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Retro RFH Surf Dude Chillin’

RFH Class of '78 surfing buddies Photo/George Day
RFH Class of ’78 surfing buddies
Photo/George Day

With the start of the school year and a rev-up of the RFH Surf Team beaching it and catching waves, we’re taking another a close-up and personal reprise look at that ’70s RFH crew of surfer boys catching cool waves (or beaching it) and sitting on top o’ the Sea Bright world. Most of these guys are actually still friends.

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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 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 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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Retro Rumson Summer: The Barn Theater

Clip of press photo for The Barn Theater's production of "The Fantasticks" in the summer of 1977
Clip of press photo for The Barn Theater’s production of “The Fantasticks” in the summer of 1977
"Bye Bye Birdie" at The Barn Theater in Rumson circa summer of 1977 Photo/Elaine Van Develde
“Bye Bye Birdie” at The Barn Theater in Rumson circa summer of 1977
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

The following piece was originally posted on July 8, 2015. As we dive into summer season, we thought it only fitting to remember good summer times outside of the usual beach romp for those who grew up and raised their families in the Rumson-Fair Haven area — summer theater. Once upon a time, there was a special little place in Rumson called The Barn … Take a trip back with us to  simple summers and magical, theatrical times … 

Remember The Barn Theater in Rumson?

Well, if you don’t, you missed out and are probably significantly younger than those who do and didn’t — miss out, that is.

It’s a plus if you’re that young. But, it’s definitely a factor in the minus category if you didn’t work, play or get entertained there.

It was a community theater that cast hundreds, maybe thousands, from the area, including many Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students.

The building is still there, only a few blocks away from the high school on Avenue of Two Rivers near the intersection at Ridge Road. The reason why it was called The Barn was, well, because it was an old barn, gutted (if there is such a thing with a barn) and converted into a small arena-type stage theater, with the stage at floor level and risers around it as seats, though not all the way around.

You get the picture. Now, here’s what’s behind the place’s show folk and shows …

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Retro RFH Summer Theatrics

Summer theater productions are opening once again all over the Rumson-Fair Haven area. This seasonal show time for locals has proven as popular as hitting the beach with buddies — OK, far away from the invasion of the outta town tourists.

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Retro Fair Haven Fisk AME Chapel Folks

Photo/courtesy of Fisk AME Chapel
Photo/courtesy of Fisk AME Chapel

A reprise from Feb. 5, 2016 in honor of Juneteenth …

The Fair Haven Fisk AME Chapel is steeped in tradition — Fair Haven tradition and roots that many do not realize jut very deep into the community.

Many of the founding families of Fair Haven have roots that are deeply entrenched in the church. A lot of the names and faces are traceable back to the early days of the church, back in the mid-1800s.

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Retro Knollwood Grads’ Class Trippin’

School’s out and graduation’s near — very near. And the heat is always on to seek out a good time among class friends. So, there’s nothing quite like a final class trip to — with class clowns, friends, foes and teachers. Yes, teachers — sun bathing and all.

This particular trip was taken in 1974 to a dude ranch somewhere with Fair Haven’s Knollwood School soon-to-be grads and teachers. Where? None of the old folks in the pictures can remember. Hey, some of us don’t even remember the trip.

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