People that we see once a year come down for that, Laurel Kapala said. It was a miracle that it happened when the damage was to property not people. Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, Larry P. Pelullo, Retired Carpenter with over 30 years Experience, Open Houses Planned In The Bensalem Area: Here Are The Latest 3 Listings, State Sen. Farry Launches Satellite Office Hours In Bucks. In the seventies after graduation and being away for several years my husband wrote a series of essays about being a student at Auburn. Next the cardboard panels stuck in the (I think there were six vents in the block base of those glass windows) blew out and the building rattled. We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax fraud with our law enforcement partners.". But wasnt it more of a fancy type deal? Now the Kapalas hire a DJ to spin tracks on Friday and Saturday nights. [] in the late 70s a restaurant in downtown Auburn, AL blew up because of a gas leak. I was preparing a sermon at FBC and after the boom, felt The Lord saying dont worry about it. I just thought he was getting me too close there. "There was a clothing store back there, and there were these mannequins. Hashbrowns pitched at me by the owner. Then, everything changed, as a natural gas explosion rocked downtown, destroying Kopper Kettle restaurant, a dentist's office and other businesses by the northwest corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. Either that or one that was equally trashed. He opened Kopper Kettle with his wife, Penny, in 1971, when their stretch of Nations Ford Road was miles of open fields and a few trailers. "The boys from Station 2 come driving up there in the truck, and they thought it was just people laying out there in the road.". Add a photo Ratings and reviews 3.0 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont COVID brought some changes, of course. One elderly white couple tries to keep up as she explains the restaurants annual celebration of International Jorts Day, which the Kettle staff celebrates on May 24. "I just heard the explosion," McCord said. The county seat is Doylestown. I remember the one at Brookwood, too. On Sunday morning, January 15, 1978, several businesses on East Magnolia Ave in downtown Auburn were destroyed in an explosion caused by a natural gas leak beneath the restaurant. Then, everything changed, as a natural gas explosion rocked downtown, destroying Kopper Kettle restaurant, a dentist's office and other businesses by the northwest corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. He comes here and he drinks coffee and he eats, and thats part of the reason that I decided to stay, because that is priceless to me, she says. "The bank thermometer there said 25 degrees. A gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses. Dale H. Wow, some incredible pictures. As of the 2020 census, the population was 628,270. "The chief was there directing the ladder trucks in, directing me in, but I thought he was getting me way too close," he said. Had glass replaced, frame and hung in new office in Opelika. "I thought somebody was beating the door, just messing with me on the bathroom doors.". The Battle of Campaldino was a battle between the Guelphs and Ghibellines on 11 June 1289. Sorry the owners got greedy. or anything. I was a teenager at the time. The Kapalas hope to travel with their free time, but plan to visit the bar even after the sale. A family style fine dining restaurant, known for its famous pan fried chicken, delicious. The dining room (below) opens for breakfast at 5 a.m. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Saradina Morris didnt plan to spend her life running a small caf surrounded by warehouses and industrial parks outside Pineville. Richard Kapala joked with the two men at the counter, their laughter filling the otherwise empty bar. The tiger painting was done by Barbara Keel, which I still own. It was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapala's great-uncle. She used to comp their meals, but she cant afford to do that anymore. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, God Bless and War Eagle! "When you ask anyone that was there, the first thing that theyll tell you is it was damn cold. And those were mine and my sisters dental records that got blown up. Thanks for the great pics and the memories. A large part of the street was gone from the Kopper Kettle on down Magnolia, says Patterson. Don't Threaten. Lifetime Megan's Law Offender Charged In Bensalem: Police, New School Director Takes Oath In Bensalem Township. Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again. Morris, who says cooking is one of her favorite pastimes, will sometimes whip something up in the kitchen to make a snack for herself, and twice now those snacks have landed on the menu. (And if youd like to help us keep the obsession with Auburn lore unhealthy and the lights on through the winter, click here.). I was working at the old Spur station on the corner of Gay and Glenn. She expected the role to last a year at most. "I was kind of stuck. kopper kettle washington pa, site:zomato.com kopper kettle 15301, kopper kettle washingtonpa, copper kettle washington pa friday specials, kopper kettle menu Select Country India It was a big deal. Get our Weekly recap with the latest news, articles and resources. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. LOWELL It may soon be last call at Cappys Copper Kettle. 4,339 were here. FEASTERVILLE, PA One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. "My office will aggressively pursue businesspeople who operate in such an illegal manner," McSwain said. On Halloween, they would arrive dressed in costume. Thanks! Her first creation, the Smash Pot, features a large serving of grilled potatoes, peppers, onions, tomatoes and bacon or sausage with two over-medium eggs placed on top though it comes fully customizable. You have permission to edit this article. Larry was in his building on the second floor when all this occurred. We'd love to hear eyewitness I thought a tornado was coming through but I didn't see anything outside. The information alleges that Eckler and Yost, owners of the Kopper Kettle Bar and Restaurant, located in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, did not report $263,340 in cash wages that they paid to dishwasher employees at the Kopper Kettle Bar and Restaurant during the period March 2012 through at least September 2016. Holy crap---a house blew up couple streets over from us! . We went running downtown and were just amazed at the damage at so many businesses. You can throw whatever you want in there, she tells me as I peruse the menu. As with the Smash Pot, Morris came up with the idea as a way to satisfy her own craving on a slow morning in the kitchen. and our house shook like it had been hit by lightening. Thank you for reading! "When the time came for me to get up, they had to help me get up because my clothing had a bunch of ice on it," he said. Sunday morning, I was just beginning to wake up when, >BLAMMO! Lawrence, too, remembers details of the scene, especially the cold. https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/pa/feasterville-trevose/1985-bridgetown-pike/pid_31709455/, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/bucks-county-bar-and-restaurant-owners-charged-tax-offenses. I-77 was still under construction. 40th anniversary: Kopper Kettle explosion still reverberates today, Notice of Public Hearing - 801 Ogletree Road, Auburn Roundup: Arbor Day celebration on tap for Saturday, Auburn Public Library hosting Multilingual Story Time on Saturday, Steve Foote, Auburn's planning director, passes away, Tigers, Trojans close out series with a rare tie game, ACS Board of Education approves elementary rezoning. 1978 THE KOPPER KETTLE EXPLODED. Be Truthful. When I got back to the apartment, my roomie came out to the car and said, "Remember that noise this morning?" Later that evening, I was amazed to see photos of our downtown Auburn on the NBC National News television broadcast. I was asleep in my bunk bed on the corner of East Glenn & Burton (about two blocks away?) Eckler and Yost, if convicted, could face up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution to the IRS. When her dad, George Karnezis, had a stroke in 2014, she stepped in to run her parents restaurant, Kopper Kettle, until they were back on their feet. : Combatting the Rattiest Cities, 9 Things to Do and See in Charlotte: February 2023, A Guide to Charlotte's Top Bar Food Spots: 2023. 1,687 were here. Don't forget to call and make your reservations for the holidays! A birds-eye-view picture of the restaurant and the land around it that was taken in 1971 hangs on the wall near the cash register today, and it shows just how isolated the Kopper Kettle was three residential trailers are all that can be seen nearby. This production is made possible with the help of the following: Recorded with Terri Stacy. You can help keep more like it coming by becoming a TWER patron. I was asleep in my apartment on West Magnolia, about a mile away, and the boom shook the whole building. They are down to two prospective buyers, both of whom plan to run a bar in the space. The event made national news. 104. This is the second post in a three-part series commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the day the Kopper Kettle blew up (and celebrating the scores of injuries and deaths that miraculously did not occur remember the song The Kettles Gone? Its like a slice of Lowell, George Saba, a 66-year-old Cappys regular, said as he sipped coffee at the counter on a recent Wednesday morning. The explosion, which originated in the basement of Waldrop's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn. I remember people showing up at our house with charts and billing statements to give my parents, and other things they found in their yards! Editors note: Patterson is a retired diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and resides in Washington, D.C. When the apartment started getting cold, I got up to find that all of our gas heaters had gone out (I guess the city had cut off all of the gas lines) and the door on the side facing the Kettle had been blown open. This was only a rumor by the time I got there (79), but I think I bought that smashed up AMC Matador. Im so thankful Auburn was small and slow back then. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. He was there on the infamous night in February 1967 when Speros Kokenes, who owned The Open Kitchen with his brother, Steve, was carjacked and murdered in what was believed to be a botched armed robbery. In the years since she took over for her parents, Morris hasnt changed the menu much: biscuits and egg platters for breakfast, along with a signature dish, The Original Smash Pot, a heap of potatoes topped with cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. People are also reading Do you have any stories from that day? "The Kopper Kettle explosion was the big event while I was at Auburn. They've been there forever. "From north Auburn, you could see the plume of smoke on the horizon in that high spot, so I had an idea that there was something big going on," he said. In fact, shortly after the Kopper Kettles demise, an Auburn student wrote and recorded the local radio hit The Kettles Gone, a take-off on the country hit The King is Gone. Commemorative T-shirts were printed and sold, and Auburn graduates still recall exactly where they were the day of the Kopper Kettle explosion.. But over the years, multiple customers have claimed that they caught the fish and gave it to Cappy. Customers range in age from 21 to 90, the Kapalas said. For Morris, its a precious chance to savor her dads company. Would you be interested in looking at it? We figure its time to retire and move on, Richard Kapala said. I was one of the first Uniform Police Officers on the scene. If this had happened today, it would be a much different outcome.. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. Low 66F. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. Long ago, the Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant put Morristown on gourmets' list from coast to coast as a stop on Route 52 where a fine meal may be enjoyed in a delightfully restful setting. At that time in 1978, Queens We Will Rock You was a big hit. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Photos of smiling customers line a wall behind the DJs booth. The Kapalas hosted road races to raise money for the fund. Our guest tell us this charm is unmatchable even by the most beautiful restaurants in all of Europe! I sat up having heard the tremendous explosion, and went back to bed. After a couple hours in the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it. The same could be said for Kopper Kettle Family Restaurant. For example, theres Rum and Coke Jim, Laurel said. Spelling copper with a K was Georges idea, Morris says, because theres no C in the Greek alphabet. I love this place., Were sitting at a booth near the front door of the original dining room on a rainy Tuesday morning, and throughout our conversation Morris has to pause to ring up customers as they leave, chatting each one up as if theyre family. Another witness, a Vietnam veteran, said that it was the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the war. Dang I dont remember it looking that devastated. A week later, the man returned to the bar and told Laurel that he spoke with Richard. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. Welcome! The explosion made national news that night in 1978. His office blew up and The Gentry Building replaced/filled the hole. We learn about the restaurant serving Hoosiers and guests for 91 years, how to keep traditions alive while staying relevant, and thoughts about buying an existing restaurant. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. It continues like this throughout the morning, with folks of all ages and races streaming in and out; many of them seem to know each other, all of them know Morris. As much time as she spent in the smoke-filled diner, however, she never imagined shed one day be running it. Keep it Clean. I was also throwing papers for the Auburn bulletin before the explosion, and came through town I could smell the gas is really strong went home to tell my father about the gas downtown since we were running the newspaper thought something crazy was going to happen and it did.I made it downtown right after the explosion I was reaching of the window at the drugstore to call my boss to tell them I would secure the store until someone got there about that time I found myself with handcuffs against a brick wall ,thought I was trying to steal the money out of the cash register but was later released what a crazy morning. There was a Kopper Kettle in Brookwood Mall at that time, and the food was pretty good, if I remember. That place is disgusting. Hello, Great photos of the Toomers explosion. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. The Kapalas are currently selling the building and business for $850,000. Deceptive and after the fact additional costs not disclosed on menu. They lived in Cary Woods, and the blast woke me up. The Worcester native enjoys road trips and hiking. Shortly after the explosion, chaos ensued as volunteers, police, firemen and state officials were on the scene to determine the cause of the explosion as they prepared for the worst, searching the rubble for fatalities. I can say that I was rocked by the song and also by the Kopper Kettle.. If those vents werent there or were sealed with something solid, Im pretty sure at least one person would have been dead. Join over 20,000 Charlotte residents who receive our daily updates. In the 90s, after Morris had her first child, George decided to close for dinner, and today it remains only a breakfast and lunch eatery, with no liquor or beer on the menu. Its great to be a part of their (the customers) history, Laurel Kapala said. The couple has listed the building and business on the market, and hope to finalize a sale later this year. Were not going anywhere, Laurel said. I was like, That sounds delicious, she says, laughing. The couple knows most customers by name, or in some cases, their drink orders. The familiar greasy spoon that once stood on the corner of Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue did not make a return, but it will forever be remembered by Auburn students and residents. 2 Player of Year, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds. chat with Leigh Langkable, owner of Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant in Morristown, Indiana. Your email address will not be published. Pick and Andy Gentry. On one occasion about 15 years ago, Laurel cut off a young man who had too much to drink. He threatened to tell the owner, she recalled with a chuckle. Morris laughs as she recalls that when she originally convinced her dad to create a non-smoking section, he designated two booths in the smoke-filled room because they were nearest the door. Amazing. You could see down into the cellar. In the picture where the painting is on wall of the tiger, that was my dental office. A friend of mine, Richard W. said he had walked down to Toomer's Corner for a paper about 30 minutes before the blast. McCord worked on top of the ladder truck for about three and a half hours before being relieved. From the shaded walkways, balconies, fountains, and sequestered nooks, the Kopper Kettle Inn has a very distinct charm. The Nerve is distributed every other Wednesday and includes feature stories, event and music listings, puzzles and more. 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