowl-licking good.
Oh, the new recipe is good, too, but he and some others would have to argue that the secret recipe version had a bit of an edge.
A 1983 story from the Red Bank Register archives on the fair has Jim Acker quoted. He said that the fair drew about 5,000 people a night then. He also said that it took about 225 people a night to operate it. Don’t forget, there was no internet purchasing then. He said he started going into New York and buying $25,000 worth of prizes in January (from Mr. Conelle, whose first name escapes Bill) for the 15 games of chance.
The big prize in 1983 was a Dodge 400 convertible, rather than the present super 50/50.
Oh, and among the prizes purchased were cartons of cigarettes for the Big Six tent, now the Money Wheel.
Step right up for a spin on the fair memory wheel! Game of chance? No. It’s a sure bet that there are many more where it came from.
RIP James Acker. Thanks for the memories … oh, and the chowder!
Everything’s still coming up — and down — in Sea Bright.
It’s been nearly three years since Hurricane Sandy just about leveled the peninsula town.
Since then, homes and businesses have been rebuilt, raised and razed. And, just recently, there have been some more changes to the landscape with more raising and razing.
Some homes are just now being lifted and revamped; and the old firehouse and police station are gone, leaving a clear view from Ocean Avenue to the ocean.
Take a look at some before and after photos of the same scenes.
It’s the night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair when firemen, first aid squad members, police officers — really, all first responders — from all around the country are welcomed to the fair to join their brothers and sisters, honor one another, be treated to some food and drink and just get together and have a good time.
That night was — always is — Wednesday. Tradition. The fair grounds were packed with the people who show up when you dial 9-1-1.
This year, responders showed up from as near as Rumson to as far as Alexandria, VA. True story.
Also on the grounds were reps from: Tinton Falls, Middletown, Shrewsbury, Morganville, Sea Bright, Eatontown, Manalapan, Colts Neck, Ramtown, Freehold (East, Borough and Township), Englishtown, Long Branch, Allenhurst, Brielle and Holmdel.
Oh, and milling around giving thanks to the firemen, showing support for his Fair Haven neighbors and enjoying the festivities with wife Lolly was Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl.
Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the evening of tradition and thanks. (Don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge!)
It runs through Saturday, Sept. 5. As a mid-week reminder of what it all means to people in the area, here’s a look at a few pre-opening night and opening night photos of the scenery in a different color tone — sepia.
It captures the retro aspect of this longtime tradition — or not. Either way, it’s an interesting perspective. Take a look.
Robert John in the 1970s
Photo/screenshot of YouTube video
Robert John and Williams Honor
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Remember those songs in the 70s you slow-danced to or sat in a dark corner and cried over during that teen break-up? Or maybe you blasted them in the car with your gal pals, willing him to come back!
Was one of them Sad Eyes or Hey There Lonely Girl? How about The Lion Sleeps Tonight? OK, maybe not that one.
They were classics. Still are. And, Robert John, the man who wrote Sad Eyes and sang all of them, hitting all those high notes perfectly, lives in the area.
It doesn’t get any simpler or more enjoyable. A summer night spent at an impromptu music jam/record release party with rising stars.
The temperature was high and so were the spirits of a fortunate few who were treated to a few sets of serenading by Asbury Park-based country duo Williams Honor — vocalist Reagan Richards and instrumentalist and singer Gordon Brown.
The two made their way to Ron’s West End Pub to share their special night, calling it a “home” reminiscent of the type of places in Nashville, Tennessee where talent is typically honed in embracing musical improv nooks.
After doing separate stints in Nashville, the two, each with his/her own Jersey shore connections, wound up meeting in Asbury. Upon being introduced at The Saint, they struck up a kinship over music style.
That’s when their united melodious fight began. It’s a fight to keep their brand of country storytelling thriving through song in an area they think is prime for it but never gave the genre a fair shake.
They’ve now been going country strong for about a year. That year culminated in the record release Sept. 1. Another special surprise for them and everyone else was that they love to cover the iconic 1970s song Sad Eyes, and its writer and singer, Robert John, was in the drop-by audience.
No one was name-dropping, but Williams Honor was, well, honored.
And, what’s in that name?
The impetus for the Williams Honor moniker, the two said, was to honor both of their fathers, military vets. Richards’ father’s name was William. His dog tag dangles around her neck, an integral piece for her in her everyday jewelry draping.
“Some people are uncomfortable with it,” she said. “They say you’re not supposed to wear it as jewelry. But I like to have him (and everything he stood for) close to me all the time, so I can honor, remember him (and vets like him) all the time … holding onto him in a positive way.”
Brown’s father’s name is not William, but he said they chose to use Richards’ dad’s name as a sort of duplicate honor for both and multiple for all vets — thus the plural rather than singular possessive of the name in the group.
To honor the band’s namesake and the difficulty faced by families of those going off to war, the two said they wrote a song that puts a positive twist on the experience, albeit bittersweet.
It’s called Don’t Wanna Let You Go, and “we finished mixing it about 15 minutes before we came to Ron’s,” Brown said. “It’s the last song we finished for the record.”
“When people go off to war, when they go off into the military, there’s obviously the chance that they won’t come back,” Richards said. “Well, this is a very hopeful song on the record. This is about them coming back, and everybody being so proud, as we are …”
So it goes …
“Keep your father’s laugh he’s in everything you do, and we both know he’d be so proud of you … I don’t wanna let you go … And all that you need to know is I won’t let you go …”
You may not wanna to let Williams Honor go once you hear them.
It’s been 32 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.
That’s the vivid, comforting ghost image of Bill Van Develde I still see and hear roaming around on the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair grounds. He was head of the stockroom back in the 1970s and 80s and he was my quirky, big-hearted dad.
Shannon Connor Brett hasn’t been home in three years.
The 2001 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School graduate, daughter of longtime Fair Havenites Dale and Mike Connor and sister to Allison married a Fair Haven fireman and U.S. Navy guy and moved to California. He’s stationed there.
The Connor family welcomed her, husband C. Thomas (Chris) Brett and their three children back to their old stomping grounds with a little hometown get-together Sunday — and just in time for the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.
Chris Brett is still a Fair Haven Fire Department member himself. His dad, Barry, was chief in 1994. His mom, Tricia, also an active member of the fire company, has been captain of the Fire Police three times. You can always find her at the Out Back serving ice cream at the fair.
And it’s no secret that Dale and Mike are longtime Fair Haven Fire Department members.
Tonight was the night! It was opening night of the classic Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.
Friends, neighbors and firemen, new and old, once again forged their connections at the fair touted to be the largest firemen’s fair in New Jersey and probably the country.
The weather was fine and so was the company. Take a look.
(And don’t forget to click on the lower right icon to enlarge for the full view of the slideshow! Enjoy! See you at the fair!)
The weather has been so season-appropriate that it almost looks like the seagulls have been dancing on the beach.
OK, maybe not dancing, but they’re seemingly sunning and hopping along — happily. OK, maybe they just see something good to eat and are anticipating a good grab and gobble.
Whatever the case may be, the gulls on the beach in Sea Bright are hanging out pretty close to humans.
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