John and Kathy Nahor and family will be the special guests at a community gathering at Stuart deCamp’s Moose River Bed and Breakfast in Thendara on Saturday, June 6 from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

All are invited to stop by and share a memory with John and Kathy as they return to the old neighborhood where it all began for them.

This Adirondack story began in April 1965, when a couple, with young children in tow, purchased a business known as Van Auken’s Tavern in the hamlet of Thendara.  

Thendara was a different place back then, a far cry from New York City and worlds apart from their humble Irish beginnings.

The stores closed at 5 p.m. and gas stations were closed on Sundays.

Mail was picked up at Betty’s and summertime began when Croft’s lifted the shed doors.

The Green Bridge was one lane and actually painted green.

From the front porch the Nahor family watched the last freight train pass through Thendara and a few years later, the first of the Olympic trains head to Lake Placid.

A favorite memory was seeing the snow train plow the snow from the tracks in giant waves of powder…it was just about as exciting as it gets.

The snowmobiling boom got its start in the late 60’s and provided local businesses with new opportunities for the winter months.

More and more businesses were started and more stayed open during the winter.

Thendara and the surrounding towns were starting to become year-around tourist destinations.

The Nahors’ business was also growing, most noticeably when they found their niche of serving dinners by reservations only.

Customers could order whatever they wanted and it would be served to them and their guests in a private dining room.

Diners enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on the porch or in the adjoining living room.

Prime rib, crabmeat casserole, cheesecake, and Grand Marnier soufflé were all popular menu requests.

Lunch favorites included roast beef sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and homemade soups.

There were countless parties at Nahors’. Some big, some small, but always with the assurance customers left satisfied.

Soon they started catering to homes and camps. John and Kathy’s unique Irish hospitality and incredible food could be enjoyed anywhere!

After 23 years as owners/operators of Van Auken’s Tavern, it was time to move on to other adventures, including working at local restaurants, opening Kathy’s Kitchen, and caretaking.

Eventually, retirement called…but that didn’t suit Kathy.

She can currently be found at the Old Forge Hardware’s Knitting Room where knitting and purling has replaced roasting and baking.

John is enjoying the tranquility found along the Moose River in Minnehaha.

Fishing spots are near and the drive to Thendara Golf Club is short.

Maybe you attended a wedding, luncheon, or cocktail party at Van Auken’s.

You might have watched the big game at the bar, enjoyed take-out lunches, dinners from Kathy’s Kitchen, or stopped in the Adirondack Family Buffet.

Or perhaps you enjoyed a fishing trip, a round of golf, or a knitting lesson.

Whatever the connection, you are invited to stop down to the Moose River Bed and Breakfast and bring a story to tell.