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Local Life

Retro Fair Haven Picture Day Class Action

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A reprise in honor of longtime iconic teacher and friend to many in the area, Gary Verwilt, who passed away recently …

We’re talking class action; and, it’s not about a lawsuit — more like suiting up for a class picture.

That’s what they did back in the early 1970s. Well, at least one in this shot suited up in the literal sense. Figuratively speaking, though, this Sickles School sixth grade shot of Gary Verwilt’s class encapsulates that picture day mindset of the past.

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Local Life

Retro Joyous Fall for the Leaf Pile

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Sometimes a kid just has to take the plunge and fall for it! Yes, it’s officially fall. But, it’s still locals’ summer for R-FH area folks. So, fear not, we may be falling for the season, but we’re not donning the jackets quite yet. Still, leaving behind the hot weather is something to jump for joy over. Remember those days of literally falling for the season … into a big pile of leaves?

Yes, plunging into a big pile of leaves was always a simple fall pleasure for kids. Untethered to phones and TVs, Fair Haven kids of the 1960s resorted to the great outdoors in a small town. Sometimes they took it to the streets with marathon games of dodgeball, one taking the traffic alert commander position with a “CAR!!” shout now and then and a clear-out of the ball court. Nevermore. There might be a helicopter parent police alert if kids did that nowadays. Ahem.

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Local Life, Opinion

Retro School Daze: The Rope Lady

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A reprise in honor of those folks who used to be in charge of keeping the kids safe on their walk to school. Remember when everyone walked to school?

It was a time when kids had to walk the … rope.

The first day of school, last week, was commemorated with a look back to that first day in 1965 in Fair Haven.

It was the very first day of school — for kindergarteners. It was also a finale year. That class was the last of all that walked on a rope to the Youth Center (now Fair Haven Community Center downstairs and the police station upstairs).

While classmates were remembered, the identity of the official lady tugging that rope was not.

So, as an ode to that woman, who was eventually remembered as Mary McDaniel, the Retro Pic of the Day is another look, from the archives of the Red Bank Register, of that kindergarten class walk, headed by Mc Daniel.

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Local Life

Retro Rumson Firemen’s Fair Moment

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Rumson Fire Department folks at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair 2015 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Rumson Fire Department folks at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 2015
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Reprise in honor of Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair week and what used to be called Firemen’s Night, now Emergency Responders’ Night, which was last night …

Well, the fair is on and nothing has stopped it yet.

A tradition within the fair tradition is Firemen’s Night. Fire departments from across the state flock to the fair, most with reps riding into town on their towns’ fire trucks. It happens annually on Wednesday night of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse into Firemen’s Night 10 years ago, in 2015, with a photo of guys and gals from the neighboring Rumson Fire Department.

A big thank you to all our volunteer firefighters!

Recognize anyone in this crew?  Have you thanked a firefighter today?

These daily stories, photos, looks back and tributes on R-FH Retro are brought to you courtesy of supporters. If you like R-FH Retro, keep the site going by sponsoring more. Click here to donate any amount you wish. Contact me for an ad or sponsorship at evd@rfhretro.com. Thank you!

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Local Life

Retro RFH Class of ’78 First Reunion Girls

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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.

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