This image is the cover for the book Legendary Locals of Rumson, Legendary Locals

Legendary Locals of Rumson, Legendary Locals

In Rumson's formative years, people journeyed to the Jersey Shore to escape the heat and pestilence in the cities. In what is now Rumson, river-to-river land parcels were developed into farms and country estates for the elite of New York City. Along with "the Baking Powder King" and "the Calico King," another of Rumson's notable residents was a US Secretary of the Interior who was asked to run for vice president, refused the honor, and left the position open for the second choice, Teddy Roosevelt. Today, one of the world's most famous and enduring singing stars and one of America's most famous chefs have ties to the town. Rumson has been the home of entertainers, sports stars, financiers, entrepreneurs, scientists, brewers, legislators, philanthropists, and jurists. It is a community that brings together people of varied interests, ages, and walks of life yet still remains a warm and comfortable small town.

Roberta H. Van Anda

Local historian and author Roberta H. Van Anda has lived in Rumson since her early childhood. She has taught at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and Rumson Country Day School and has served on local boards of education as well as the New Jersey State Board of Education. She has been the editor of the Rumson Borough Bulletin, a board member of the Rumson Community Appeal, a public relations professional for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and currently serves as the secretary of the Rumson Historic Preservation Commission.

Arcadia Publishing