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.
Continue reading Retro RFH Surf Dude Chillin’Images
Retro RFH Gymnastic Boys on the Fly

He flies through the air with the greatest of ease … You’ve heard that circus song before, right? It seems fitting here. School’s in and gymnastics season has taken flight at RFH.
Continue reading Retro RFH Gymnastic Boys on the FlyBack 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.
Continue reading Back to School & Walking the RopeRetro Fair 50/50 Booth Buds

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.
Continue reading Retro Fair 50/50 Booth BudsRetro 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.
Continue reading Retro RFH Senior Dinner Dancing Girls & a GuyRetro RFH Cool Guys’ First Reunion

Photo/George Day
Well, we’re steeped in summertime; and RFH reunions are coming in hot.
Continue reading Retro RFH Cool Guys’ First ReunionRetro Sizzling Rumson Dock Girls’ 50s Summer

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.
Continue reading Retro Sizzling Rumson Dock Girls’ 50s SummerRetro Rumson Summer: The Barn Theater
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 …
Continue reading Retro Rumson Summer: The Barn TheaterRetro 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.
Continue reading Retro RFH Summer TheatricsRetro Fair Haven Fisk AME Chapel Folks
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.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Fisk AME Chapel FolksRetro 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.
Continue reading Retro Knollwood Grads’ Class Trippin’Retro RFH Softball Gals’ Gym Suit Guffaw

Photo/RFH Yearbook
Just when you think you’ve moved past an RFH gym suit PTSD trigger, another rears its horrid head.
Continue reading Retro RFH Softball Gals’ Gym Suit Guffaw






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