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Local Life, Opinion

Remembrance of the Fair Stock Room Dude — Dad

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The following piece was originally published on Aug. 31, 2015. It is being re-run, with changes only in the amount of years that have passed, in memory of my father, Bill Van Develde, former longtime Fair Haven Fire Company member, president and captain of the Fire Police and chairman of the stock room at the fair, on the anniversary of his death on Aug. 31, 1983. RIP, Dad. You are missed. Thank you for all the embarrassing moments that I didn’t appreciate enough. Thank you for making Fair Haven my home. Thank you for being a real dad. See you later at the fair …

Retro Fair Haven Firemen's Fair stock room days in the 1970s Photo/FHFD booklet
Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair stock room days in the 1970s
Photo/FHFD booklet

By Elaine Van Develde

It’s been 36 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.

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Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Balloon Boss & Buddies

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Sally Van Develde selling balloons at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair Grab Bag Booth

The following piece was originally published in August of 2015. Here it is again in honor of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and my mom, Sally Van Develde, to whom this site is dedicated … 

Growing up in Fair Haven with parents in the fire company, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time meant time spent inflating punch balls during the day and helium balloons at night.

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Local Life

Retro Happy Fair Haven Campers

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Happy campers at the Fair Haven campout in 2013
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s been a steamy summer. One hot Fair Haven summer event was a short-lived one for this seasonal reason, because it was, let’s say, too hot to handle. That would be the summer campout. It’s been moved to the fall.

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Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Girlfriend Celebration

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Gaggle of Fair Haven girlfriends get-together of the late 1960s
Photo/Sandi Richards von Pier

There’s nothing quite like a simple summer day of hanging out with a gaggle of your favorite gals. Back in the day, that was the way. Birthday party, perhaps? Those were no-frills home events, too. There were goodie bags, games and good ol’ fun.

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Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Buds’ Bonding Times

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  • Backyard fun with Fair Haven buddies Photo/courtesy of Dwayne Reevey
  • Backyard fun with buddies of Fair Haven Photo/courtesy of Dwayne Reevey

Looking back again at some simple neighborhood kids’ fun from spring to summer to winter to fall …

Summer funnin’, they had themselves a blast. No matter the season, it’s all about lifelong bonds. Simple connections forged through some simple fun. A bunch of Fair Haven boys. A bag of Cheetos. Dirt-eating grins. Pranks. Pull the ol’ finger. The little things are what made these guys smile — and wipe their pants with orange-stained Cheeto hands.

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Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Dock Daze

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Summer days down by the Fair Haven Dock
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

You’ve seen and heard it before, but a trip back to the summer days at the Fair Haven Dock always bears a revisit …

Summer fun in Fair Haven doesn’t get any simpler or more treasured than ending the day down by the Fair Haven Dock, sand between the toes, a few antics up the sleeve, a little seaweed in the shorts, and a crab or 20. Dock time has been a time-honored tradition for kids since, well, the dawn of time.

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