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. That’s 105 years ago. 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.
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!
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).
Continue reading Retro Fair Candy Apple Daze
When doing the TGIF thing, everyone could use a little shot of cheer, good spirits and great memories to kick off the weekend.
Well, we took a little time off from garden toiling last week, relaxed and mused about the bountiful mess of it all and what to do. Yes, now is the time to address some common issues we see in the late-summer garden. Let’s dig in!
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.
A reprise in honor of sizzling hot summer days on the beach with some cool RFH guys …
Remember that horror movie When a Stranger Calls? The babysitter gets a repeated freaky call from a stranger asking, in measured terror tones, “Have you checked the children lately?”
Here we are in the middle of August. That neat, orderly garden you planted back in May is probably looking a whole lot more chaotic now. What to do to bring the garden and its harvest joy back?
The heat is on and the countdown has already begun to the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.
And, back in the day, the 1960s day, the fire department, rather than raffling off a car, SUV or a big chunk of cash (as in Super 50/50), decided to make a boat the prized prize of the fair. And they advertised that with the help of some fire department-affiliated bathing beauties.
It was something to dance about — or “Cheers!” about, at least. And while there was no dancing in the street in Sea Bright, there was what looked like some dancing on the deck at Donovan’s Reef on Aug. 10 when the iconic Sea Bright beachfront bar and grill was celebrated for its 50 years in existence by a Monmouth County official and its owners.
Yes, it’s RFH reunion season.
RFH reunions always involve a lot of partying, gab festing and celebrating. After all, that’s what reunions are for, right?
Continue reading Retro RFH Reunion Dancing Dynamos
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