Category Archives: News

Find all the local news updates here

Local Life, Opinion

Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady

Image

A reprise in honor of those folks who used to be in charge of keeping the kids safe on their walk to school. Remember when everyone walked to school?

It was a time when kids had to walk the … rope.

The first day of school, last week, was commemorated with a look back to that first day in 1965 in Fair Haven.

It was the very first day of school — for kindergarteners. It was also a finale year. That class was the last of all that walked on a rope to the Youth Center (now Fair Haven Community Center downstairs and the police station upstairs).

While classmates were remembered, the identity of the official lady tugging that rope was not.

So, as an ode to that woman, who was eventually remembered as Mary McDaniel, the Retro Pic of the Day is another look, from the archives of the Red Bank Register, of that kindergarten class walk, headed by Mc Daniel.

Continue reading Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady →
Local Life

Focus: Going Home to a ‘Middle’ of Fair Sights, Friends, Neighbors and a High Five

Gallery

But, what about the middle? The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has always brought me, and many a “fair” kid, back to that middle haven. It’s home … It’s that time — the time when you held it and walked with it (that balloon that eventually got away) that made you smile — like a memory. Letting it go never takes that middle away. ~ Elaine Van Develde

Call it finding a new “middle.” The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2025 came on Saturday night.

The beginning of the end-of-summer tradition — for not only Fair Havenites, but the many who’ve bonded with it in a community brick-and-mortar-like solidarity — came more than 120 years ago.

Continue reading Focus: Going Home to a ‘Middle’ of Fair Sights, Friends, Neighbors and a High Five →
Local Life

Retro Rumson Firemen’s Fair Moment

Image
Rumson Fire Department folks at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair 2015 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson Fire Department folks at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2015
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Reprise in honor of Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair week and what used to be called Firemen’s Night, now Emergency Responders’ Night, which was last night …

Well, the fair is on and nothing has stopped it yet.

A tradition within the fair tradition is Firemen’s Night. Fire departments from across the state flock to the fair, most with reps riding into town on their towns’ fire trucks. It happens annually on Wednesday night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse into Firemen’s Night 10 years ago, in 2015, with a photo of guys and gals from the neighboring Rumson Fire Department.

A big thank you to all our volunteer firefighters!

Recognize anyone in this crew?  Have you thanked a firefighter today?

These daily stories, photos, looks back and tributes on R-FH Retro are brought to you courtesy of supporters. If you like R-FH Retro, keep the site going by sponsoring more. Click here to donate any amount you wish. Contact me for an ad or sponsorship at evd@rfhretro.com. Thank you!

Investment Process
Local Life

Retro Little Folk Singin’ Fair Ladies

Fair Haven Folk Singers at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1960s
Photo/Jack Croft via Mary Croft

There’s nothing better, or more carnival apropos, to kick off the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair than a parade. And, back in the day, like the ’60s or early ’70s day, it happened.

Continue reading Retro Little Folk Singin’ Fair Ladies →
Local Life

Retro RFH Class of ’78 First Reunion Girls

Image

The year was 1988. It was a decade past graduation, yet, The Hustle was still happening. So was Saturday Night Fever. And three besties had the fever getting set to dance to the tune of the RFH Class of ’78’s first reunion — the 10th in 1988.

Continue reading Retro RFH Class of ’78 First Reunion Girls →
From the Meeting Room, News

A Fair Haven Historic Preservation Commission FYI

Historic Commission members discuss business at the July 22 meeting
— Photo/David Vilacoba

By David Vilacoba

Most Fair Haven residents don’t realize that the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission, an advisory board to the governing body designed to protect and promote all things historical, meets and shares discoveries and stamps of approval regularly.

The most recent meeting yielded some interesting tidbits.

Call it a sign of the times. The Fair Haven Historic Preservation Commission approved two new signs on 775 River Road at its monthly meeting on July 22. 

Two businesses submitted applications for the approval of those signs by the borough advisory committee: LSK Interior Design and Bloombar Café et Fleurs, a flower shop with a small cafe in it that also sells specialty coffee.

The committee approved both requests with little hassle, the only condition being that the original signpost will not be altered.

The building at 775 River Road used to be an old residence, according to Arthur Pavluk, the Commission chair. The residence was then turned into a business in the borough’s historic business district, and has been renovated and restored to make the building look, “more period correct,” Pavluk said.

In other news, the committee plans to go ahead with work to renovate Fisk Chapel, which is more commonly known as Bicentennial Hall. External work is planned for the chapel, however many committee members brought up concerns about the acoustics of the building as well.

Fisk Chapel was built in 1882 on Fisk Street by an African-American Methodist congregation made up primarily of freed slaves coming north after the end of the civil war. The chapel was moved to its current location in 1975, and when saved and put on the National Registry of Historic Places, was renamed Bicentennial Hall.

The Historic Preservation Commission has used the structure for a while, but plans to move back to Borough Hall soon for its meetings. The chapel will be continue to be used for other functions.

Also during the meeting, Borough Councilwoman Tracy Cole, liaison to the Commission, announced plans to create an online archive for historical sites across the borough.

“Not everything can fit on a plaque,” Cole said. 

The Historic Association of Fair Haven, under the umbrella of the official borough Commission is in the process of creating a website, as announced by Commission member and Association President Elise Casey on social media.

The Association’s annual garden party is being held on Sept. 6.

In other news, an old capstan was found at the Department of Public Works and Commission members are trying to figure out its origins and history along with what to do with it.

And the transom (upper window) of the old Youth Center, which was Fair Haven Police Department until recently, has been saved as a piece of borough history. It is the original window above the door to the building, which was a very historic place that was a segregated school house. In later years, after segregation ended, there were a few years when kindergarten was held in the upstairs of the main building.

Members are coordinating where the transom should be placed in the new building.

— Featured photo/David Vilacoba