Carson Valley Days Parade on Saturday is going to have a great addition this year. In keeping with its 2007 theme, "Tribute to Our Troops," and in the spirit of having good fun, the OFC, otherwise known by its exclusive membership as "The Old Farts Club," headquartered at the historic French Bar in Gardnerville, will have a special entry this year.
Three vehicles, made up to look like something from the Flintstone's era, dressed up in their patriotic best, will travel the parade route on Saturday. The vehicles were the creation of club member Bill Cook, the entry was suppose to be led by club president, Vern Hale, a World War II POW survivor. Hale, who had a fall last week at his Winhaven home, broke his hip and will be unable to be the honoree driver of one of the vehicles. Hale had surgery Wednesday and it is reported that they had him up on his feet the next day.
In his place will be drivers, Tony Davies, Dave Islander and Julie Stone, a bartender at the French, who will relinquish her driver's position in front of The French to be replaced by Jerry Goehring to continue on down the parade route to Minden Park.
The entry is to honor our Veterans of Foreign Wars and to honor the troops fighting for all of us today.
The Old Farts Club, a lot of old-timer jolly-good fellows, has been meeting at The French every Thursday for almost 10 years now. Reminiscing, enjoying each other's company, The French has been a home away from home for a lot of old-time family residents of the Carson Valley. Once boasting a membership of 20 to 25, the numbers have now dwindled to 15 active members but more are welcome if they wish to join.
"Some of the original members were Bruce Nelson and Bill Hutchison," club member Don Cooper, who has been a patron of the well known bar since 1970, recalled. "Most of us are veterans from past wars."
"When I went on my first trip to Alaska in 1997, I sent each one of the members a postcard," Cooper said. "My wife thought I was crazy."
Dick Nalder was one of the last to leave the membership. Nalder, a native Nevadan, had been a resident of Carson Valley for 61 years when he died March 16 of this year. Nalder was a World War II veteran who entered service at the age of 17, doing his tour of duty in the China-Burma-India Theater with the 10th Air Force. At the age of 77 he was named the "Grand Poo-Paa" of the Old Farts Club.
There are only a couple of requirements to join the club, other than age. First, you must buy the whole bar a round of drinks and then you have to buy the official T-shirt.
The French Bar dates back to the early 1900s, according to an article written by R-C columnist, Linda Monohan, in the 2003 Carson Valley Almanac.
"Once owned by the Borda family, in those days it also had a kitchen and a Basque restaurant downstairs and some rooms to rent upstairs. 'J.B.' Jules Baptiste Borda bought The French in 1936 and later his son, Raymond 'Lemon' Borda operated it, according to a quote from Francis Pedroarena. Lots of Basque immigrants used to meet at The French to reconnect, just like they did with family back in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. Nowadays, many local construction workers, as well as old-time Carson Valley residents, consider The French their home away from home and the hangout for the Old Farts Club. After Ray Borda died, Renee Harrington bought The French from the estate in 1987 and has been running it ever since," Monohan wrote in her Almanac story.
The French has a reputation as a quiet, hometown, country bar, reminiscent of old Gardnerville, where friends can gather, have good conversation and enjoy each other's company while sharing some very happy memories. A step through its doors is a step back in time. There is a closeness among the regular patrons (old timers and newcomers) of The French, a family of sorts, a rarity to find in our modern-day world of fast-paced glitzy, glitter, loud music and flashy casino lifestyle.
"I've learned a lot of the history of this Valley from being in there," Harrington said in the 2003 article, "and I've gotten to know lots of different generations of families. It's great."
Look for the OFC entry in the Carson Valley Days Parade. Give them a huge round of applause. They've earned it.
And like the OFC, until next week, just keep on keepin' on.
-- Jonni Hill can be reached through The Record-Courier at jhill@recordcourier.com or by calling 782-5121, ext. 213, or after hours at JHILL47@aol.com
