In Person & In Spirit

Bruce’s appearance with Sonny Kenn and the Wild Ideas at the Monmouth County Fair

was one instance in which Freehold drew him back over the years. Here are 10 more noteworthy

examples of his relationship with his hometown.

3M plant closing (1985-86): Bruce put pressure on 3M to reverse a decision to close its

Freehold Township recording-tape plant. He and country singer Willie Nelson signed magazine

advertisements in December 1985 that protested the move.1 The following month, he helped to

raise funds for the factory’s workers by performing at a benefit concert at Asbury Park’s Stone

Pony.2 3M nevertheless proceeded with the closing, completed in May 1986.

“Born to Run” fire truck dedication (October 1991): Freehold officials sought to

redevelop part of the Karagheusian rug mill for use as municipal offices and a library, and Bruce

donated $100,000 for the work. The project was halted after the proposed site burned down. The

money instead went to purchase a booster truck for Good Will Hook & Ladder Co., one of four

companies in the Freehold Fire Department. The truck has “Born to Run” painted on both doors

in his honor and is housed at the department’s West Main Street headquarters.3

St. Rose of Lima benefit concert (November 1996): During a solo tour to promote the

album “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” Bruce performed in his hometown for the first time since 1968.

Only Freehold residents could purchase tickets to the show, which raised funds for a new parish

center to serve the borough’s growing Hispanic population. “In Freehold,” written for the event,

was played for the first time that night.4

Freehold High School 30-year reunion (November 1997): Bruce went to a gathering

of his graduating class for the first time. The event was held at the Holiday Inn in Tinton Falls,

about 10 miles east of Freehold. His wife, Patti Scialfa, accompanied him. He appeared in the

class picture and granted people’s requests for individual photos and autographs “with good

humor,” according to the Asbury Park Press.5 Bruce spent time with his classmates again a

decade later, when he and Patti attended his 40-year reunion.6

E Street Band reunion catalyst (October 1998): Two Middletown residents, Shaun

Koslosky and Michael Pfeifer, introduced themselves to Bruce one day while he was sitting by

himself outside the Court Jester, a restaurant on Freehold’s Main Street. Pfeifer asked whether

Bruce would tour with the E Street Band, which young people like him and his friend had never

seen because they were too young for their earlier shows. The discussion led him to consider the

reunion tour that followed, Bruce told the VH-1 cable-television network in 2001.7

Kruise Night (Summer 2000): Classic cars ride the streets of downtown Freehold on the

last Thursday of May, June, July, August and September. When former resident Mark Hyman

wrote about Bruce and his home town in October 2000, he noted that the rocker had recently

gone to one of these events with his family. The story said he had also been seen at Federici’s

Pizza and the local library.8

Vinyard Park dedication (May 2002): Freehold built a park on the site where the

Vinyards’ house once stood, and Bruce attended the dedication ceremony. “They gave us a

chance to hone our craft,” he said in a speech that day. “I don’t think I can quantify how much

they meant to my musical development and to my life in general.”9

Columbia Triumphant statue unveiling (June 2003): Bruce’s name appeared on a brick

in front of the statue, displayed at a newly built park on Main Street.10 The statue, also known as

Liberty Triumphant, honored soldiers who died at the Battle of Monmouth. It was first unveiled

in 1884, replaced after being damaged by lightning a decade later, and found buried in mud by a

Freehold junk dealer in the late 1940s. Monmouth County bought the statue from the dealer in

2003. The county helped pay for the restoration and the new park as well.11

Lunch with Habitat for Humanity volunteers (July 2004): On a Saturday, a group of

Bruce fans spent time working on one of six homes that the Western Monmouth County Habitat

for Humanity was building off Institute Street. The group went to lunch at Federici’s Pizza, and

Bruce stopped by the restaurant to thank them for their efforts.12 The houses were dedicated in

September 2005, and the street along which they stand was named E Street in Bruce’s honor.13

Freehold High School Hall of Fame induction (April 2006): Bruce was honored in the

hall’s first induction ceremony. While he didn’t attend, he prepared a speech read by his mother,

who accepted the award on his behalf. “My advice to teachers today is to keep your eyes on the

ones who don’t fit in,” he wrote. “Those are the ones that can think out of the box. You’ll never

know where they’ll be going.”14

Notes

1 Henry Weinstein, “Rock Star Takes Out Ads to Help His Hometown Plant,” Los

Angeles Times, 4 Dec.1985. 23 Aug. 2009 <http://articles.latimes.com/1985-12-04/business/fi-

636_1_rock-star>.

2 Matthew Karas and Patricia M. Martin, “Boss goes to the aid of workers,” Asbury Park

Press, 20 Jan. 1986.

3 Good Will Hook & Ladder Web site. 15 Aug. 2009 <http://www.gwhlfire.org/home>.

4 Mark Hyman, "The Boss Grew Up Here, But Mum's the Word," BusinessWeek, 2 Oct.

2000. 21 Aug. 2009 <http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_40/b3701170.htm>.

5 “Rock star joins his class for 30th school reunion.” Asbury Park Press. 1 Dec. 1997, 2.

6 Hoenig, author interview.

7 Goldstein and Mikle, Rock & Roll Tour, 138.

8 Hyman, "The Boss Grew Up Here.”

9 Springsteen, Vinyard Park dedication speech, 18 May 2002. 21 Aug. 2009.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfg2ekdvj2g>.

10 Goldstein and Mikle, 140.

11 Dick Metzgar, “Columbia Triumphant marks return to boro,” News Transcript, 25 June

2003. 23 Aug. 2009 <http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2003/0625/Front_page/011.html>.

12 Clare Marie Celano, "Bruce fans help build E Street home," News Transcript, 11 Aug.

2004. 21 Aug. 2009 <http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2004/0811/Front_page/001.html>.

13 Celano, "Habitat families welcomed to new homes on E Street," News Transcript, 5

Oct. 2005. 21 Aug. 2009 <http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2005/1005/Front_page/

026.html>.

14 Adele Springsteen, High School Hall of Fame induction.