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Back to School & Walking the Rope

Our annual reprise of back-to-school memories and walking the rope in Fair Haven …

“But I don’t wanna walk on the rope next to her!” I cried from under my freshly-cut kindergarten bangs. “I wanna walk on the rope next to Pam!”

Pam was my neighbor. She was my best buddy.

It was 1965. It was the 60s. One thing’s for sure: Our Fair Haven kindergarten class was the last to have its first year of school at what was called the Youth Center, now the Fair Haven Police Station and Community Center on Fisk Street.

We kindergarteners were also the last to be tugged down the street on a rope, yes a rope, headed by an official-looking police-type lady.

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Retro Fair Springsteen Sighting

Springsteen at the 1995 Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

A reprise, because everyone’s talking about the Jersey Springsteen concert these days; and, every fair has its surprises, stars and, well, photo bombers …

Seemingly everyone knows that Bruce Springsteen until recent years made Rumson his primary home. The Boss was always known as a big fan and frequenter of the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair. Over the years, he’s been seen countless times casually roaming the grounds — though more often when his kids were little.

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Retro Fair 50/50 Booth Buds

Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 50/50 Booth in the 1970s
Photo/FHFD media archives

The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s opening night is Friday. And, with the fair come games of chance spins and wins.

From the prize booth wheel spins to 50/50 and Super 50/50 tickets taking a tumble in a big bin, there are winners every night. The winnings? Everything from candy to tens of thousands of dollars.

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Retro RFH Senior Dinner Dancing Girls & a Guy

Last dance? Last chance for fun? Not for these RFHers! Never.

Forty-five years ago, the RFH Class of ’78 kids, like these four, were off to their senior dinner dance at The Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. They’d have never imagined then that 45 years later, they’d be right back where they thought they’d danced their last teen-spirited dance.

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Retro Fair Candy Apple Daze

Candy, Ray and Marion Bennett tend to the candy apples at the Fair Haven Firemen's Fair circa 1979 Photo/Fair Haven Fire Department Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly
Candy, Ray and Marion Bennett tend to the candy apples at the
Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair circa 1979
Photo/Fair Haven Fire Department Yearbook, courtesy of Evie Connor Kelly

The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair is one week away from its opening night. With the fair, of course, comes goodies. Confections. Fair food. One favorite that hasn’t made a comeback and won’t still 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 1979 with yet another fair family affair at another booth — the candy apple booth (or corner of the Out Back, or what used to be called just the hot dog booth).

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Retro Happy Fair Haven Campers

Happy campers at the Fair Haven campout in 2013 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Happy campers at the Fair Haven campout in 2013
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Fair Haven’s annual borough-wide campout may no longer be a summertime easy, sticky living event, but a first is always a warm memory. This one, back in 2013, was just plain piping hot.

Things got off to a steamy start, as the temps were high, humid and seemingly climbing. As of tent-pitching time, there were only two crews pitching in the Fair Haven Fields.

The helpers camped out at the campout entrance, told us they thought there’d be more campers joining in as the sun set and people parked themselves for the games and movie.

A few years ago, in 2013, it was a bit cooler out and the place was crawling with very happy, and pretty hysterically funny, campers. In fact, one of these little rascals turned man recently celebrated a birthday. Know who? Hey, get-togethers like this and childhood friends should always be celebrated, birthday or not.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day is dedicated to some truly happy Fair Haven campers!

This crew, in particular, loved to pose for pics.

Recognize anyone? Birthday boy?

— Elaine Van Develde

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.

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Retro Sizzling Rumson Dock Girls’ 50s Summer

Rumson girls Alice Coyle Mansfield and Linda Zerr Feeny in the late 50s
Photo/Ken Card, courtesy of Alice Mansfield

Reprise, because everyone’s asking about those hot Rumson girls of the 1950s dock days. And they’re still around the towns …

Well, we are steeped in steamy summer heat. And there’s really nothing more sizzling summer hot than two Rumson girls of the 1950s who took the plunge into and out of summers together — suited up, off the Rumson Dock and into a longtime friendship.

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