Fair Haven Folk Singers at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1960s 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.
Candy, Ray and Marion Bennett tend to the candy apples at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1969 Photo/Fair Haven Fire Department Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly
It’s Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair time! With the fair, of course, comes goodies. Confections. Fair food. One favorite that hasn’t made a comeback is the candy apple. So, we look back and reminisce about a fair treat and tradition gone with this “back by popular demand” reprise and a little addition …
How do you like them apples? If the name fits, you know … And it did. She may not have been the actual boss lady of the booth, but perhaps we could call her the Big Dipper? I mean, who better to one of those at the helm the candy apple operation at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair than a woman named Candy — Candy Bennett?
The Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to fair days in 1969 with yet another fair family affair at another booth — the candy apple booth (a corner of the Outback, or what used to be called just the hot dog booth).
Summer skies have cleared, humidity is low and it’s the weather is perfect for some Rumson river time and a few end-of-summer wins down the road at 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.
Manning a Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair game of chance booth in the 1960s 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!
While the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge is open and fully operational, work around the bridge continues and Monmouth County officials continue to advise motorists and pedestrians of waterborne, bridge and surrounding area travel alerts.
What a catch! It doesn’t get more simple or summery than crabbing and fishing on the Fair Haven Dock. It’s a time-honored tradition.
New restrictions? Not a 10-gallon cooler in sight. No mattresses. No fires. Nothing but a few fishermen and their bait, poles, traps and some good simple summer times down by the river. It’s how it’s always been on the dock on any given simple summer day to remember.
Take a look and remember your simple summer daze on the Fair Haven Dock …
You could say they had class. The senior officers of the RFH Class of 1975 definitely had that class. They presided over, represented and ran all things having to do with the Class of ’75.
It’s all fun and island-hopping games until they have to start a fire.
Yes, there comes a time when summer Rumson island-hopping coolness sets in, parents rang the unheard dinner bell and a bunch of hungry, wayward, marooned kids try to cook that fish they caught and toast their own little buns.
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