Tag Archives: Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair

Local Life

Retro Ode to Fair Haven Firemen & RFH Class of ’80 Boys

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Fireman and boys of the RFH Class of '80 Photo/courtesy of Ray Bennett
Fireman and boys of the RFH Class of ’80
Photo/courtesy of Ray Bennett

Just as the RFH Class of ’80 celebrates 35 years since graduation, they’re setting up for the oh, so traditional Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.

And, we found, from a lifetime Fair Haven fireman, a classic photo of fireman meets guys from the Class of ’80 as they’re touring the firehouse and attempting to be junior firemen. Note that most of the guys in the pic had parents in the Fair Haven Fire Department.

So, yes, the Retro Pic of the Day honors Fair Haven firemen, future firemen and the scouts of the Class of ’80.

The photo comes from Ray Bennett, lifetime fireman, and, yes, that’s him on the right. The boys: Frank Leslie, Jim Kirman (?), Troy Brandon and Doug Lang.

Thanks for the pic, Ray Bennett!

Local Life

Going Retro With a Taste of Italy & a Fair Lady

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For our special treat today, in honor of all things Italian style and to honor the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company Spaghetti Dinner, we take you back to a minute with the fire company’s own fair Italian lady, Jeanette Choma.

Jeanette has been working at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair, well, forever. She loves working in the Grab Bag Booth and selling those balloons.

And, she will tell you in a heartbeat that she’s been at the fair for “50 YEARS!”

Watch what happens when we ask her about her age in this outtake clip above.

Local Life

Retro Look at a ‘Fair’ Councilwoman and Friends

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Fair Haven Councilwoman Susan Sorensen and husband Peter Maher enjoy the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair 2014 with friends. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Fair Haven Councilwoman Susan Sorensen and husband Peter Maher enjoy the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2014 with friends.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

On the cusp of reorganizations in Rumson and Fair Haven, we thought it might be appropriate to take a look back at warmer days of re-elected Fair Haven Councilwoman Susan Sorensen enjoying the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.

Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect had just started making the photo rounds when we ran into Sorensen, her husband, Peter Maher, and friends at the fair.

Congrats on soon being sworn in to your second term on New Year’s Day, Susan!

Local Life

Taking a Spin Back to Cotton Candy and Fair Days

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Millie Felsmann spins and serves cotton candy at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair's Out Back circa 1993. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Millie Felsmann spins and serves cotton candy at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s Out Back circa 1993.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

While we’re on a Fair Haven Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary roll, we figured we’d keep it going with a Retro Pic of the Day that hones in on some warmth with yet another “fair” lady, Millie Felsmann.

In this snapshot, Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1993, she was up to her usual cotton candy spinning and serving.

The booth she is pictured in is now called the Out Back. Then it was just referred to as “the hot dog booth.”

What’s your favorite goodie from that booth?

Local Life

Looking Back: Another Fair Gentleman

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Dave Ballatori, RFH Class of 2006, helps out at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Dave Ballatori, RFH Class of 2006, helps out at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde

It’s time for some more warm summer thoughts mixed with a little peek into a popular scene and its people.

We’re also sort of answering a challenge.

When we ran our Retro Pic of the Day not long ago that featured Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair regular at the Big Six tent, lifetime Fair Havenite Tom Kirman, it ended up getting more hits than any story or post in the, albeit brief, history of Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect — more than 1,000 and counting.

We also posted a little blurb announcing that fun fact. Dave Ballatori, RFH grad and co-worker of Kirman’s at the tent, gave his own, let’s say, five cents worth on the post and Kirman’s apparent popularity.

If you’ve frequented Fairwinds Deli over the years, as many have, you probably know Dave.

So, let’s see just how popular he is. Will his photo get more clicks or come close to Kirman’s click count?

News

Days of the Fair and Sizzler

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The Sizzler has been a mainstay at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair for many years.

How many, we’re not quite certain. But, we do know that it was there, and usually on the front grounds in the 1970s, maybe earlier.

Anyone? This year the ol’ classic was in the back near none other than the Zipper, another standard.

This editor still hasn’t gone on the Zipper. I know, chicken! Oh, well. Once a sissy …

The Sizzler has been on the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair grounds seemingly forever. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
The Sizzler has been on the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair grounds seemingly forever. Photo/Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

A Look Back at Our Fair Ladies

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Patty Overman and Ann Dupree at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Patty Overman and Ann Dupree at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde

These two ladies have been a staple at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair for probably close to half a century — not that they look it.

They really don’t. In fact, Patty Overman and Ann Dupree pretty much look the exact same as the first day they set foot on the fairgrounds.

Who knows the name of the booth the two have manned for years?

Local Life

Rewind: Picking a Fair Winner

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Tom Kirman spins the wheel for a winner at the 2014 Fair Haven Firemen's Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Tom Kirman spins the wheel for a winner at the 2014 Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde

As the cold sets in, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair and the end of summer seem like a distant memory.

But it always warms the heart to take a look back and forward to the next one.

Most people reappear manning the same booths from year to year. Tom Kirman is always at this one. Do you remember the name of it?

Fair Haven Police and Fire Files, Police and Fire

A Look Back at a Fair Haven Accident

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Police activity when a pedestrian was hit by a car on the last night of the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Police activity when a pedestrian was hit by a car on the last night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Photo/Elaine Van Develde

As the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair was closing up on its final night, the otherwise routine, tame evening was a bit rocked when a pedestrian was clipped by an SUV while crossing the street in the crossing lane in front of the firehouse.

Police cars quickly converged. While the young girl sustained minor injuries and was helped up and across the street, the driver of the vehicle that struck her, Rumson resident Dawn L. Capalbo, was placed under arrest and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, according to the Fair Haven Police report.

Were you there? R-FH Retro just happened to be. Have any photos of the recent or distant past in the area? Send them over to us at [email protected].