In Person & In SpiritBruce’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 noteworthyexamples of his relationship with his hometown.

3M plant closing

(1985-86): Bruce put pressure on 3M to reverse a decision to close itsFreehold Township recording-tape plant. He and country singer Willie Nelson signed magazineadvertisements in December 1985 that protested the move.

The following month, he helped toraise funds for the factory’s workers by performing at a benefit concert at Asbury Park’s StonePony.

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

“Born to Run” fire truck dedication

(October 1991): Freehold officials sought toredevelop part of the Karagheusian rug mill for use as municipal offices and a library, and Brucedonated $100,000 for the work. The project was halted after the proposed site burned down. Themoney 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 doorsin his honor and is housed at the department’s West Main Street headquarters.

St. Rose of Lima benefit concert

(November 1996): During a solo tour to promote thealbum “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 parishcenter to serve the borough’s growing Hispanic population. “In Freehold,” written for the event,was played for the first time that night.

Freehold High School 30-year reunion

(November 1997): Bruce went to a gatheringof 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 theclass picture and granted people’s requests for individual photos and autographs “with goodhumor,” according to the Asbury Park Press.

Bruce spent time with his classmates again adecade later, when he and Patti attended his 40-year reunion.

E Street Band reunion catalyst

(October 1998): Two Middletown residents, ShaunKoslosky and Michael Pfeifer, introduced themselves to Bruce one day while he was sitting byhimself 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 thereunion tour that followed, Bruce told the VH-1 cable-television network in 2001.

Kruise Night

(Summer 2000): Classic cars ride the streets of downtown Freehold on thelast Thursday of May, June, July, August and September. When former resident Mark Hymanwrote about Bruce and his home town in October 2000, he noted that the rocker had recentlygone to one of these events with his family. The story said he had also been seen at Federici’sPizza and the local library.

Vinyard Park dedication

(May 2002): Freehold built a park on the site where theVinyards’ house once stood, and Bruce attended the dedication ceremony. “They gave us achance to hone our craft,” he said in a speech that day. “I don’t think I can quantify how muchthey meant to my musical development and to my life in general.”

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.

The statue, also known asLiberty Triumphant, honored soldiers who died at the Battle of Monmouth. It was first unveiledin 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 in2003. The county helped pay for the restoration and the new park as well.

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 Habitatfor Humanity was building off Institute Street. The group went to lunch at Federici’s Pizza, andBruce stopped by the restaurant to thank them for their efforts.

The houses were dedicated inSeptember 2005, and the street along which they stand was named E Street in Bruce’s honor.

Freehold High School Hall of Fame induction

(April 2006): Bruce was honored in thehall’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 theones 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.”

Notes

Henry Weinstein, “Rock Star Takes Out Ads to Help His Hometown Plant,” LosAngeles Times, 4 Dec.1985. 23 Aug. 2009 <http://articles.latimes.com/1985-12-04/business/fi-636_1_rock-star>.

Matthew Karas and Patricia M. Martin, “Boss goes to the aid of workers,” Asbury Park Press, 20 Jan. 1986.

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

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>.

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