My mom drove through the intersection 20-30 minutes prior, on her way to the Baptist Church a block away. The county seat is Doylestown. I love this place.. There were many eerie what if stories about people who easily could have been killed or injured but varied their normal routines that morning for one reason or another. Where I am standing is no more than 40 feet from the blast site and you can see the stacks of plates that are unharmed! Who actually made the catch remains a mystery, Richard Kapala said with a laugh. The dentist was, and still is, my dentist. We use our own and third party cookies to allow us to understand how the site is used and to support our marketing campaigns. Michael Tanenbaum A week later, the man returned to the bar and told Laurel that he spoke with Richard. 135 W Main St, Morristown, IN 46161 The Kopper Kettle Tavern is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. 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. Compare now on Rent By Owner For 34 years, the bar gave about $10,000 a year to a scholarship fund for local high school students college education. 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. On Halloween, they would arrive dressed in costume. 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. accounts, the history behind an article. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. "I thought somebody was beating the door, just messing with me on the bathroom doors.". Many of her regulars are police officers and firefighters. If this had happened today, it would be a much different outcome.. What about the t-shirts? Eckler and Yost, if convicted, could face up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution to the IRS. Thanks for the great pics and the memories. It was just an incredible experience.. The Original Smash Pot is, er, a heart-healthy heap of potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. Not bad for a small bar, Laurel Kapala said. I was routed around the downtown area.. Sunday morning, I was just beginning to wake up when, >BLAMMO! Sara Morris, owner and operator of Kopper Kettle. Everyone in the community really came together that day. "It was just like, Holy moly. You look there, and theres this whole section of the block thats gone," he said. In her time running the Kettle, Morris has brought it into the digital age, creating profiles on Google, Yelp, Facebook and, most recently, Instagram. I had just woken up and was sitting on the couch in my apartment at Eagles' West when the whole building moved. He lived near the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and says as his windows shook from the plane crash, he thought back to that January day in 1978. person will not be tolerated. Morris takes pride in the large portions. Ells have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and patios and gardens laid out. The most comprehensive restaurant menus & dish reviews site - Zmenu One of Georges early jobs was as a busser at The Open Kitchen on Morehead Street. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy. 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. 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. I-77 was still under construction. Rock and roll bands would play on weekend nights while customers danced. 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. 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. For years after the Kopper Kettle explosion, residents celebrated its anniversary, and it still reverberates in memories and stories today. Saradina Morris didnt plan to spend her life running a small caf surrounded by warehouses and industrial parks outside Pineville. I was living at Dexter Arms apartments, across from Hardees, several blocks away. Her second creation is for those with a sweeter tooth: French toast biscuits. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. The event made national news. 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. Were not going anywhere, Laurel said. The original building is no longer recognizable. "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.". Deceptive and after the fact additional costs not disclosed on menu. 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. "The Kopper Kettle explosion was the big event while I was at Auburn. Then, the two puppies that were with me got up. They were only open for takeout for a few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. About 40 frames later must be a young Andy Gentry in center w/ glasses w/ the fire Chief. I thought my 1 1/2 year old fell out of bed when it blew. 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. 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. Found out later that day what had happened. Karol Kapala would tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish. "Having never been in war or anything like that, I certainly didnt know exactly how to interpret that. 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. She never left. 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. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. The photo after Nancy Edwards Eldridge (#86)photo shows Det. I was like, That sounds delicious, she says, laughing. Three sides had glass. The bar no longer serves food, but the regulars keep coming. In the picture where the painting is on wall of the tiger, that was my dental office. In 1964, Richard's father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. Dick Kapala, bartender and co-owner of Cappys Copper Kettle, left, with customer Daniel Correa of Lowell, right. We were all so grateful that there were no fatalities, Patterson says. Frank DeGraffenreid w/ hat. Failure to report these wages allowed the restaurant to avoid paying FICA taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said. Auburn had made the national news. 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. I got out of bed to look out the window to see. 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 dads dental office was above the Kopper Kettle (Dr. James L. Carroll)! Now the Kapalas hire a DJ to spin tracks on Friday and Saturday nights. A large part of the street was gone from the Kopper Kettle on down Magnolia, says Patterson. Other circumstances have changed the face of the restaurant over the years, including one that almost wiped the whole place out. The event made national news. When I got back to the apartment, my roomie came out to the car and said, "Remember that noise this morning?" Its Pronounced Jordan: Time to rebrand the Auburn-Georgia rivalry? That was my best friends (Drew Gentry) dad that didnt go into work that day. Required fields are marked *. A year or so later, he bought the other share. He threatened to tell the owner, she recalled with a chuckle. "Somebody out there stepped on a nail and it punctured his foot. 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. 67 followers 67 connections I had just bought my 1st camera. (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. 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. One of the more fun parts of running a business for Morris has been playing with the menus. Be Nice. It was a big deal. Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. It remains one of Charlottes most famous unsolved murders. McCord said he later went to the top of the ladder's fly section, which was extended some 70 feet in the air, to spray water on the blaze. Customers range in age from 21 to 90, the Kapalas said. 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. I was home from Texas visiting my parents for the weekend. Copyright Indiana Owned 2023. Both George and Penny came from Greece in the 1960s. Lifetime Megan's Law Offender Charged In Bensalem: Police, New School Director Takes Oath In Bensalem Township. So I dozed back to sleep! Dale H. Wow, some incredible pictures. For 35 years, the Kopper Kettle has provided customers with a family owned place to enjoy breakfast and lunch,. For retired Auburn firefighter Allen McCord, Jan. 15, 1978, began much like any other Sunday morning shift except the air was bitterly cold and carried the scent of natural gas. 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. Much to everyones relief, not a single person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained. The room was about 20 x 10 feet. Investigators determined the gas leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding. The blast left more than 70 businesses damaged, and one small town reeling. Knock my wife out of bed at the BSU on college. 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.. It was an event that I will always remember. Do you have any stories from that day? 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. PhillyVoice Staff. Upon reconstruction, windows were added, which was the first step in changing the vibe inside. 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. 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? Another witness, a Vietnam veteran, said that it was the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the war. She used to comp their meals, but she cant afford to do that anymore. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Think I have some color photos somewhere. "When I came through the intersection there at Gay Street and Mag, I could smell a little natural gas.". God Bless and War Eagle! It turns out running a caf filled with regulars suited her. 0. The Rev. 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. Its an institution.. A family style fine dining restaurant, known for its famous pan fried chicken, delicious. You just dont move around a whole lot doing that, and I didnt realize my pants had gotten stuck to the sidewalk. These photos bring back so many memories! After the dust settled, concerned for the well-being of the church congregation, Patterson made his way through the rubble to St. Dunstans. His office blew up and The Gentry Building replaced/filled the hole. Welcome! I just found this website. I think I remember asking my roomie on the top bunk: "what was that!?" It was his (Karols) lifelong dream, Richard Kapala said. 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. FEASTERVILLE, PA One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. He told me later when I asked was the car a total loss. 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 . Thank you for reading! I was one of the first Uniform Police Officers on the scene. The high cost of ingredients has taken a toll. The Kopper Kettle is the place where one can savor Hoosier fried chicken, broiled prime steaks, and delicious seafood, served by lovely girls in peasant costumes. They hope to finalize the sale this year. 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. He had no idea that I was married to him, she said. McCord swung up Magnolia before fire chief Ellis Mitchell turned him down Burton Street. It was a big deal. It remains one of Charlotte's most famous unsolved murders. "There were little fires there out in the street and all kinds of bricks and boards with nails sticking up and everything. 1,687 were here. 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. I was the cleanup boy at the drugstore . 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. 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. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. 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. The jukebox is gone, and the smoke clouds have long since cleared out, although that took some time. and au jus (!!). In April of that year, her father suffered his first stroke. But some longtime customers arent ready to move on. The Kapalas hope to travel with their free time, but plan to visit the bar even after the sale. 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. With her family in crisis, Morris, a counselor by trade, resigned from her job as a health educator at North Central Family Medical Center in Rock Hill and took charge of the Kettle. Thanks to God no one was hurt that morning. Thank you for signing in! Kopper Kettle, Morristown: See 94 unbiased reviews of Kopper Kettle, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #1 of 5 restaurants in Morristown. Lawrence, too, remembers details of the scene, especially the cold. 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