Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady — Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

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.

She was identified as a special officer. So, yes indeed, she was official. Though, I’d still like to know how rope partners were determined. I’m still irked that she wouldn’t let me walk next to my best friend, Pam.

The fresh-cut, uneven bangs were traumatic enough on the first day of school.

The press photo with McDaniel toting the kids to what was the Youth Center, now Community Center and police station, doesn’t show McDaniel completely. A separate press photo (above) does, though, as she poses at Sickles School, formerly Willow Street School.

McDaniel was a crossing guard/special officer. And in those days, the uniform was very police-like and commanded respect and, to ask the kids from those days, a bit of fear. Hey, Dorothy Breckenridge was that guard stationed at Knollwood for many years and every Fair Haven kid from those days knows that they dared not step their feet off of the curb until they heard her iconic “CRROOOSSSS!”

As for McDaniel, we’re pretty sure an “s” was incorrectly added to her name in the featured photo caption.

Speaking of … That caption says the “device is considered an effective safety measure by school officials.” Now, with a rash of parents driving and dropping kids off, there have been safety issue complaints and police strictly enforce adherence to a 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. Third Street is cordoned off to drivers during school arrival and dismissal hours.

Complaints still ensue. What do you think? Should they bring back the rope? Hmmmm.

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