Tell us your Tavern story.
The historic journey of 108 North Market Street began in 1849 as a home and doctor's office, later serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad. In 1931, it transformed into a tavern during prohibition, uniquely refraining from selling alcohol. With over 90 years of rich history, The Tavern on the Square is undergoing restoration, and we invite you to contribute your memories. Whether recalling its earlier days or sharing recent moments, email your stories to us or mail them directly to The Tavern on the Square. Your contributions help preserve the essence of The Tavern's legacy, and we appreciate your involvement in this ongoing story!
Sneak Peak
We have been wanting to take the time to write to you about this experience but time is something we have been very short on these past few months. Thank you for your patience! As you know, we’ve got three little kiddos on the team and it’s just been go go go. However, we were grateful to snap a very special family photo this year…
Summertime
It’s the beginning of harvest and we’re enjoying the flowers, fruits, veg and sweet corn that are available in proliferation here in the country. New Wilmington’s Fresh Market, local farms and roadside stands are bursting with flavor. This is ‘the season’ here. Noble home office. Menu writing. Tomatoes in need...
June Progress
Tavern owner, Matt Noble signs off on the accessible wider doorways downstairs. I am happy to report that we have several teams on site right now. Ed Bayer’s crew from Refined Outdoor Living Environments are moving earth, laying a patio for outdoor dining/lounging in front of the restaurant and creating...
The Pilgrim
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm. Excerpt from The Modern Hippocratic Oath - Dr. Louis Lasagna, 1964 Tavern pilgrim, Jon Hart revisits ‘The Little House’ next...
It’s the Climb
So here’s the truth. This hasn’t been easy. I’ve painted some pictures of how lovely this experience has been, moving to this town, announcing our plans to restore a beloved landmark and making it an elegant and inviting destination restaurant once again. I’ve told you a little about the talented...
Takes a Village
New Wilmington has supported The Tavern for decades and is showing up for the 2023 restoration. So many stories. They feel like waves of encouragement. Not just for us or this project, but for this place. This time. It’s easy to see where things are falling apart. Where there is...
Tavern Meet Cute
February is almost gone. With so little snow this month, it has hardly felt like winter. We didn’t have any exterior work scheduled, as most folks don’t since it is typically a tundra this time of year in Western, Pennsylvania. However, we have big plans for March. We’re finalizing a...
A Fine Art Field Note
Snow is falling on everything. It’s a dusting right now but the landscape, framed by our home’s 128-year-old windows, is already transformed. I recently met a man who is probably staring out his window right now, deep in study. The Western Pennsylvania weather suits him just fine because of these...
Christmas Past
Marty and Mary Capoferri have become close friends. Matt and I met them on our first trip to New Wilmington’s farmers’ market. I had no idea how wrapped-up we’d become. The Capoferri’s have run the market for years. I started volunteering sporadically on the grill, flipping egg sandwiches. Then we...
Thanks Giving
November. Pennsylvania. Cold. Grey. Snow. Seems like a great time to go into ourselves and hibernate. But right at this time, when the summer and all those gatherings are far enough in the past to be memories and the new flush of fall has dissipated, we are jostled again by...
Field Notes: Glacial Till Farm
In the fields at Glacial Till Farm, Slippery Rock, PA. Photo credit Emma Jeurgens. September’s cooking demo for the Seed to Feed Garden Project at New Wilmington Presbyterian jump started our search for local, quality and organic product for the restaurant. Local and quality are not too hard to come...
Three Miracles
The Tavern has been closed before. From 2005 to 2008, the fate of the New Wilmington landmark was unknown. Susan and Joe Hougelman gave it all they had and needed a bit more to open the doors in 2009. Susan sat down with us and shared their remarkable story and...
Thanksgiving 1967
We grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and remember well the Thanksgiving when our family of nine ate our holiday meal at The Tavern in New Wilmington. It was our mother’s idea, and when she announced, “This year, we are going OUT,” it was a radical departure from tradition. We were...
A New Chapter
We’ll get the ball rolling but what we really want are your stories. The Tavern opened in 1931. There are thousands of memories spanning nine decades. Here’s ours: Our Tavern Story Matt and I drove up to New Wilmington with our three kids to look at our potential new house...
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Stories and pictures shared with the Tavern Team may be reposted in our social media or on our online journal here on our site. We may publish stories in a printed publication in the future so by submitting your story and pictures either through email or mail, you are agreeing to sharing your memories with Tavern fans without copyright. We just had to tell you that. Your memories are important to preserving the history of The Tavern. Thank you for keeping the story going!
