It’s that time again. Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time is drawing near. The end-of-the-summer tradition that’s been celebrated for more than a century in the Rumson-Fair Haven area. The community eats it all up. That and the food.

The kitchen crew has been prepping and cooking up some of that classic fair food for which people line up all night long. And, after a pandemic-induced unwelcome hiatus, the dining room made its much anticipated return. The take-out section never stopped serving up that fair goodness, except when COVID shut down the fair completely. 

So, at mid-week fair time, Retro Pic of the Day honors the  take-out booth. It’s a shot back in time from the summer of 1995.

The cagey booth still looks pretty much the same. But, there have been some variations on the menu. For instance, back in the 1990s day, mussels marinara was served up for $3. And quarts of that famous fair clam chowder was sold for $6.

Recognize the ladies taking orders? One is no longer with us. But both were pioneer women of the Fair Haven First Aid Squad. One is still a member and you’ll see her in the dining room at the fair.

Just looking at this photo can’t you smell that fried seafood in the air already? Your favorite? Anything that was a favorite that’s no longer on the menu?

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