Today, we take a look back at the Fair Haven Reorganization and the first responders sworn in and offer another thank you to all of those who volunteer to protect us.
The other fire companies that responded to the Blithewald fire were: Sea Bright, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Asbury Park.
Fair Haven officials have said all along that once the transformation to passive recreation park takes hold, a plaque commemorating the Williams family and its Robards descendants will be anchored on the site. The plaque will include a brief history of the land’s significance.
For now, though, getting set for some major landscaping is the priority.
“The DPW is finishing up with clearing the property of any remaining bits of debris from the demolition,” Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “The borough’s arborist has assessed the trees on the property and made a determination of which can be cut down and which must be saved. Becker Tree Service, which has a contract with the borough, will soon remove the trees that cannot be saved.”
After that, the property will be readied for turf and landscaping.
Taxpayers contributed roughly $200,000 to the acquisition of the $1.2 million plat. The remainder of the money to purchase it came from state, county and non-profit grants — all of which were contingent upon a commitment to eternally preserve the land as open space.
Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the property’s history, from borough acquisition to the home’s demolition.
The 160-year-old waterfront DeNormandie Avenue home that freed slave Charles Williams built — and made home to his immediate family and Robards family descendants — was demolished to make way for a passive park was on the banks of the Navesink River in Fair Haven.
The acquisition of the property has been in the works, via several funding avenues, for the better part of a decade.
The borough finally acquired the 6.9-acre property in the fall to preserve a rare swath of waterfront open space for future generations to enjoy, rather than letting it be sold to a private developer and closed off from public access.
The house, officials have said, was in too much disrepair to preserve. Also, as part of the deal for procurement of funding for the $1.2 million acquisition, borough officials had to agree to demolish the home.
The most recent owners, the Robards descendants, had lived in the house since 1855.
“Winifred Robards (who lived there since 1855, when she was 3) was known to invite kids onto the property to play and enjoy it all the time,” Lucarelli said.
It was her wish to pay that forward, Lucarelli had said. A plaque commemorating the Williams-Robards families will be erected on the site with a recounting of its history, Lucarelli said at the announcement of the acquisition in the fall.
The uncharacteristic March cold staved off progress for a bit, but with the spring warmth come the finishing touches of the Fair Haven Streetscape project.
And with the final phase of work, that will continue for about another three weeks, comes a minor traffic delay, with one lane closed, during daylight hours on River Road.
“We’re executing the rest of the Streetscape East program,” Mayor Ben Lucarelli said. “We started last fall at around Buena Vista Avenue on the north side, just to get that last part of the project started, then winter kicked in.”
As with the rest of the Streetscape project that spans from the business section by the Acme and now through to the Rumson border, sidewalks are being replaced on both sides of River Road and the consistent historic-looking lighting is being installed.
The last part of the east portion of the project is under construction on the south side of River Road, from Buena Vista to Oak Place, or roughly 911 River Road where the Shrewsbury Yacht Club sits, Lucarelli said.
Next, the project will be competed on the north side of River Road in the same area.
Melanie Stewart at Oceanic Free Library selling her jewelry, wreaths
Photo/screenshot of Stewart’s Facebook page
Melanie Stewart’s wreaths
Photo/screenshot of Stewart’s Facebook page
Site of Cravin Haven in April of 2015
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Sign on the door of Locals Foodery in Rumson
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Sign on the window of the former et al in Rumson
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Site of the former et al in Rumson
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Store for rent in Fair Haven Acme plaza
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Former Doc Shoppe in the Fair Haven Acme plaza is for lease.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Former Fair Haven Doc Shoppe for lease
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
All it takes is a drive around the Rumson-Fair Haven area to see that there’s a lot of business news around the towns.
Some retail spaces have been cloaked in brown packing paper with and/or without some sort of literal sign of change. Others have interesting temporary venues and yet others are just starting out and telling their story via social media.
Here’s the business buzz in the Rumson-Fair Haven area:
Fair Havenite, Handmade Haven and Your Karma is Rockin’ owner Melanie Stewart
The jeweler/crafter is selling her wares right now out of the Oceanic Library in Rumson.
After leaving the short-lived brick-and-mortar location on River Road in Fair Haven, Stewart and her husband David have been crafting and selling wherever the opportunity presents itself.
They told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect back in October that it’s proven more cost-effective to have a traveling venue.
So, when there was an opening at the library in Rumson, Melanie, according to a Facebook post, created like crazy and set up shop.
Her creations will be there through the end of the month.
From Melanie Stewart:
“Please shop at the Oceanic (Rumson) Library the month of April. They are featuring my jewelry and wreaths and will receive a donation for each purchase you make!
Anyone from the public is welcomed to visit and shop! 109 Avenue Of Two Rivers Rumson, 07760 732-842-2692 for hours ~ Photos of creations that are featured with price list. Thank you!”
Cravin Haven, Fair Haven
Carolyn Beamish Furguson, of the Fair Haven Business Association, tells Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect that the popular Avon-based vegan restaurant, Seed to Sprout, will replace Cravin Haven.
Cravin Haven, the short-lived, super-sized deep fryer-meets-barbecue sandwich spot in the Acme shopping center is now completely shut down.
The eatery, for which owners gave all indications that there would be a remodeling with possible reconfiguration in business in February, not so long ago sported a sign that said the business was for sale. The 1,200-square-foot space was listed for lease at $1,500 per month as a turn-key restaurant with equipment.
Now the windows are covered with brown packing paper. The inside is not empty and the sign remains, but it is still listed as one of two in the plaza for lease on loopnet.com.
Cravin Haven’s website, though, gives no indication that the business has folded. It still says that it is only closed for renovations. There is information about off-site catering. Click here for more information.
Empty storefront Acme plaza
The other unit for lease, the 900-square-foot 560 K, is next to the laundromat Wash House, a few doors down. It is empty and windows are not covered.
The information on loop net.com says now that rental rates for both are negotiable.
Replacement for Doc Shoppe?
The spot where the Doc Shoppe sat for years, in the other section of the Acme plaza fronting River Road in Fair Haven, is also for lease.
The Doc Shoppe relocated to a larger store in Red Bank last year.
The roughly 900-square-foot store is for lease through Metro Commercial Real Estate at 856-866-1900.
Fair Haven River Road business district
And in the Fair Haven business district east of Fair Haven Road, there’s been an announcement by Lisa Tave Taffin on social media that physhions, a “fashion-forward fitness apparel and accessories boutique” is opening in May at 813 River Road.
A Rumson Locals resurrection or closure?
Seemingly since the dawn of time, or roughly four decades at least, the spot at 91 East River Road in Rumson was Butler’s Deli. It was a frozen-in-time stop for anyone from old-timer townies to teens to grab those classic breakfast and lunch sandwiches and sides.
Butler’s closed in 2013 when then owner Paul Stout retired. Then well-known Rumsonite Dave Ciambrone opened Locals in the same spot in January of 2013.
Ciambrone is no stranger to Rumson business, having owned Murphy’s Tavern at one point and part of the family that owned Val’s Tavern for most of its existence.
There was a rumor that Butler’s was coming back. The sign on the door has said “Sorry, We’re Closed.”
Who knows? Mayor John Ekdahl said he isn’t certain, but did hear the rumor. The eatery, he said, has been closed since the beginning of the year.
And, it looks like the day after the photo was taken of Locals cloaked in brown packing paper with a “Sorry, We’re Closed” sign on the door, it was revealed that former owner Paul Stout is coming out of retirement to reopen as Butler’s Market. Soon. Stay tuned.
Across East River Road in Rumson at gourmet food stop, et al …
A sign on the window at 114 East River Road says, “For Rent.”
No further information was available at the site that was formerly Le Bon Panier.
The et al eatery now has a location in Highlands. There was a plan for et al to have two locations, in Rumson and Highlands, after renovations. But the sign indicates otherwise.
Time will tell.
What would you like to see at one or any of these business locations?
Fair Haven firemen and fire police stationed at Smith Street and River Road man and block off the street Wednesday night. Photo/Elaine Van Develde
If you live in the area of River Road, between Hance and Smith Street, in Fair Haven you may have heard a boom and been without electricity for a short period of time or longer around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
While Fair Haven Fire Police were too busy redirecting traffic to provide an answer, a drive to the area would show that that block-long stretch of River Road was cordoned off, fire trucks, an ambulance and utility trucks were out.
No one has confirmed exactly what the issue was, but, with the presence of utility trucks and the outage, it seemed to be a power issue that was being tended to.
As of 7:45 p.m., the road was still blocked.
This post will be updated when more information becomes available.
Andy and Bob Dougherty Photo/courtesy of Andy Dougherty
It has been seven years since the untimely death of longtime Fair Havenite Bob Dougherty.
Bob was a very community-minded man, husband, father, friend and neighbor to many.
Those who knew him consider themselves fortunate.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors the memory of Bob Dougherty with a snapshot of Bob and his youngest son, Andy.
The Dougherty children all serve the Rumson-Fair Haven community to this day. Andy works in the Fair Haven School District, as does his sister, Colleen Dougherty Doogan. Bryan Dougherty is a police officer in the Rumson Police Department.
Rest in Peace, Bob. Thanks for the great memories and your children to carry on your legacy.
Well, Thursday was 38-year Fair Haven Tax Collector Dale Connor’s last day.
The milestone was a little bittersweet for Connor, who spent her last hour or so at work happy, yet holding back tears about leaving the office and co-workers that represented a true home away from home (a few blocks away) for so many years.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect stopped in at the lifetime Fair Havenite’s office home base to catch a glimpse of her last day.
We asked for a smile. Connor responded, “How can I smile when I feel so sad? I am really going to miss everyone — residents and people I have worked with for so long.”
Recreation Director D.J. Breckenridge stopped by to say goodbye. And Administrator and Assistant Administrator/Borough Clerk Allyson Cinquegrana stopped in from their next door office.
However, Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect failed to capture that moment, as the camera battery died as the photo was being snapped.
Best of luck, Dale Connor! This little photo montage will be followed up with a fun feature on her time working for the borough. Stay tuned next week for that.
There’s been some change in names and faces in and around Fair Haven Borough Hall.
The biggest change comes from the office of the tax collector.
With the recent announcement of 38-year tax collector Dale Connor’s retirement, effective May 1, came the appointment of the borough’s new tax collector, Denise Jawidzik.
It’s a distinct sign of the arrival of spring in Fair Haven when sidewalk cafe permits start getting approved.
So far, three were sanctioned at the March 23 Borough Council meeting: Umberto’s, Kind Burger and Fairwinds Deli.
And with the advent of warmer weather, more sidewalk dining is expected to sprout around town at other usual spots, such as Booskerdoo, Balderose Fine Foods and Tavolo.
Over the past few years, officials have encouraged the al fresco eating in the borough along with the use of sidewalks for other business boosts. They have seen it as another measure to add to the ambience of the downtown area and complement its Streetscape program amenities.
The permits approved for Umberto’s, Fairwinds and Kind Burger allow for the following outdoor seating:
• Umberto’s will be allowed four tables and 12 chairs;
• Kind burger will have four tables with eight chairs;
• and Fairwinds will be allowed five outdoor tables to accommodate 20 patrons.
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