Images

Local Life

Retro Fair Havenite Fishin’

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Fair Havenite Chum Chandler fishing Photo/Chandler family
Fair Havenite Chum Chandler fishing
Photo/Chandler family

There’s nothing quite like going fishing on the Navesink on those summer days.

So, today’s Retro Pic of the Day honors the tradition with a look back at a very popular native Fair Havenite doing a little solo fishing — Chum Chandler.

Chum passed away in March of 2015. He lived his life in Fair Haven, knew everyone and every simple pleasure about local life. Know when and where this pic was taken?

So, here’s to a happy, healthy summer from a real local perspective!

RIP, Chum Chandler. Gone fishin’!

Photo/courtesy of the Chandler family

Local Life

Olympian Connor Jaeger: Present Day & Retro

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You could say that former Fair Havenite Connor Jaeger is swimming in Olympic success.

Continue reading Olympian Connor Jaeger: Present Day & Retro →

Local Life

Retro R-FH Retro

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Yes, friends and fans, it’s been exactly two years since Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect (or R-FH Retro, for short) registered its domain name and got started.

It’s been a great two years, sharing news, features and photos from the past and present with all of you!

So, to honor the first days of the website, we are posting the first photos posted on www.rfhretro.com. The very first, and featured photo, was a look from the dock of Eventide in Sea Bright looking onto the shores of Rumson. The other (below) is a photo of the Navesink River and Oceanic Bridge from the shores of Victory Park in Rumson.

Thank you all for your support and patronage of R-FH Retro. We look forward to bringing you more news and looks back than ever in the coming year.

Reach out to us at evd@rfhretro.com and find out how you can advertise on the site for a nominal fee and support the continued flow of news, features and photos at no cost to readers.

Thank you and enjoy! Here’s to the view from this beautiful peninsula we all call home!

With all thoughts good and hyperlocal,

Elaine Van Develde

publisher/founding editor

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fair Haven Kindergarten

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That first year of school has always been a major milestone.

In Fair Haven, kids in the 1960s walked on a rope to kindergarten at what was called the Youth Center, now the Fair Haven Police Station.

The rope was traumatic for those of us who weren’t allowed to walk beside our best friends. And the official lady toting the rope-load of us, Mrs. McDaniel, was kinda scary to us little cretins.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Kindergarten →

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fifth Grade at Willow Street School

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With all the ceremonies of Rumson and Fair Haven students’  transition from third to fourth grade and impending RFH graduation,  thoughts reverted to a time when there was no such thing — not that there’s anything wrong with it, though. It’s pretty adorable, really.

No, there really wasn’t a transitional ride or walk from one school in Fair Haven or Rumson to the next. And, in Fair Haven at least, back in the late 1960s and early 70s, students simply went to the school to which they lived closest — until that big ol’ jump to middle school, when everyone in the borough went to Knollwood for seventh and eighth grade. And no one got driven to school. They all walked or rode bikes together.

Oh, and what is now the Viola L. Sickles School was Willow Street School.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to those days when fifth grade was at Sickles (well, Willow Street) and one of the most popular teachers of the era taught there — Mr. DeMarco.

I’m pretty sure that he won several awards in various capacities, not the least of which was some sort of teacher of the year for the state, I believe.

Speaking from experience, he really was a memorable teacher. Very patient. Very kind. Very intelligent. His lessons sunk into our little brains. Thanks, Mr. DeMarco.

Pictured is a class from the early 1970s. Many of these little faces are grown-ups in the area with their own kids. Recognize anyone?

Congrats to all the transitioning students!

— Elaine Van Develde

 

Local Life

Retro Remembrance of Fair Havenites on First Fair Haven Day

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Pat Topfer at the first Fair Haven Day Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Pat Topfer at the first Fair Haven Day
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
George Giffin at the first Fair Haven Day Photo/Elaine Van Develde
George Giffin at the first Fair Haven Day
Photo/Elaine Van Develde

Fair Haven Day is Saturday. It was a few years ago that the first Fair Haven Day took place on the borough’s centennial celebration.

Since then, the borough has lost some of its longtime residents who everyone knew in one capacity or another. They were some of the faces of Fair Haven.

So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day honors two of those people who were there on the first Fair Haven Day, proud longtime Fair Havenites and icons: Life member of the Fair Haven Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary, Pat Topfer; and ever-popular RFH science and dance teacher extraordinaire, George Giffin.

The featured photo on the Fair Haven Day event announcement today included a popular longtime resident and friend to the borough, Ben Hamilton.

RIP, Ben, Pat and Gif. You are remembered.

Local Life, Opinion

Retro Fair Haven Ride

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A special Fair Haven bike ride in the 1960s Photo/courtesy of Peter Mauger
A special Fair Haven bike ride in the 1960s
Photo/courtesy of Peter Mauger

There’s nothing quite like taking a ride with your buddies when you’re a little kid, especially if your bike is a tractor, too.

What kid rides a tractor in the Rumson-Fair Haven area? Well, back in the 1960s, Fair Havenite Peter Mauger did. He, the pint-sized driver carted Nancy Wilson down Lake Avenue in what was a combo tractor-bike with a cool little trailer to lug stuff or a pal in — a “dump trac,” to be exact. Susan Wilson, old and cool enough to ride a two-wheeler with a bell, rode along.

No power wheels in the form of high end, luxury cars. No helmets. No special permission needed to drive a dump trac, because, you know, they’re rural kinds of vehicles.

And the streets were barren enough in those days to ride up and down and even around the block on a seemingly endless loop. Hey, neighborhood kids used to also play dodge ball and hopscotch in the street. But, that’s a retro pic for another day.

Today, the Retro Pic of the Day, courtesy of Peter Mauger, honors a kids’  bike ride of a simpler time — not that there’s anything wrong with helmets and designer power wheels.

What kind of bike did you have? Your dream bike or foot-pedaled car? Remember those?

Local Life

Retro Fair Haven PD

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Fair Haven PD in 2001 Photo/FHPD
Fair Haven PD in 2001
Photo/FHPD

With the news that recently retired Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge was appointed director of the Monmouth County Police Academy, thoughts of past teaching moments by mentors came to mind.

First, the Retro Pic of the Day honored Breckenridge’s mentor, Chief Carl Jakubecy on National Police Week.

That ode is followed by a look back at Breckenridge before he became chief with fellow colleagues in 2001.

Several of the officers in this photo have since retired, including former Chief Rick Towler, Captain Paul McCue, Lt. Bill Heath and … who else?

Recognize anyone in this photo. Who was a former juvenile officer and president of the Monmouth County Juvenile Officers’ Association. Do you know what rank Breckenridge had in 2001?

Have you thanked a police officer today?

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life, Police and Fire

Retro Fair Haven Police Chief, Mentor

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Fair Haven Police Chief Carl Jakubecy Photo/FHPD
Fair Haven Police Chief Carl Jakubecy
Photo/FHPD

The news of former Fair Haven Police Chief Darryl Breckenridge’s appointment as the new director of the Monmouth County Police Academy prompted thoughts of the man he says in one moment, with one gesture became his mentor and motivated him to live his dream of being a police officer in his hometown — Chief Carl Jakubecy.

Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Police Chief, Mentor →

Local Life

Retro RFH Baseball Home Run

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It’s not only still baseball season at RFH, it’s Friday the 13th.

So, in the spirit of good luck, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day feature some  successful ball playing of the 1970s with a beloved coach whom many felt charmed the game — Hal Lorme.

Lorme passed away just over a year ago. He is still fondly remembered by many an RFH alumni and ball player.

In the top featured photo, Lorme is seen with ball player Tripp Dupree.

Below, he’s behind and in the scenes coaching. Recognize anyone else?

RIP, Coach Lorme. May the luck of Lorme be with today’s team!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Salute to R-FH Area Moms

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In honor of the area’s moms of the past and present, here’s a little glimpse into Mother’s Day in the Rumson-Fair Haven area.

Some of these moms are gone, some are still with us and celebrating several generations of motherhood.

In one way or another, many of the faces captured here from the past and present have made life in the area all the more special, if not for anything else but being a comfortingly familiar face in a place we call home.

Happy belated Mother’s Day!

Thanks to our Facebook friends for these priceless photos!

— Elaine Van Develde

Local Life

Retro Rumson, Fair Haven Firefighters on International Firefighters’ Day

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Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company back when they wore dress whites Photo/FHFD archives
Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Company back when they wore dress whites
Photo/FHFD archives

Today is International Firefighters’ Day.

So, in honor of the day, the Retro Pic(s) of the day are snapshots back in time with Rumson’s Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 and the Fair  Haven Volunteer Fire Company.

Rumson firemen gather and strike a pose back in the day at the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 firehouse Photo/Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 Facebook page
Rumson firemen gather and strike a pose back in the day at the Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 firehouse
Photo/Oceanic Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 Facebook page

The shot of the Rumson firemen (and child) at the building that is still standing on East River Road is an oldie, courtesy of the company’s Facebook page. Can you guess the year? And notice how many are smoking. Those were the days when it was cool to smoke.

We’re not sure of the year the photo, courtesy of the fire company’s files, but it was back far enough when Fair Haven firemen and Ladies’ Auxiliary members wore white dress uniforms with navy blue and white polka dotted scarves.

We recognize some of the folks in the Fair Haven shot. Who do you recognize? And what event was this?

On International Firefighters’ Day, we thank our Rumson-Fair Haven area firefighters for their service!

Have you thanked a firefighter today?

— Elaine Van Develde