Amazing. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the location served as a wholesome family diner by day and a bar and lounge by night. In 1981, the bar expanded into the space next door. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. Were not going anywhere, Laurel said. I hits close to home, huh? I thought a tornado was coming through but I didn't see anything outside. We are a family style dining restaurant, known for our famous pan fried chicken, delicious filet mignon and fresh seafood. Jan. 15, 1978 was a quiet Sunday 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. So I dozed back to sleep! 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!. And those were mine and my sisters dental records that got blown up. His office blew up and The Gentry Building replaced/filled the hole. "We started hooking up hoses and everything. So how is being a counselor similar to running a restaurant? Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. A Greek salad arrives on an oval plate that anyone else would consider a platter. Charles Britt of Auburn United Methodist Church barely made it through the red light at the corner of Magnolia and Gay before the blast. Knock my wife out of bed at the BSU on college. "My office will aggressively pursue businesspeople who operate in such an illegal manner," McSwain said. Useful. The original building is no longer recognizable. Pick and Andy Gentry. "I thought somebody was beating the door, just messing with me on the bathroom doors.". "I was driving the ladder truck that day, and I jumped in the ladder truck and started out.". 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. 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. 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. [] in the late 70s a restaurant in downtown Auburn, AL blew up because of a gas leak. Think I have some color photos somewhere. Kopper Kettle, Morristown: See 94 unbiased reviews of Kopper Kettle, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #1 of 5 restaurants in Morristown. It turns out running a caf filled with regulars suited her. 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. Photos courtesy Auburn University archives. 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. You can see our catering and carry out options on our Menu page. 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. Later that evening, I was amazed to see photos of our downtown Auburn on the NBC National News television broadcast. The water, it wouldnt freeze immediately, but it was icy because of the water we were using.". Richard Kapala was discharged from the air force that year, and took over his fathers share of the bar. The couple has listed the building and business on the market, and hope to finalize a sale later this year. Hear a new featured member each Sunday at 10:45 a.m. on 93.1 WIBC. Some have their own seats. There comes a time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit. 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. He told me it was. 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. It was an event that I will always remember. Sara Morris, owner and operator of Kopper Kettle. The bar has hosted parties and even weddings. In addition, we offer catering and carry out! Thank you for reading! 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. 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. I thought my 1 1/2 year old fell out of bed when it blew. I thought a minute"Yeah?" Eckler and Yost, if convicted, could face up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution to the IRS. 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. Photos of smiling customers line a wall behind the DJs booth. Some folks came by a day later to collect the records. 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. It was a big deal. Don't forget to call and make your reservations for the holidays! Much to everyones relief, not a single person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained. The Original Smash Pot is, er, a heart-healthy heap of potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. An aviation management student got up in the air and relayed to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb had hit. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. 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. All rights reserved. Now the Kapalas hire a DJ to spin tracks on Friday and Saturday nights. The Nerve is distributed every other Wednesday and includes feature stories, event and music listings, puzzles and more. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. Everyone in the community really came together that day. 82. People are also reading Downtown looked like a war zone. Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS. Karol Cappy Kapala had been a bartender for years, and even had what Richard described as a local following.. The Rev. The Kopper Kettle Tavern is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. Ells have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and patios and gardens laid out. 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. Larry was in his building on the second floor when all this occurred. Checking back? (SUN/Julia Malakie)Im sure he (Karol Kapala) is very happy that we made a living out of it, Richard Kapala said. Required fields are marked *, Like this story? 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. We hope that you enjoy our free content. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. We couldnt think of a better reason to settle down. One of the more fun parts of running a business for Morris has been playing with the menus. Called off services due to potential other gas leaks. 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. 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. Three sides had glass. After the dust settled, concerned for the well-being of the church congregation, Patterson made his way through the rubble to St. Dunstans. Cloudy. People really appreciate it when you listen. The event made national news. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. 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. The county is named after the English county of Buckinghamshire, abbreviated. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. I can say that I was rocked by the song and also by the Kopper Kettle.. Flights . The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. We look forward to making your everyday meal or your special moment extraordinary! We'd love to hear eyewitness We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. 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. Cappys was busiest in the 1980s, Richard Kapala reminisced. The Kopper Kettle . It is the fourth-most populous county in Pennsylvania. racist or sexually-oriented language. I get emotional just talking about it, Morris admits. 765-763-6767. I just thought about it. Hashbrowns pitched at me by the owner. The photo after Nancy Edwards Eldridge (#86)photo shows Det. Still, she does big business on Saturday mornings, when Pineville families come in for breakfast. 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. At that time in 1978, Queens We Will Rock You was a big hit. Karol Kapala would tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish. 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 made national news that night in 1978. Sorry the owners got greedy. You just dont move around a whole lot doing that, and I didnt realize my pants had gotten stuck to the sidewalk. He thought a small plane had crashed into the downtown area. If this had happened today, it would be a much different outcome.. 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 work days and he works nights, Laurel said on a recent Wednesday. Either that or one that was equally trashed. Be Truthful. Welcome to the Bucks County, PA Subreddit! First the lights flickered. 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. Always wanted to check them out. Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a112c2e80c212193dd17c68f8a42bb39" );document.getElementById("b526024170").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Kopper Kettle Owner Adapts Through Generational Changes. It was his (Karols) lifelong dream, Richard Kapala said. : Combatting the Rattiest Cities, 9 Things to Do and See in Charlotte: February 2023, A Guide to Charlotte's Top Bar Food Spots: 2023. 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 tiger painting was done by Barbara Keel, which I still own. 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