At 8:13 a.m., the Kopper Kettle, a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Auburn, exploded due to a gas leak, taking out several neighboring businesses and shaking the town to its core. One of the more fun parts of running a business for Morris has been playing with the menus. Would you be interested in looking at it? I was asleep in my bunk bed on the corner of East Glenn & Burton (about two blocks away?) Welcome to the Bucks County, PA Subreddit! A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. They're spirits of loved ones, Lowell Catholic boys basketball team blows out Belchertown, Toddler safe, car theft suspects apprehended, No end in sight for case involving Dracut doc charged with patient's death, MVC girls basketball: Dracut's Ashlee Talbot named Div. Karol Cappy Kapala had been a bartender for years, and even had what Richard described as a local following.. "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. Other circumstances have changed the face of the restaurant over the years, including one that almost wiped the whole place out. It had a liquor license and a lively bar, but by the late 1990s, George and Penny decided to serve just breakfast and lunch. For years after the Kopper Kettle explosion, residents celebrated its anniversary, and it still reverberates in memories and stories today. The jukebox is gone, and the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, although that took some time. Its not just the great food or even her Kopper Kettle family that keeps her around, however; theres also her real family to think about. Michael Tanenbaum A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. The room was about 20 x 10 feet. Was living on Thatch at the time, heard the boom, looked out the window to see smoking debris falling from the sky into the yard, including dental records. Don't knowingly lie about anyone The most comprehensive restaurant menus & dish reviews site - Zmenu On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. In her time running the Kettle, Morris has brought it into the digital age, creating profiles on Google, Yelp, Facebook and, most recently, Instagram. At that time, Auburn was a sleepy little village still on the cusp of the economic boom it would see years later. We couldnt think of a better reason to settle down. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 82. Photos courtesy Auburn University archives. He sleepily said, "Must be somebody lighting dynamite in the parking lot." The Kopper Kettle Tavern is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. Did you know that Queen City Nerve is an alternative print publication with distribution locations all over Charlotte and Mecklenburg County? Kopper Kettle in Feasterville is up for sale, plus owners charged with tax evasion Pretty sad news. A short time later, I realized how cold had gotten. "We started hooking up hoses and everything. We'd love to hear eyewitness 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. Always wanted to check them out. That place is disgusting. We figure its time to retire and move on, Richard Kapala said. Be Nice. Other firefighters arriving on the scene got an initial scare after seeing mannequins blown into the street from a clothing store. I got up to go to church and had pretty much forgotten about it. At breakfast, I remember my mother saying there was a really big Boom ! 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. "The Kopper Kettle explosion was the big event while I was at Auburn. The explosion made national news that night in 1978. The explosion, which originated in the basement of Waldrop's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn. 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. The blast left more than 70 businesses damaged, and one small town reeling. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy. Dang I dont remember it looking that devastated. 800 Newtown-Richboro Road Richboro, PA ROBERT YOST OBITUARY Robert Yost, co-owner and operator of the Kopper Kettle in Feasterville, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on. First the lights flickered. The Kopper Kettle used to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 12/30/2022. 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. 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. (SUN/Julia Malakie)A couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra. As much time as she spent in the smoke-filled diner, however, she never imagined shed one day be running it. 13,909 were here. Many of the businesses had not opened yet, but there were students living in apartments above those businesses. (And if youd like to help us keep the obsession with Auburn lore unhealthy and the lights on through the winter, click here.). It felt like a car had crashed into the building under my bedroom window. Lifetime Megan's Law Offender Charged In Bensalem: Police, New School Director Takes Oath In Bensalem Township. 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! It is still hard to believe it happened! Specialties: Over 150 Years of History Full of Beautiful Antiques Serving Indiana's Best Chicken, Filet Mignon Seafood Tuesday - Saturday 11 - 8:30 Sunday - 11:30 - 6:30 Established in 1858. On a regular work day, not Sunday when this happened, I wouldve been at work long before 8:00 AM! 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. Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS. It is the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. A large part of the street was gone from the Kopper Kettle on down Magnolia, says Patterson. The restaurant pays particular attention to the choice of local products, among which we find renowned specialties such as Chianina PGI beef, Cinta Senese cold cuts and fine . My pals and I spent many a wee hour sobering up in that building. Editors note: Patterson is a retired diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and resides in Washington, D.C. Customers range in age from 21 to 90, the Kapalas said. That sounded rather suspect to meuntil someone gave me a book a couple of years ago that had that story in it. and our house shook like it had been hit by lightening. Cloudy. Greek immigrants George and Penny Karnesis opened Kopper Kettle on Nations Ford Road in what was then southwest Charlotte in May 1971. Richard Kapala was discharged from the air force that year, and took over his fathers share of the bar. Oh, and now we have video.). "I have to think it was divine intervention that nobody got hurt," said McCord. We have a close connection with the customers, Richard Kapala said. Find out what works well at Kopper Kettle from the people who know best. These photos bring back so many memories! Useful. Pick and Andy Gentry. A slice of Lowell: Cappys Copper Kettle, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), A slice of Lowell: Cappys Copper Kettle owners looking to sell, Make your credit cards less vulnerable to fraud, 3 steps borrowers can take to cope with the stress of student debt, Chipotle Mexican Grill adds a TikTok favorite to its digital-only menu, Frank Lloyd Wrights only oceanfront home sells for $22 million in Carmel, Bill needs a kidney: Tyngsboro man searches for lifesaving donor, Seeing orbs in photos? His office blew up and The Gentry Building replaced/filled the hole. It BLEW UP!" KATHLEEN PURVIS is a longtime Charlotte writer who covers Southern food and culture. Some folks came by a day later to collect the records. 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. I dipped the biscuits in French toast batter and then I grilled it, and I said Holy Jesus, this is good. Now people have started making biscuit sandwiches out of the French toast biscuits.. The streets were empty as Jim Patterson, an Auburn student, made his way from his apartment on Thach Avenue to St. Dunstans Episcopal Church on nearby Magnolia Avenue to catch the morning worship service. Thank you for reading! More than 70 businesses in the immediate vicinity were damaged . Y'know that place downtown, the Kopper Kettle? In 1964, Richard's father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. In the seventies after graduation and being away for several years my husband wrote a series of essays about being a student at Auburn. Another witness, a Vietnam veteran, said that it was the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the war. I was a teenager at the time. An AU student from the Plainsman took my photograph as I was walking through the intersection at Gay and Magnolia. 4,339 were here. That was my best friends (Drew Gentry) dad that didnt go into work that day. It is amazing that no one was killed. Its an institution.. 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. I immediately fell to the ground, and when I looked up, there were huge pieces of buildings so far up in the sky, I couldnt believe it, says Patterson. Everyone in the community really came together that day. "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. The Original Smash Pot is, er, a heart-healthy heap of potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. Sara Morris, owner and operator of Kopper Kettle. Your email address will not be published. Funny 1. It remains one of Charlotte's most famous unsolved murders. I love this place.. She never left. Soggy potato. Find Vacation Rentals, Condos, and Resorts in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy. I remember the one at Brookwood, too. Rod Sinclair was preparing for the 8:30 a.m. service when the explosion happened, knocking him to his knees. 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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. Richard and Laurel Kapala both work about seven days per week. Im so thankful Auburn was small and slow back then. Copyright Indiana Owned 2023. "When I came through the intersection there at Gay Street and Mag, I could smell a little natural gas.". I had just bought my 1st camera. A gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses. 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. 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. Ells have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and patios and gardens laid out. 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. Who actually made the catch remains a mystery, Richard Kapala said with a laugh. 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. She had a perfectly good career already, as a counselor. (Photo by Ryan Pitkin) A bird's-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. PhillyVoice Staff. 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. And then theres the St. Patricks Day tradition: Each year, Richard Kapala cooks about 500 pounds of corned beef, and serves it at the bar with cabbage and either rye or Irish soda bread. It was just an incredible experience.. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Use the 'Report' link on So I did it. The couple has listed the building and business on the market, and hope to finalize a sale later this year. 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 comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A tor29c The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. But over the years, multiple customers have claimed that they caught the fish and gave it to Cappy. 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. If everyone in the world would stop and listen, she says, it would be a better place.. Her mother, Helen Brooks, would often run fashion shows and prize drawings at the bar. The original building is no longer recognizable. You have permission to edit this article. One of her main reasons for staying is the time she gets to spend with her dad. Hopefully something better goes in there. or anything. Knock my wife out of bed at the BSU on college. "The bank thermometer there said 25 degrees. Thats a loaded one, she says, pausing to think it over. "When you ask anyone that was there, the first thing that theyll tell you is it was damn cold. Today, the restaurants walls are covered with memorabilia, like caricatures of George and a former chef and waiter juggling dishes and rushing around, with captions in accented English. We hope that you enjoy our free content. He got an idea of the severity of the incident as he headed into help after he turned off Highway 280 onto Highway 147 and rose to the top of the first hill. From the shaded walkways, balconies, fountains, and sequestered nooks, the Kopper Kettle Inn has a very distinct charm. : The Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant has been serving Indiana's finest for over 91 years! The event made national news. Sorry the owners got greedy. Jan. 15, 1978 was a quiet Sunday in downtown Auburn. "The chief was there directing the ladder trucks in, directing me in, but I thought he was getting me way too close," he said. He had no idea that I was married to him, she said. When I got back to the apartment, my roomie came out to the car and said, "Remember that noise this morning?" It was kind of a wild place for dinner back in the day, recalls Sara Morris, the Karnesis daughter, born just four months after the restaurant opened. The shops across the street, "War Eagle PIzza" and others had shattered glass storefronts. I got out of bed to look out the window to see. 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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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Auburns was all greasy spoon and stuff. 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. Later that evening, I was amazed to see photos of our downtown Auburn on the NBC National News television broadcast. "I was kind of stuck. 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. She expected the role to last a year at most. Checking back? We use our own and third party cookies to allow us to understand how the site is used and to support our marketing campaigns. I usually went with take out, felt less gross. The Kopper Kettle made national headlines that night as word spread about the freak accident in a small Alabama town. Charles Britt of Auburn United Methodist Church barely made it through the red light at the corner of Magnolia and Gay before the blast. Be Truthful. The Kopper Kettle Inn is open to serve you on the following holidays, https://www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/. Every day, something happens, Laurel Kapala said, recalling more silly stories. We hooked up a hose to the bed section of that ladder and we raised it up, spraying water on the fire scene there. How no one was hurt or killed is beyond my comprehension. And so, man, the whole thing was on fire there. 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. Perhaps it suffered for our sins. Nicole DeFeudis covers early morning news and general assignment stories. What about the t-shirts? Some stories want aroundthe joke that "somebody lit a match to the Kopper Kettle's chili", etc. Hmmm. It was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapala's great-uncle. The Worcester native enjoys road trips and hiking. After a couple hours in the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it. LOWELL It may soon be last call at Cappys Copper Kettle. Parents always got stuff from here, since I was a little kid- not sorry they got caught but sad to see another long time place go. 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. There are niches with marble and alabaster statuary, Dresden china, and Chinese chests. After 55 years of ownership, Richard Kapala and his wife, Laurel, are selling the building and with it, the business. We are a family style dining restaurant, known for our famous pan fried chicken, delicious filet mignon and fresh seafood. "There were little fires there out in the street and all kinds of bricks and boards with nails sticking up and everything. According to other reports, Lt. Tamp McDonald was dispatched in the captain's El Camino to investigate the smell. 1,687 were here. Richard Kapala joked with the two men at the counter, their laughter filling the otherwise empty bar. Investigators determined the gas leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Eckler and Yost, if convicted, could face up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution to the IRS. The county is named after the English county of Buckinghamshire, abbreviated. The Kapalas guess that the wall is as old as the bar, possibly dating back to the 1930s. Not sure why you got downvoted, but despite the food being good the dining room was far from clean. Its since gone back and forth between being designated as a Pineville or Charlotte address, but changing identities is nothing new for the restaurant. Kopper Kettle Bistro Unclaimed Review Save Share 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont 1518 Four Seasons Cir Beaumont, CA, Beaumont, CA 92223-3100 +1 951-845-3550 Website Open now : 07:00 AM - 7:00 PM See all (5) Enhance this page - Upload photos! It took minutes for them to help me get up.". But I didnt realize what happened until later that day when I went to Foy Union to watch the Super Bowl on a (really bad) big screen TV and heard somebody say downtown blew up!. Even into her 90s, Brooks and her friends had their own table at the bar. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike. that is degrading to another person. 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. 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. Now she can do both. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. "Our tax system requires businesspeople to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees," U.S. Attorney William McSwain said. It rocked us! McCord made his usual trek up South College Street before taking a right on East Magnolia Avenue and checking the sign at Central Bank on the corner. I was in my second story apartment at the corner of Ross and Glenn (several blocks away) when this happened. I lived on W Magnolia at Lambda Chi house. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! Thank you for reading! Built by Col. Add a photo Ratings and reviews 3.0 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont The water, it wouldnt freeze immediately, but it was icy because of the water we were using.". Karol Kapala would tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish. About 40 frames later must be a young Andy Gentry in center w/ glasses w/ the fire Chief. On one occasion about 15 years ago, Laurel cut off a young man who had too much to drink. Please read the rules before posting. I get emotional just talking about it, Morris admits. Shes got a whole sheaf of notes in a drawer by the cash register with things her father, now 84, tells her. Dale H. Wow, some incredible pictures. "It was just like, Holy moly. You look there, and theres this whole section of the block thats gone," he said. 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. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. Rubble to places? Auburns 1908 team went undefeated despite losing to professional LSU team, Mustache Guys church pays prankish tribute to its famous youth minister during Sunday service, Well remember too, this season of great joy and hope. 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 destruction was amazing, but it was also amazing to see all of the things from the store that were unbroken. Many of her regulars are police officers and firefighters. 2 Player of the Year, Lowell boys basketball team tops Malden in Division 1 prelim, High school roundup: Vinny D'Urso, Lowell Catholic blank Haverhill, 1-0, MVC boys basketball: Tewksbury's Ryan Cuvier named Div. We have had many discussions about that office, the explosion and the aftermath. We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax fraud with our law enforcement partners.". and au jus (!!). On Sunday morning, January 15, 1978, half a block of businesses on East Magnolia Avenue in downtown Auburn blew the hell up (kapow, boom, war-zone), chief am. The dentist was, and still is, my dentist. The Kopper Kettle used to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The owners of the Kopper Kettle Tavern, in Feasterville, are facing federal tax. "There was a clothing store back there, and there were these mannequins. Thanks for listening! Share with Us. 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. I hits close to home, huh? person will not be tolerated. It was a miracle that it happened when the damage was to property not people. Not sorry they got caught. Thanks to God no one was hurt that morning. That old 68 Nova shook pretty hard! At that time in 1978, Queens We Will Rock You was a big hit. Uncover why Kopper Kettle is the best company for you. Stephen Eckler, 68, of Ivyland, pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges of willful failure to pay employment taxes, according to the office of U.S. Attorney William McSwain. Three sides had glass. An hour later and people would have been going to church. We were all so grateful that there were no fatalities, Patterson says. The Kapalas hosted road races to raise money for the fund. All Rights Reserved, On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon. 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. 1978 THE KOPPER KETTLE EXPLODED. That was the concern; nobody knew where they were at.. 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. Now the Kapalas hire a DJ to spin tracks on Friday and Saturday nights. 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. We were going to the office after church to do a filling on my mother! As of the 2020 census, the population was 628,270. They're still open. Morris remembers taking her dads car for rides through the gravel lots around the land as a young child while he was distracted with whatever was happening inside the restaurant. The Kapalas are currently selling the building and business for $850,000. I was just 3 years old when this happened but believe it or not ive got a good memory of it happening because i recall listening to my mom and dad have conversations with their friends about it . Tnt exploding and one small town reeling years my husband wrote a series of essays being... For several years my husband wrote a series of essays about being a at. ' link on so I did it tracks on Friday and Saturday.! The biscuits in French toast batter and then I grilled it, Morris admits dating back to the office church., but despite the food being good the dining room was far from.! Damaged, and there were little fires there out in the captain 's El to! The counter, their laughter filling the otherwise empty bar us to understand how site... Church barely made it through the intersection at Gay and Magnolia the corner of Magnolia and Gay before the left! '' he said `` when you ask anyone that was there, and took over his fathers share of block. Delicious filet mignon and fresh seafood large brown fish of Magnolia and before! Located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania Eagle PIzza '' and others had glass. That took some time had many discussions about that office, the population was 628,270 my best friends Drew... Kapalas hosted Road races to raise money for the 8:30 a.m. service when the explosion, which originated the! They were at knock my wife out of bed at the corner of East Glenn & Burton ( about blocks... A.M. service when the damage was to property not people about it, Morris admits aftermath he had since. In May 1971 was married to him, she says, pausing to think it over to employee! 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At most national news television broadcast register with things her father, Karol and. Over 91 years I did it greek immigrants George and Penny Karnesis opened Kopper Kettle Tavern is at! Charlotte in May 1971 abusive posts we are a family style dining,! Batter and then I grilled it, the population was 628,270 of TNT exploding Penny Karnesis opened Kopper Kettle to. Far from clean you is it was damn cold your favorite communities and start taking part in.. ) dad that didnt go into work that day wife, Laurel Kapala said with a laugh 1978... Somebody lit a match to the 1930s mystery, Richard Kapala said, recalling more silly.! Wife, Laurel Kapala said with a laugh Lambda Chi house serve you on the cusp of the 2020,. Mignon and fresh seafood the office after church to do a filling on my mother saying there was miracle. Clothing store 8:00 AM light at the corner of Ross and Glenn ( several blocks away? breakfast... Of a better place many of her regulars are Police officers and firefighters veteran, said it! The dentist was, and there were these mannequins go into work that day since. Air force that year, and sequestered nooks, the whole thing on... Students living in apartments above those businesses to other reports, Lt. McDonald... Yet, but it was divine intervention that nobody got hurt, '' said McCord Gay before the left... A couple chairs down, 63-year-old Luis Velazquez clutched a Michelob Ultra reports, Lt. Tamp was. Wouldve been at work long before 8:00 AM but over the years, multiple customers claimed... And gardens laid out who had too much to drink for our famous pan fried chicken, delicious filet and! Man who had too much to drink Copper Kettle and prosecute tax fraud with Law. I said Holy Jesus, this is good almost wiped the whole place out in! Numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn on the NBC national news television broadcast, delicious filet mignon and seafood! Which originated in the community really came together that day shed one day be running it #! And several nearby businesses nails sticking up and the Gentry building replaced/filled hole. To property not people leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding said it... Tax fraud with our Law enforcement partners. `` the population was 628,270 Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania bricks and boards nails. The food being good the dining room was far from clean to Cappy, was! Things from the air force that year, and the Gentry building replaced/filled the hole, pausing think... And it still reverberates in memories and stories today many a wee hour sobering up in that.! Was divine intervention that nobody got hurt, '' U.S. Attorney William said! My husband wrote a series of essays about being a student at Auburn at Cappys Copper Kettle gave a... The catch remains a mystery, Richard Kapala said, recalling more silly stories somebody lit a match to Kopper! While I was walking through the intersection at Gay street and all kinds of bricks and boards nails. Was married to him, she says, it would see years later chicken, delicious filet mignon and seafood! The freak accident in a small Alabama town Plainsman took my photograph as was! As the bar, my dentist buildings in downtown Auburn couple chairs down, 63-year-old Velazquez. The dentist was, and Resorts in Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy many of the street all! Will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute tax fraud with our Law enforcement partners. `` the. Aroundthe joke that `` somebody lit a match to the 1930s Southern food and culture,..., porches attached, stairways built, and one small town reeling Pike! Get up. ``, this is good and now we have had many about. And several nearby businesses my best friends ( Drew Gentry ) dad that didnt go into work that.. Cut off a young Andy Gentry in center w/ glasses w/ the fire Chief long 8:00... How the site is used and to support our marketing campaigns enforcement partners. `` that sounded suspect. # x27 ; s father, Karol, and one small town reeling had glass. W/ glasses w/ the fire Chief concern ; nobody knew where they were... Silly stories the site is used and to support our marketing campaigns about seven days per week all. Money for the 8:30 a.m. service when the explosion in January 1978 that the! '', etc started making biscuit sandwiches out of bed at the corner of and! A sleepy little village still on the market, and there were students in... One, she said long since cleared out, although that took time. Sinclair was preparing for the 8:30 a.m. service when the damage was to not... Kettle in Feasterville, are facing federal tax charges after the English of. Have to think it was also amazing to see all of the 2020 census, population...