Klein’s Memories of Noah: In 1991, Stephen Klein Jr. wrote about his first meeting with the hermit and a gesture of kindness.
The Hermit and Us – Our Adirondack Adventures with Noah John Rondeau
Klein’s memories of Noah
An excerpt from “The Hermit and Us”, Starting on page 194
In 1991, Stephen Klein Jr. wrote about his first meeting with the hermit and a gesture of kindness.
“I’ve admired Noah ever since I shook hands with him in New York City when they had his set-up in the Sports Show in 1947. I was 17 years old then. Me and two of my friends went to the Grand Central Palace. We had to wait in line [to see the hermit]. I…got his autograph on the show program…”
The next summer Klein visited Rondeau at Cold River. Forty-two years later, Klein duplicated that trip twice for the express purpose of commemorating his idol.
“… I hiked back twice that year [to Rondeau’s site] in one day. Each time I took my boat to Plumley’s Landing on Long Lake. From there I hoofed it over the N.P trail. It was eleven miles one way. I hiked 22 miles in 10 hours …
From Noah’s photo album. Courtesy of Richard J. Smith
Young and old alike enjoyed meeting Noah. Stephen Klein Jr. said, “I used to beach my boat at Plumley’s Landing, hike along the N-P Trail to Cold River Hill and return to my boat all in one day — 22 miles in 10 hours.”
There wasn’t much left there from when I first dropped in on the hermit. I saw the sign needed replacing…so I returned with a handmade one with the type engraved into the wood and then filled in with paint…I go to the [Adirondack] museum every year to see Noah’s display …”