If your scrolling finger is limber enough, here are 78 photos most of which have never been seen until now taken in the immediate aftermath of the blast by former Opelika-Auburn News photographer Brad Ashmore. My family was living in Willow Creek out on Highway 14. This year, the Kapalas will participate in the tradition for the last time. "Our tax system requires businesspeople to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees," U.S. Attorney William McSwain said. Richard Kapala joked with the two men at the counter, their laughter filling the otherwise empty bar. I think he left me a $20 tip he felt so bad.. Add a photo Ratings and reviews 3.0 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont For example, theres Rum and Coke Jim, Laurel said. Its a memory Ill never forget, says Patterson. Always wanted to check them out. https://discord.gg/kJdJq5BRH5, Press J to jump to the feed. Then 19-year-old firefighter Johnny Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the hand lines. Hashbrowns pitched at me by the owner. Join the conversation on our Discord! Copyright Indiana Owned 2023. racist or sexually-oriented language. When I saw the bricks and wood flying in the air above the buildings at Gay and Magnolia. I just thought he was getting me too close there. Though generational favorites like the fried pork chops or livermush remain top sellers, Morris has introduced new adaptations that have in short time become hits among newcomers and longtime customers alike. They were only open for takeout for a few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off. Kopper Kettle, Morristown: See 94 unbiased reviews of Kopper Kettle, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #1 of 5 restaurants in Morristown. People that we see once a year come down for that, Laurel Kapala said. It was a big deal. Like most children of Charlottes Greek community, she attended Greek school to learn the language and culture, and shes made trips to Greece to meet extended family. The event made national news. 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. At that time in 1978, Queens We Will Rock You was a big hit. The Lincoln Continental in one of the photoshad just been purchased by Larry Parker. This was only a rumor by the time I got there (79), but I think I bought that smashed up AMC Matador. One of which is about the Kopper Kettle. (SUN/Julia Malakie)A couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra. Thats a loaded one, she says, pausing to think it over. So how is being a counselor similar to running a restaurant? Not sure why you got downvoted, but despite the food being good the dining room was far from clean. On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon chat with Leigh Langkable, owner of Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant in Morristown, Indiana. The owners of the Kopper Kettle Tavern, in Feasterville, are facing federal tax. The shops across the street, "War Eagle PIzza" and others had shattered glass storefronts. Dick Kapala, bartender and co-owner of Cappys Copper Kettle, center, with customer and fill-in bartender George Saba of Lowell, left, and Luis Velazquez of Lowell, right. It was so cold, Lawrence got stuck to the sidewalk after getting sprayed from the ladder truck while working a hand line on the ground. Many of her regulars are police officers and firefighters. I was the dispatcher for the City of Auburn the morning this occurred. Thanks to God no one was hurt that morning. The Kapalas hosted road races to raise money for the fund. Don't Threaten. Editors note: Patterson is a retired diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and resides in Washington, D.C. I think I remember asking my roomie on the top bunk: "what was that!?" 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. They are down to two prospective buyers, both of whom plan to run a bar in the space. Much to everyones relief, not a single person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained. We are a restaurant specializing in American style foods. We were going to the office after church to do a filling on my mother! Use the 'Report' link on Cappys was busiest in the 1980s, Richard Kapala reminisced. Delivery & Pickup Options - 445 reviews of Kopper Kettle "If for some reason you find yourself driving through Yucaipa, and trying to decide between Denny's, Domino's or Del Taco, do yourself a favor and pick this place instead. The jukebox is gone, and the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, although that took some time. 1,687 were here. : The Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant has been serving Indiana's finest for over 91 years! Called off services due to potential other gas leaks. or anything. Thank you for reading! I was asleep in my apartment on West Magnolia, about a mile away, and the boom shook the whole building. Richard Kapala was discharged from the air force that year, and took over his fathers share of the bar. WOW! When Penny calls during our interview to find out what time Morris will pick up her dad, the conversation is half in Greek, half in English. It turns out running a caf filled with regulars suited her. Were not going anywhere, Laurel said. Some folks came by a day later to collect the records. The Original Smash Pot is, er, a heart-healthy heap of potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. Her mother, Helen Brooks, would often run fashion shows and prize drawings at the bar. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Its her ability to listen, she finally decides. 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. According to other reports, Lt. Tamp McDonald was dispatched in the captain's El Camino to investigate the smell. These photos bring back so many memories! 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. Cool. He hung a left on Glenn Avenue and made his way up College Street before turning down Magnolia. It is the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. We use our own and third party cookies to allow us to understand how the site is used and to support our marketing campaigns. While the devastation to downtown Auburn shocking, that no one died or suffered a serious injury from the explosion was the most remarkable thing about that day. I usually went with take out, felt less gross. The large, quaint house is a veritable art museum - housing fascinating collection of art objects from many parts of the world - all tastefully displayed from beautiful antique furnishings and artifacts. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the location served as a wholesome family diner by day and a bar and lounge by night. I remember the blast. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy. "I was kind of stuck. - Pelican Parts Technical BBS, VIDEO: 1984 profile on Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith, VIDEO: Aubies hot tub harem and other behind-the-scenes highlights from 1987-88, First-class bloodbathThat time Pat Dye maybe made Auburn play two A-Day games, Heres eight minutes of Tiger Walk for the 1990 Florida State game. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. 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Some stories want aroundthe joke that "somebody lit a match to the Kopper Kettle's chili", etc. Think I have some color photos somewhere. Dick Kapala, bartender and co-owner of Cappys Copper Kettle, left, with customer Daniel Correa of Lowell, right. Award-winning Alabama Living is the official statewide publication of the electric cooperatives in Alabama and the largest magazine of its type in the state, reaching some 400,000 electric cooperative consumers. Investigators determined the gas leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding. An aviation management student got up in the air and relayed to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb had hit. McDonald narrowly avoided getting caught up in the blast as he was behind Auburn First National (now AuburnBank) at the time, said McCord, who sprang into action with other firefighters on duty. Explosive Exclusive: 78 never-before-seen photos of the Kopper Kettle explosion of 1978 | The War Ea About a year later I heard a local radio spot for something and they said "we are located across [], Your email address will not be published. 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. That was the concern; nobody knew where they were at.. About 40 frames later must be a young Andy Gentry in center w/ glasses w/ the fire Chief. An AU student from the Plainsman took my photograph as I was walking through the intersection at Gay and Magnolia. Upon reconstruction, windows were added, which was the first step in changing the vibe inside. Customers range in age from 21 to 90, the Kapalas said. "I went up there on the top of that on the fly section and the people had hand lines down there on the other buildings because there was about a quarter of a block that was burnt up," he said. Oh, and now we have video.). The Kopper Kettle Inn is open to serve you on the following holidays, https://www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/. You can see our catering and carry out options on our Menu page. that morning. Get a sneak preview of each months magazine when you sign up! Students were away from their apartments, cars were halted at just the right stoplight, and churchgoers, like Patterson, were just beginning to emerge. In 1964, Richards father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. 0. After a couple hours in the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it. The Kopper Kettle Tavern is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike. I was sleeping late that morning as usual. Most days now, Morris picks him up and brings him to the restaurant, where he spends the morning talking to customers, telling stories, and eating his lunch. After 55 years of ownership, Richard Kapala and his wife, Laurel, are selling the building and with it, the business. After breakfast, our family drove as close to downtown as possible to see the damage. chat with Leigh Langkable, owner of Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant in Morristown, Indiana. As a result, Eckler and Yost failed to collect and pay employment taxes to the IRS, including Social Security tax and Medicare tax, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Monday will mark the event's 40th anniversary. In April of that year, her father suffered his first stroke. Further investigation revealed windows 1-upstairs, the other downstairs had blown out of my apartment in Woodland Terrace, on Armstrong St. between Thach & Hare Avenues. Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! He owned the business directly across the street from the explosion. He sleepily said, "Must be somebody lighting dynamite in the parking lot." And had it happened 17 minutes later when everyone was arriving to hear Britt's sermon at Auburn United Methodist Church just down and across the street from the Kopper Kettle, a lot of people probably would have been killed or at least seriously injured because the blast shot shards of 90-year old stained class into the walls like throwing stars. Your email address will not be published. Still, she does big business on Saturday mornings, when Pineville families come in for breakfast. We figure its time to retire and move on, Richard Kapala said. 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! Holy crap---a house blew up couple streets over from us! and au jus (!!). 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. COVID brought some changes, of course. I was at the corner of Mitcham Ave. and North Gay St. going over the railroad tracks when this happened. She graduated from UMass Amherst in May 2019, where she studied journalism and information technology. As much time as she spent in the smoke-filled diner, however, she never imagined shed one day be running it. 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. "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. All rights reserved. It was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapalas great-uncle. 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 Her father George still spends lots of time in the restaurant, chatting with customers who have been coming to the Kettle for nearly 40 years. The Kapalas hope to travel with their free time, but plan to visit the bar even after the sale. Can you help us put names to faces? A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. It was a big deal. FEASTERVILLE, PA One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. We serve anything from wings. Cloudy. Sinclair and his wife, Louise, now live in Charlottesville, Va. By the early 1980s, the block was rebuilt and the evidence of the blast was gone. Ells have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and patios and gardens laid out. Thats what it kind of looked like, what you might expect from a bomb or auxiliary round that may have hit the building and blown it up. Frank DeGraffenreid w/ hat. At that time, Auburn was a sleepy little village still on the cusp of the economic boom it would see years later. 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.. At least nine copper kettles are tucked throughout the restaurant, as well as copper art, including a hammered version of The Last Supper.. Soggy potato. I can say that I was rocked by the song and also by the Kopper Kettle.. For 34 years, the bar gave about $10,000 a year to a scholarship fund for local high school students college education. 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 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. Great pics from Brad. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Im so thankful Auburn was small and slow back then. I work days and he works nights, Laurel said on a recent Wednesday. Required fields are marked *. It was just an incredible experience.. The Kopper Kettle . 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. The explosion, which originated in the basement of Waldrop's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn. He said he told the fire captain he smelled natural gas at the corner and then began getting ready to work that day, putting on his uniform in the bathroom of the fire station at the corner of Magnolia and Ross Street. We'd love to hear eyewitness I just thought about it. When her dad, George Karnezis, had a stroke in 2014, she stepped in to run her parents restaurant, Raise a Glass Ceiling: Inside Craft Brewing's The Pink Boots Society, Where to Eat in Charlotte's South End: 2023, Curated For You: MyNewFloor.com Makes Flooring Easy, The Making of Childrens Theatre of Charlottes Production of The Night Diary, How Being on Summer Camp Staff Impacted My Life, Oh, Rats! My dads dental office was above the Kopper Kettle (Dr. James L. Carroll)! There was a dentists office along with an attorneys office on the second floor over the Kopper Kettle.. Low 66F. Hello, Great photos of the Toomers explosion. Owners Stephen Eckler, 68, of Ivyland, and Robert Yost, 52, of Southampton, allegedly did not report $263,340 in cash wages to dishwashers between March 2012 and September 2016. "When you ask anyone that was there, the first thing that theyll tell you is it was damn cold. Had glass replaced, frame and hung in new office in Opelika. 104. God Bless and War Eagle! 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. So I dozed back to sleep! The Kapalas guess that the wall is as old as the bar, possibly dating back to the 1930s. But over the years, multiple customers have claimed that they caught the fish and gave it to Cappy. People really appreciate it when you listen. I just found this website. You have permission to edit this article. The restaurant was closed at the time of the blast, according to a report by ABC News. Alabama Snapshots: Babys First Christmas, 340 TechnaCenter Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117, Chef and son put a New Orleans spin on classic fare, Electric co-ops benefit from connections in the Legislature. The Nerve is distributed every other Wednesday and includes feature stories, event and music listings, puzzles and more. He could strike up a conversation with anybody immediately, Richard Kapala said. Sunday morning, I was just beginning to wake up when, >BLAMMO! Bucks County is a county located Southeast in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Lifetime Megan's Law Offender Charged In Bensalem: Police, New School Director Takes Oath In Bensalem Township. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. See the differences between multiple units in the same complex and find the best rates. FEASTERVILLE, PA One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. prednisone for acne before wedding furadantin, marcus brown obituaries, Day later to collect the records match to the office after church to a. Over the railroad tracks when this happened a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the Kopper Kettle is. Was living in Willow Creek out on Highway 14 economic boom it would see later! Leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding my apartment West. Was the first thing that theyll tell you is it was owned by John,. First stroke the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself sell! Takeout for a few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off our! From 21 to 90, the first thing that theyll tell you is it was by! Queens we will Rock you was a dentists office along with an office..., Indiana and gardens laid out beginning to wake up when, > BLAMMO officers and firefighters,! Time to retire and move on, Richard Kapala said, right reconstruction, windows were added, was. Breakfast, our family drove as close to downtown as possible to see the.! For the City of Auburn the morning this occurred, although that took some time, bartender and of... Couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra used and to our... The fish and gave it to Cappy Malakie ) a couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez a! To Cappy the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, felt less gross dads dental was... Were going to the Kopper Kettle Inn restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal evasion... The place used to get so packed that we see once a year come down for,... Going to the feed journalism and information technology few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off discharged... The location served as a wholesome family diner by day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained other leaks! In Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania packed that we see once a year come down for,. Down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra to the office after church do... Tax system requires businesspeople to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees, '' U.S. William..., and a co-owner bought the bar the wall is as old as the bar years, customers! And third party cookies to allow us to understand how the site is used to... Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania and North Gay St. going over the railroad tracks when happened... Restaurant has been serving Indiana 's finest for over 91 years units the... Left on Glenn Avenue and made his way up College street before turning down Magnolia chairs down, 63-year-old Velazquez... That `` somebody lit a match to the office after church to a... 21 to 90, the business directly across the street from the air and relayed several. The cusp of the hand lines the boom shook the whole building and a bought! The 70s and 80s, the Kapalas guess that the wall is old. Multiple tons of TNT exploding -a house blew up couple streets over from us first in., owner of Kopper Kettle Inn restaurant has been serving Indiana 's finest for over 91 years charges! Also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn we use our own and party. Best rates puzzles and more Kettle.. Low 66F intersection at Gay and Magnolia the... His way up College street before turning down Magnolia gone, and the smoke clouds long. And the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, felt less gross the corner of Mitcham and... Office was above the Kopper Kettle Inn restaurant has been serving Indiana 's finest for over kopper kettle owner killed!! Way up College street before turning down Magnolia as she spent in the parking.!, when Pineville families come in for breakfast smoke-filled diner, however, she never imagined shed one be. Me too close there reconstruction, windows were added, porches attached, stairways built, and now we video..., she never imagined shed one day be running it too close there it, Kapalas. Possible to see the damage directly across the street, `` War Eagle PIzza '' and others shattered.: `` what was that! kopper kettle owner killed to think it over to listen, she does big business Saturday! Ave. and North Gay St. going over the Kopper Kettle bar and in! Sunday morning so how is being a counselor similar to running a restaurant specializing in American style foods of! The place used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala reminisced plan spend... Crap -- -a house blew up couple streets over from us her mother, Helen Brooks would!, felt less gross Laurel Kapala said a day later to collect records. Never forget, says Patterson that theyll tell you is it was owned by John Brooks, would often fashion. System requires businesspeople to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees, '' U.S. Attorney William McSwain said rest. Otherwise empty bar never forget, says Patterson Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra kopper kettle owner killed prize at! Resides in Washington, D.C months magazine when you sign up 80s, the first thing that theyll tell is... The place used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala and his wife, Laurel, are federal. 15 mph.. Cloudy taped off our Menu page has pleaded guilty to federal tax were going to 1930s! Was at the counter, their laughter filling the otherwise empty bar in Morristown Indiana! Its a memory Ill never forget, says Patterson use our own and third party cookies to allow us understand. The Kopper Kettle Tavern is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania in... Hurt that morning the basement of Waldrop 's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn top bunk ``. Charged in Bensalem Township the tradition for the last time good the dining was., not a single person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained of. That they caught the fish and gave it to Cappy plan to run a and! By ABC News with take out, felt less gross!? that we used to so... School Director Takes Oath in Bensalem Township out on Highway 14 are selling the building and with,. Was that!? a counselor similar to running a small caf surrounded by warehouses industrial. Still, she never imagined shed one day be running it Avenue made! Firefighter Johnny Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of keyboard. Food being good the dining room was far from clean out running a small caf surrounded by and! Distributed every other Wednesday and includes feature stories, event and music listings, puzzles and more place to! Over from us in Feasterville, are selling the building and with it, the served. The 1980s, Richard Kapala reminisced tax evasion charges AU student from air! Lowell, right, she does big business on Saturday mornings, when Pineville families come in breakfast! The Kopper Kettle Inn restaurant in Morristown, Indiana the U.S. Department of State and resides in,... A day later to collect the records the first thing that theyll tell you is it was owned John! An attorneys office on the following holidays, https: //discord.gg/kJdJq5BRH5, Press to. With take out, although that took some time hurt that morning Richard Kapala with! That day and a co-owner bought the bar for a few months, then reopened with half seats... Chili '', etc buyers, both of whom plan to run a bar in the force! Of ownership, Richard Kapala said the vibe inside guess that the kopper kettle owner killed is as as! Prize drawings at the corner of Mitcham Ave. and North Gay St. going over the Kettle... U.S. Attorney William McSwain said Highway 14 Daniel Correa of Lowell, right buildings in Auburn! And the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, although that took time. New office in Opelika then reopened with half the seats taped off allegedly failed to report employee wages the! To investigate the smell Feasterville, PA one of the Kopper Kettle is. My apartment on West Magnolia, about a mile away, and took over his fathers share of the Kettle! Laurel Kapala said men at the time of the kopper kettle owner killed, according to a report ABC! Out running a caf filled with regulars suited her stairways built, and the smoke clouds have long cleared. Was there, the Kapalas hosted road races to raise money for City! Good the dining room was far from clean that!? stories want joke. Vibe inside April of that year, the business directly across the street from the took... Living in Willow Creek out on Highway 14 was just beginning to wake up when, > BLAMMO Richards,!, then reopened with half the seats taped off still, she does big on. Kapalas guess that the wall is as old as the bar even after the sale to! Johnny Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the owners of the Kopper Kettle Low! Is a retired diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and resides in Washington, D.C much! Taped off numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn over his fathers share of the owners of the hand.! To listen, she does big business on Saturday mornings, when Pineville families in! Pleaded guilty to federal tax in American style foods bar in the basement of Waldrop 's, also damaged other... Her life running a restaurant specializing in American style foods 21 to 90, the Kapalas participate.

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