Summer sunning in Rumson with the Slocum family. Photo/courtesy of Jo Ann Slocum Mazzucca
Back in the day, Rumson summers weren’t all about going to the beach club from dawn ’til dusk.
For some, it was as simple skipping the packing up of the family, not to mention the cost, and just laying a blanket out on the lawn and catching some rays while the kids played.
It’s the balloons. Yeah, the balloons are the dangerous party tools, not the girls. Yet, while it’s doubtful that anyone would call these “innocents” of the ’70s tools, it’s a sure bet that the combination of RFH girls could be dangerous — dangerously fun, that is.
Ahoy! Ship Ahoy, to locals beaching it back in the summer of ’63, that is.
Yes, it’s a locals’ summertime. Always has been. And the locals’ summer spots have always been a place of respite from the out-of-towner beach crowd in the Rumson-Fair Haven area. They call them beach clubs.
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 that first.
Bathing beauties of a Fair Haven neighborhood in 1965 Photo/Sally Van Develde
Reprise … just because it’s time to sizzle, sparkle and boom in the summertime …
Back in the summer of ’65 … the heat was on in Fair Haven, and some pint-sized bathing beauties were set to walk the walk, if the suit and the bathing cap fit. In the spirit of the season, call them little firecrackers. Celebrity neighborhood sparklers. Whatever the name, they were set for a good, simple backyard game. This one was easy — the suited up line-up. On cue, they struck the pose and gave a big “Cheese!”
A reprise Retro Pic of the Day in honor of Fair Haven Fire Department’s Old Timers’ Day. The tradition continued this past Sunday; and, the Old Timers won under the leadership of RFH Class of ’78 grad and longtime Fire Department member Bill Heath. Now, back to the 1960s with the annual FHFD tradition, now that the new of back then has turned into old. Bill Heath was far from old enough to even join …
Nothing says community spirit like a face full of dirt and smashed eggs on your Sunday casual best. Well, nothing like Fair Haven Fire Department’s (FHFD) Old Timers’ Day, anyway. Add to that the fact that the young ones from back in the day are now the old timers and the losers … of the traditional baseball game that is the day’s focal point.
RFH girls’ ride into the summer of ’78 … Stephanie DeSesa, Elaine Van Develde, Debbie Humbert and Daryl Cooper Ley Photo/Suzan Cooper
Sun up!When you’re scorched from a heatwave like this week’s, it’s time to let the sun bring on warm memories instead.There’s nothing quite like a summer drive in a classic car with the top down, especially when it’s the summer of senior year. So, we’re re-running this piece just because the sun needs to shine on friendships and good times like these. There’s nothing quite as warm. Put the top down and take a drive back with us again …
The drive is all the better if it’s made with best friends. So, as a continuing ode to summer fun of the past at the hands of RFH teens, the Retro Pic of the Day encapsulates the whole idea — best friends, a cool ride and warm memories.
A River Rats reprise to mark the official start of summer …
It’s smooth sailing into summer — maybe a bit too smooth … right into that heat. But back in 1975, the river road could be a bit rocky. At least one little river rat had to patch up a Blue Jay with bubble gum. Rats! That would be little Claire Hurd. Sailing rats all learned how to improvise, for sure. They also learned how to tie a square not like a real sailor.
Knollwood School Class of 2002 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
A reprise in honor of that eighth grade Knollwood graduation on Wednesday … Congrats in advance, grads!
The Fair Haven Knollwood School grads are styling every year. And, the truth is that the eighth grade graduation attire has improved to the point of even parents turning wannabes of that mini-fashion world.
You’d have to admit, though, that fad dress-up attire has been kinder to the male gender over the years — except for the leisure suit. That was an unforgiving polyester fashion fail.
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