Longtime Fair Havenite Richard Huff passed away on Aug. 23, “surrounded by loving family.” He was 86.
In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite Richard Huff, 86
Tag Archives: Fair Haven
Focus: Going Home to a ‘Middle’ of Fair Sights, Friends, Neighbors and a High Five
But, what about the middle? The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has always brought me, and many a “fair” kid, back to that middle haven. It’s home … It’s that time — the time when you held it and walked with it (that balloon that eventually got away) that made you smile — like a memory. Letting it go never takes that middle away. ~ Elaine Van Develde
Call it finding a new “middle.” The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2025 came on Saturday night.
The beginning of the end-of-summer tradition — for not only Fair Havenites, but the many who’ve bonded with it in a community brick-and-mortar-like solidarity — came more than 120 years ago.
Fair Remembrance: All’s Fair in the Middle
Our annual reprise about what it really means to experience all that’s fair for a Fair Haven kid …
There are a lot of significant beginnings and endings this time of the year. The end of summer. The beginning of locals’ summer. The start of school — new chapters and first days.
But, what about the middle? The end of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has always brought me, and many a “fair” kid, back to that middle haven. It’s home.
Continue reading Fair Remembrance: All’s Fair in the Middle
Remembering My Fair Daddy
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. 30, 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 on the fair grounds …
Photo/FHFD booklet
By Elaine Van Develde
It’s been 42 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.
Continue reading Remembering My Fair Daddy
Old News: Fair Firemen, 10-Cent Charlestons, Ponies, Carousels, Spin Art and Flying Geraldos
The Charleston, flying trapeze artists, the Zipper or not, the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair has been an end-of-summer tradition since its inception in 1921. Yes, some things never change — like the fair’s core of community legacy.
Yes, legacy. It’s a concept that those lacking a sense of community and connection in their souls just don’t get. Their loss. And it’s a big one.
Focus: Fair Faces of Firemen’s Night
It used to be called Firemen’s Night. It was the night when firemen from all over the state rode in to the fairgrounds at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair on their firetrucks amid a flurry of blaring sirens and flashing lights.
Steeping in Fair Memories: Cooking Up Firemen’s Fair Goodness
The following piece was originally published on Aug. 27, 2015. It’s fair time again, so it’s time to take a look back at how things were and are done a pivotal place at the fair — the kitchen and dining room.
By Elaine Van Develde
Someone’s in the kitchen at Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair grounds.
And while they may have, at one point another been with someone named Dinah, as the old ditty goes, it’s a definite they’ve been with someone named Mike, Dale, Sue (x2), Raquel, Ethel (x2), Mary, Anne, Amanda, Skippy, Hodgie, Mary Ellen, Joe, Evie, and, oh, yeah, Andy and a few others.
And they certainly haven’t been strummin’ on any ol’ banjo. They’ve been way too busy — cutting, peeling, filling, flouring, husking and just plain cooking.
Except there’s nothing plain about what’s cooking in the fair kitchen, who’s cooking it, when, where, why or how.
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Retro Little Folk Singin’ Fair Ladies
Photo/Jack Croft via Mary Croft
There’s nothing better, or more carnival apropos, to kick off the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair than a parade. And, back in the day, like the ’60s or early ’70s day, it happened.
Fair Reflections: An Ode to Opening Night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Our annual reprise in celebration of opening night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair …
All’s fair. The night before. The decades later. It’s something a Fair Haven kid will always see … a shooting star that they grabbed and tucked away in their heart, holding onto the glistening, magical light.
The night is still. A light is on. Trucks are out of the bays. Cartoony faces and ghosts in empty seats on unassembled carnival rides stare back in the dark. Someone’s cooking at the Fair Haven firehouse. It’s fair time.
Continue reading Fair Reflections: An Ode to Opening Night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Retro RFH Class of ’78 First Reunion Girls
The year was 1988. It was a decade past graduation, yet, The Hustle was still happening. So was Saturday Night Fever. And three besties had the fever getting set to dance to the tune of the RFH Class of ’78’s first reunion — the 10th in 1988.
Continue reading Retro RFH Class of ’78 First Reunion Girls
A Fair Haven Historic Preservation Commission FYI
— Photo/David Vilacoba
By David Vilacoba
Most Fair Haven residents don’t realize that the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission, an advisory board to the governing body designed to protect and promote all things historical, meets and shares discoveries and stamps of approval regularly.
The most recent meeting yielded some interesting tidbits.
Call it a sign of the times. The Fair Haven Historic Preservation Commission approved two new signs on 775 River Road at its monthly meeting on July 22.
Two businesses submitted applications for the approval of those signs by the borough advisory committee: LSK Interior Design and Bloombar Café et Fleurs, a flower shop with a small cafe in it that also sells specialty coffee.
The committee approved both requests with little hassle, the only condition being that the original signpost will not be altered.
The building at 775 River Road used to be an old residence, according to Arthur Pavluk, the Commission chair. The residence was then turned into a business in the borough’s historic business district, and has been renovated and restored to make the building look, “more period correct,” Pavluk said.
In other news, the committee plans to go ahead with work to renovate Fisk Chapel, which is more commonly known as Bicentennial Hall. External work is planned for the chapel, however many committee members brought up concerns about the acoustics of the building as well.
Fisk Chapel was built in 1882 on Fisk Street by an African-American Methodist congregation made up primarily of freed slaves coming north after the end of the civil war. The chapel was moved to its current location in 1975, and when saved and put on the National Registry of Historic Places, was renamed Bicentennial Hall.
The Historic Preservation Commission has used the structure for a while, but plans to move back to Borough Hall soon for its meetings. The chapel will be continue to be used for other functions.
Also during the meeting, Borough Councilwoman Tracy Cole, liaison to the Commission, announced plans to create an online archive for historical sites across the borough.
“Not everything can fit on a plaque,” Cole said.
The Historic Association of Fair Haven, under the umbrella of the official borough Commission is in the process of creating a website, as announced by Commission member and Association President Elise Casey on social media.
The Association’s annual garden party is being held on Sept. 6.
In other news, an old capstan was found at the Department of Public Works and Commission members are trying to figure out its origins and history along with what to do with it.
And the transom (upper window) of the old Youth Center, which was Fair Haven Police Department until recently, has been saved as a piece of borough history. It is the original window above the door to the building, which was a very historic place that was a segregated school house. In later years, after segregation ended, there were a few years when kindergarten was held in the upstairs of the main building.
Members are coordinating where the transom should be placed in the new building.
— Featured photo/David Vilacoba
Retro Wheel of Fair Fortune
Photo/FHFD
Reprise, because the countdown to Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time has begun! Yes, there are games of chance at the fair, but most would agree that everyone’s a winner with the fair and its cache of memories for any area-raised kid. Spin …
“Round and round she goes; and, where she stops, nobody knows.”
That usual was the sing-song mantra echoed through the grounds of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair back in the day. It was emanating from the guys manning the game of chance booths that still line the grounds — the loud ticking of the wheel with the spin, numbers going round and round, fingers crossed, breath held … until they stopped on that winning number. “Aaaaaand we have a WINNER!” Woohoo!
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