By Elaine Van Develde
They personified RFH cool. They were the sibling team of Ben and Kate Hamilton.
That team was separated with the untimely death of Ben, a gentle, sunny embrace of community spirit and friendship for many, on Nov. 21, 2015.
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Retro FH First Aid & Fire Company Family: The Langs
By Elaine Van Develde
With the line officers in the Fair Haven First Aid Squad all women for 2016, we are reminded that it was not all that long ago that it was just men in the squad — really, until the 1980s.
Yet, there is another attribute of first aiders, among other emergency responders, that is worthy of mention. Many times, the calling to help the community is a family affair.
Continue reading Retro FH First Aid & Fire Company Family: The Langs
Retro FH First Aid Women
In looking back recently at the Fair Haven Fire Department’s honoring of the iconic Dr. John Movelle at its annual Installation Dinner in 2001, many remembered how the good hometown doctor made house calls without a flinch.
Well, in those emergency situations when a visit to the hospital is imminent and life-and-death situations are looming, the Fair Haven First Aid Squad has been there and still is. The squad has been in existence since March 25, 1930, in fact, according to Fair Haven Fire Department history.
What many may not know, though, is that while all the First Aid Squad line officers are now women — Kim Ambrose (captain), Amanda Lynn (first lieutenant) and Katy Frissora (second lieutenant) — there was a time when there were no women on the squad.
Tradition: Santa’s Visit to the Fair Haven Firehouse
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
By Elaine Van Develde
It’s that time of the year for a longstanding Fair Haven tradition — photos at the firehouse with Santa.
This year, Santa’s coming to the firehouse between 1 and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
It’s another Fair Haven tradition you can always count on. So, the Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to Santa at the firehouse when it all started.
I remember …
Continue reading Tradition: Santa’s Visit to the Fair Haven Firehouse
A Retro RFH Basketball Cheer!
Hey, purple! Hey, white! You look so good to me! Hey, hey, hey, purple! Hey white!
It went something like that — the cheerleader mantra out there on the basketball court. And, of course, what would a retro ode to RFH basketball be without a little rah-rah about the cheerleaders cheering the team on.
So, the Retro Pic of the Day pays slam dunk homage to cheerleaders on the basketball court. Well, they’re a special breed of cheerleader.
Take a close look. This little cross-dressing prank was played regularly in the RFH sports cheering of the 1970s.
In this special look back at an RFH Student-Faculty Basketball Game, the guys are donning the girls’ outfits, which were as completely different then as the basketball uniforms. The ol’ preppie plaid kilt skirt and crew neck sweater with knee socks and saddle shoes was it. Though these “gals” had to go with workbooks and sneakers, because the shoes just didn’t fit.
The cheering of yesteryear involved a lot of clapping, shouting and stomping. Oh, and pom-poms! And megaphones! There were no boas, but I think this crew may have worn them quite well. Cheers, guys!
Looks like a Fair Haven Kirman is leading the pack there! Recognize anyone else? And, hey, anyone remember a cheer or two? Slam dunk!
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro Ray Taylor Moments
It’s now common knowledge that 91-year Fair Haven resident Ray Taylor recently received a proclamation for his service to the country and borough.
The active 93-year-old World War II and Korean War vet has been seen at just about any and/or every event in town over the years, especially any involving veterans affairs.
So, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day take a look back at Taylor at some of those events: Chum Chandler’s memorial service, the Fair Haven Centennial Parade, Memorial Day and more.
Taylor, Mayor Ben Lucarelli said while reading the proclamation last week, embodies the spirit of Fair Haven and patriotism.
Yes, he does!
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro RFH Supremes of ’74
Photo/George Day
It’s just about show time at RFH.
Fall is the time of the year that the stage is set for the first theatrical production of the school year.
This year at RFH, that production is The Faerie King’s Daughter.
But, back in 1974, something else was a stage happening besides the Tower Players’ show. It was a more, let’s say, talent diverse stage extravaganza involving anyone in the freshman class in one or a few group and/or solo acts. It was the RFH Freshmen Follies.
Retro RFH Murder He Wrote?
Photo/George Day
So, Halloween is over. But, some of the antics of RFH students of the past remain etched in our memories.
The Retro Pic of the (George) Day honors one of those kooky ghoulish guys.
We have no idea why this photo was taken or what he was up to here. And when we asked featured RFH alum Mike Grady those questions, he just shook his head.
“Goofing around,” was the basic response.
So, there you have it.
Here’s to goofing around at RFH in the late 1970s!
Nice grin for a guy playing dead, Grady! Breaking character is not allowed! Know who’s the one tending to this freak?
Thanks, once again, to George Day for this fabulous look back at RFH!
— Elaine Van Develde
Retro: Voting After Sandy
It was nine days after Hurricane Sandy hit.
It was the presidential election of the year 2012. Most in the Rumson-Fair Haven area were without electricity and heat. There was a curfew.
Retro Ghostly RFH Gaggle
Photo/George Day
The year was 1977. It was an RFH Halloween.
Seniors of the Class of ’78 were geared up for some ghostly fun. They gathered in the Senior Commons and paraded around, and, yes, out of the confines of the RFH campus.
Retro ‘Register’ School Tech Daze in Rumson
Photo/Red Bank Register archives
Apparently, it was considered a gifted and talented trait in the early 1980s to be well-versed in the operation of a Tandy computer — or whatever you want to call it.
This Red Bank Register photo went unpublished in March of 1982.
It shows Rumson students, clad in the oh, so traditional preppie fair isle sweaters and turtle necks, gathering around the ol’ Tandy in this promo for a “conference on gifted students for elementary school teachers and administrators to be held at Brookdale Community College on March 26,” a photo caption in the archives of the 2011 Monmouth County Library exhibit entitled Red Bank Register: 40 Photographs, 1976-1985 said. “The Model 3, released in July 1980 and sold at Radio Shack, featured a 2.03 MHz processor; it predated by more than a year the first IBM PC, introduced in August 1981.”
So, the Retro Pic of the Day takes us back to that March 13, 1982 with a copy of an unpublished Register photo of that day.
The exhibit featured the work of several Register photographers. The photos came from years’ worth of preservation of negatives from the work of Carl Andrews, James J. Connolly, Carl Forino, Dave Kingdon, Don Lordi and Larry Perna.
While the records did not indicate which photographer took the RFH shot, it’s a classic, so we’re sharing it in our look back for the day.
So, have you ever worked on a Tandy? What about a word processor? Recognize anyone?
Retro Yogi Berra in the Area
Photo/screenshot of Red Bank Register archives
Since the announcement of New York Yankees icon Yogi Berra, it’s been all about Yogi. And, why not?
The athlete who had that special penchant for those kooky quotes dubbed Yogisms, such as “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” and “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” died on Sept. 22 at the age of 90.
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