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Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Fisk Chapel & Its People

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Another version of the following was originally published in February of 2016 … 

The Fair Haven Fisk Chapel AME Church is home to many community founders and their families. Its history juts deep into the entrenched roots of Fair Haven life.

As of Saturday, it will have been host to two Fair Haven centenarians’ funeral services — Mrs. Suggs last month and Mrs. Jetter tomorrow.

The modest little place and its humble, welcoming people have a very rich history all their own. A lot of the names and faces are traceable back to the early days of the church, back in the mid-1800s.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Fisk Chapel & Its People →

Local Life

Scene Around: Firehouse Fun on a May Day

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Fair Haven Firehouse marquee on May 4, 2017
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The marquee at the Fair Haven Firehouse is known as a spot for keeping residents in the know with announcements of all kinds.

Some are whimsical, fun messages, some little anecdotes, death announcements, kudos, birthdays, and plain ol events and townie updates.

Well, someone had a little fun with this one on Wednesday.

Who knows who posts those messages?

Local Life

Focus: Southern Cloud & Sea Exposure

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Sometimes there’s a call for a little jaunt along the coastline south of the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

And sometimes the timing is just right. Tuesday was that time.

The sun blazing along the Atlantic in southern Monmouth County, clouds were rising from the sea and reaching toward formations that looked like an ethereal netherworld.

Take a look …

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Retro RFH Spring Bug

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Lounging on the VW at RFH in the 1970s Photo/RFH Yearbook
Lounging on the VW at RFH in the 1970s
Photo/RFH Yearbook

Spring has sprung — and bounced back and forth a bit lately.

And with spring fever piping hot, sometimes a student, or anyone else, just feels the urge to close the book on a hectic life and bug out, so to speak. That’s lounging language — sorta.

What better way to practice springing into that lounging mode than by resting on the back of a VW Bug and hoping what’s on the printed page sinks in through osmosis.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors that sort of moment in time on a Monday that may have ya down with this shot from the RFH 1975 yearbook.

Know these slackers? Who had the VW bug bug?

Happy Monday …

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Centenarian

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U.S. Army Sgt. Ken Curchin, pilot in WW II
Photo/Curchin family

It’s a pretty well-known fact by now that Fair Haven’s Ken Curchin turned 100 on April 19.

The centenarian who’s favorite mantra is “Never quit!” led what he called a simple life enriched by family and attaining his dream of becoming a pilot when the odds were against him. After helping construct the Alcan Highway in Alaska during World War II, Ken Curchin ended up flying a B-17 Bomber in the war.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Centenarian →

Local Life

Ken Curchin: Fair Haven’s Centenarian

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Video and stories by Elaine Van Develde

Ken Curchin has been all over the world. He’s done and seen a lot. He flew a B-17 Bomber in World War II. He married his best gal and became a dad to five children. He was a barber in his family’s shop on Mechanic Street in Red Bank. He jumped off the Fair Haven Dock. All this and he says, with an eye twinkle and a his own brand of hearty hyena chuckle, that he’s “never been in the newspaper until now, sons a b******!”

Well, this is the second (or, we’re told, third) time, Mr. Curchin. Born on April 19, 1917 in the building that is now Frame It Yourself on River Road in Fair Haven, he is 100 years old today. Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect caught up with him for a second time on Easter. And what a time it was!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Curchin! Listen and learn … (Be sure to click the video to enlarge!)