Community Corner

R-FH Patch Places and Events of 2012

There were a lot of places and events that marked major milestones in 2012. Which is most dear to you?

The year 2012 in the Rumson-Fair Haven area was packed with events and places where milestones were met and change or tradition was either jeered or cheered.

From the traditional to the innovative and new, the people of these two small peninsula towns marked many celebrations, sad days and unique places together throughout the year.

Take a trip through the important places and events of the year with Patch and remember ...

Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Milestone Fetes and Traditional Events

• Fair Haven turned 100 in 2012 and the borough's centennial celebration was marked by events all year long, not the least of which were a parade and gala picnic at Fair Haven Fields.

Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A good time was had by all before, during and after. And speaking of old and time-honored ...

• The Fair Haven Fireman's Fair is a tradition. It's an annual event that is celebrated like an area reunion year after year for more than a century. It's even been used to describe part of the job requirement for the new superintendent in Fair Haven.

Patch was there to highlight some special people and fun at the fair now and remember some special times with special people of past fairs.

• Last year, there were some new special people to celebrate Fair Haven style. It's hard to forget the homecoming parade a very proud Fair Haven community hosted when Olympian Connor Jaeger returned after placing sixth in the world in freestyle swimming.

Jaeger, known to be shy about calling attention to himself, rode through Rumson and Fair Haven, escorted by emergency vehicles, sirens blaring. People lined the streets to cheer him on; and when the 21-year-old champ returned to the Fair Haven Firehouse, he signed autographs and chatted with young fans and supporters.'

• In Rumson, the community paid its annual tribute to Bob Kelleher, former First Aid captain, who died suddenly in 2009 with a Kids Triathalon for Bob Kelleher.

• And the annual Cancer Ball, a major fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, is yet another area staple. It was held last year at a Rumson home and was, as usual, well attended, replete with opulence and charity.

• Speaking of charity, let's not forget the Train concert in Sea Bright that Rumson teen Charlotte Nagy spearheaded with a documentary video of Hurricane Sandy and a tweet to Train's lead singer Pat Monahan.

The Sandy afflicted and volunteers from all over the Rumson-Fair Haven area partied with Train before the holidays and had a great time in the face of the Sandy-wrought adversity.

Pivitol Places

• People went a bit nuts when Barnacle Bill's ownership announced it would no longer serve the beloved place's very traditional peanuts, due to the threat of lawsuits and allergy issues.

• And many of those same people of the community mourned when Donovan's Reef was churned up and flattened by Sandy.

The modest seaside bar was the place where many traditions started and were carried through the years.

• Another beloved place in the area was the former private home of the Anderson family.

There was an outcry from many people who were raised in the community when a the stone home that sat on a hill across from Rumson Country Day School was bulldozed to make way for two larger homes.

• Then, of course, there's the Fair Haven Dock, where many milestone moments and a lot of simple fun were experienced by many for many years before Sandy dismantled it.

But, fear not, officials say, it'll be put back together again by the summer.

• The Oceanic Bridge and its months-long closing put people on edge, but when it reopened in May, there was celebration and a gala bridge opening that had been eagerly anticipated.

The art deco-style historic drawbridge has been the cornerstone of much controversy, as many fought to protect the original historic integrity of the structure. It is now closed for safety upgrades through the end of the month.


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