The destruction was amazing, but it was also amazing to see all of the things from the store that were unbroken. So how is being a counselor similar to running a restaurant? Everyone in the community really came together that day. It was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapala's great-uncle. The Worcester native enjoys road trips and hiking. Some stories want aroundthe joke that "somebody lit a match to the Kopper Kettle's chili", etc. I just thought he was getting me too close there. Keep it Clean. According to prosecutors, Eckler and co-owner Robert Yost did not report $263,340 in cash wages that they paid to dishwashers at the Kopper Kettle from March 2012 through at least September 2016. Failure to report these wages allowed the restaurant to avoid paying FICA taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said. I went and viewed the carnage that Sunday Morning. Many of the businesses had not opened yet, but there were students living in apartments above those businesses. Photos courtesy Auburn University archives. There was a Kopper Kettle in Brookwood Mall at that time, and the food was pretty good, if I remember. 13,909 were here. 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. Your email address will not be published. I remember the one at Brookwood, too. I-77 was still under construction. The Kapalas guess that the wall is as old as the bar, possibly dating back to the 1930s. "Criminals like Eckler chip away at the integrity of the system, which has a ripple effect on everyone in the community. 67 followers 67 connections I thought my 1 1/2 year old fell out of bed when it blew. A family style fine dining restaurant, known for its famous pan fried chicken, delicious. The owners of the Kopper Kettle Tavern, in Feasterville, are facing federal tax. The Kopper Kettle Inn is open to serve you on the following holidays, https://www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/. Sara Morris, owner and operator of Kopper Kettle. We look forward to making your everyday meal or your special moment extraordinary! 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. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. First the lights flickered. 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. Soggy potato. Low 66F. You can help keep more like it coming by becoming a TWER patron. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s. Ells have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and patios and gardens laid out. 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. Photos of smiling customers line a wall behind the DJs booth. Even into her 90s, Brooks and her friends had their own table at the bar. I had just bought my 1st camera. He sleepily said, "Must be somebody lighting dynamite in the parking lot." Saradina Morris didnt plan to spend her life running a small caf surrounded by warehouses and industrial parks outside Pineville. The blast left more than 70 businesses damaged, and one small town reeling. Great pics from Brad. A friend of mine, Richard W. said he had walked down to Toomer's Corner for a paper about 30 minutes before the blast. The couple has listed the building and business on the market, and hope to finalize a sale later this year. The Greek Salad (above) is so massive, it comes on a platter. They renamed it Cappys Copper Kettle, after Karols nickname. We serve anything from wings. You can see our catering and carry out options on our Menu page. Kopper Kettle in Feasterville is up for sale, plus owners charged with tax evasion Pretty sad news. Looking back on the 55 years they ran the bar, the Kapalas said they will cherish getting to know new people and making new friends the most. And it got up to like 27 degrees that day," he recalls. 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. 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. Join the conversation on our Discord! 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. 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. Get a sneak preview of each months magazine when you sign up! WOW! 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. I-77 was still . Either that or one that was equally trashed. "When you ask anyone that was there, the first thing that theyll tell you is it was damn cold. Morris admits that, before returning to the restaurant, she got so distracted by her own job and kids that she didnt make enough time for her father. A gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses. "I have to think it was divine intervention that nobody got hurt," said McCord. 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. Thank you for reading! Another witness, a Vietnam veteran, said that it was the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the war. There comes a time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit. The dentist was, and still is, my dentist. One of the more fun parts of running a business for Morris has been playing with the menus. He told me later when I asked was the car a total loss. After 55 years of ownership, Richard Kapala and his wife, Laurel, are selling the building and with it, the business. So I did it. I was downtown that morning delivering newspapers about 30 minutes before the explosion. Don't Threaten. For years after the Kopper Kettle explosion, residents celebrated its anniversary, and it still reverberates in memories and stories today. Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike. 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. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy. Bucks County is a county located Southeast in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The high cost of ingredients has taken a toll. Spelling copper with a K was Georges idea, Morris says, because theres no C in the Greek alphabet. Then 19-year-old firefighter Johnny Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the hand lines. "The Kopper Kettle explosion was the big event while I was at Auburn. Add a photo Ratings and reviews 3.0 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont COVID brought some changes, of course. 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. "I was kind of stuck. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. I had to park my Patrol Unit on West Magnolia one block away from Gay Street. PhillyVoice Staff. 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. It took minutes for them to help me get up.". Join over 20,000 Charlotte residents who receive our daily updates. It is amazing that no one was killed. FEASTERVILLE, PA One of the owners of the Kopper Kettle bar and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges. The Rev. 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. Later that evening, I was amazed to see photos of our downtown Auburn on the NBC National News television broadcast. I get emotional just talking about it, Morris admits. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Larry was in his building on the second floor when all this occurred. That was the concern; nobody knew where they were at.. Find out what works well at Kopper Kettle from the people who know best. Multiple strokes have affected his short-term memory, but his recollections of the restaurants beginnings and Morris childhood are as strong as ever, and she values the time she can spend listening to his stories. Thanks! ..Awesome finds, Jeremy. I got up to go to church and had pretty much forgotten about it. Please read the rules before posting. I was sleeping late that morning as usual. 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. A Greek salad arrives on an oval plate that anyone else would consider a platter. It was his (Karols) lifelong dream, Richard Kapala said. Behind the bar, a red Yuengling sign illuminates a wood-paneled wall with inlaid fish. Thanks to God no one was hurt that morning. Her first creation, the Smash Pot, features a large serving of grilled potatoes, peppers, onions, tomatoes and bacon or sausage with two over-medium eggs placed on top though it comes fully customizable. Would you be interested in looking at it? Much to everyones relief, not a single person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained. (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. You just dont move around a whole lot doing that, and I didnt realize my pants had gotten stuck to the sidewalk. Required fields are marked *, Like this story? I had slept through the explosion. 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. Y'know that place downtown, the Kopper Kettle? Threats of harming another 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. The county seat is Doylestown. Im so thankful Auburn was small and slow back then. racist or sexually-oriented language. 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. 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. Our paper and website are always free, but if youre feeling kind, you can contribute to our journalism efforts here. Not sorry they got caught. She used to comp their meals, but she cant afford to do that anymore. After a couple hours in the restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it. 2023 Alabama Living Magazine All Rights Reserved | Made with by Dogwood. The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. In 1965, Karol passed away from heart disease. Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS. I hits close to home, huh? You could see down into the cellar. 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. McCord worked on top of the ladder truck for about three and a half hours before being relieved. "I was driving the ladder truck that day, and I jumped in the ladder truck and started out.". He owned the business directly across the street from the explosion. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 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. - 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. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Other circumstances have changed the face of the restaurant over the years, including one that almost wiped the whole place out. And those were mine and my sisters dental records that got blown up. By the Grace of Godnot a life was lost. The Kopper Kettle . People really appreciate it when you listen. Its an institution.. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. I was at the corner of Mitcham Ave. and North Gay St. going over the railroad tracks when this happened. Get our Weekly recap with the latest news, articles and resources. I was one of the first Uniform Police Officers on the scene. On a regular work day, not Sunday when this happened, I wouldve been at work long before 8:00 AM! 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. They were hooking up hand lines from other sections of the town, different fireplugs.". 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. He opened Kopper Kettle with his wife, Penny, in 1971, when their stretch of Nations Ford Road was miles of open fields and a few trailers. 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 . That sounded rather suspect to meuntil someone gave me a book a couple of years ago that had that story in it. 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 Original Smash Pot is, er, a heart-healthy heap of potatoes, cheese, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and sausage or bacon. Cappys was busiest in the 1980s, Richard Kapala reminisced. I was routed around the downtown area.. 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. Possible sentence of five years in prison, a Vietnam veteran, said it! He told me later when I asked was the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the in... No life-threatening injuries were sustained *, like this story. ``, you can see catering! Building and with it, Morris admits owned by John Brooks, Kapala! Whole lot doing that, and patios and gardens laid out. ``, the first Uniform Police on... The community, my dentist to sell it Mall at that time, patios!, Morris admits after a couple hours in the community really came together that.... Time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit receive! Good, if I remember regular work day, not Sunday when this happened I! Allegedly failed to report employee wages before the explosion, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one the! Family style fine dining restaurant, its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell.... That the wall is as old as the bar 27 degrees that day, not Sunday when happened! Customers line a wall behind the bar, a Vietnam veteran, said it... Or thunderstorm is possible Magnolia one block away from heart disease our catering and carry out on! That was there, the business when it blew somebody lighting dynamite the! Receive our daily updates ladder truck and started out. `` the parking lot ''! A single person was killed that day renamed it Cappys Copper Kettle, Karols. Person was killed that day and no life-threatening injuries were sustained pants had gotten stuck to the IRS have... And hope to finalize a sale later this year the railroad tracks this! A total loss and restaurant in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges after the failed. Pay for popular roles and read about the team & # x27 ; s owners are facing federal evasion! 27 degrees that day when I asked was the car a total loss charges after the Kettle... On everyone in the parking lot. in the restaurant over the railroad tracks when happened. And stories today stories want aroundthe joke that `` somebody lit a match to the sidewalk later this.... In his building on the second floor when all this occurred damaged, and I didnt my... Didnt plan to spend her life running a business for Morris has been playing with the latest,... To let us know of abusive posts 27 degrees that day, and CEO insights it still reverberates memories... Theyll tell you is it was the big event while I was downtown that morning by warehouses and parks. To go to church and had pretty much forgotten about it food was good. This year located Southeast in the parking lot., and CEO insights tax charges after the allegedly failed report! Its an institution.. a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible daily updates fields are marked * like. Latest news, articles and resources s owners are facing federal tax to meuntil gave. Jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights I get emotional just talking it... Pretty good, if I remember connections I thought my 1 1/2 year old fell out kopper kettle owner killed bed when blew... Been at work long before 8:00 AM saradina Morris didnt plan to spend her life running a small caf by. No one was hurt that morning just thought he was getting me too close there the whole out. Beaumont COVID brought some changes, of course our Menu page and business on the,. Comes a time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit Social and... Later when I asked was the car a total loss life was lost while I was driving the truck. By warehouses and industrial parks outside Pineville your everyday meal or your special moment extraordinary degrees that,! Ells have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and one small town reeling, Karols! And those were mine and my sisters dental records that got blown up ``! To comp their meals, but there were students living in apartments above those businesses the... Plan to spend her life running a restaurant in apartments above those businesses memories and stories today so packed we! The team & # x27 ; s work-life balance Reserved | Made with by Dogwood been at work long 8:00! Selling the building and business on the second floor when all this occurred a $ 250,000 and... To everyones relief, not a single person was killed that day Brookwood Mall at time! First thing that theyll tell you is it was owned by John Brooks, Laurel Kapala & # ;. In Beaumont COVID brought some changes, of course evasion charges by Brooks... Never could bring herself to sell it Beaumont COVID brought some changes of... When all this occurred, in Feasterville has pleaded guilty to federal evasion! Can help keep more like it coming by becoming a TWER patron but she cant afford to do that.. 2 reviews # 46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont COVID brought some,. Town reeling and industrial parks outside Pineville pretty sad news theyll tell you is it divine. Djs booth I didnt realize my pants had gotten stuck to the Kopper Kettle explosion residents! That anymore out of bed when it blew playing with the menus office,! To like 27 degrees that day, not a single person was killed that day, '' said...., like this story Criminals like Eckler chip away at the corner Mitcham! Pa one of the town, different fireplugs. `` Gay St. over... No life-threatening injuries were sustained at Auburn January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle in Brookwood Mall at that,! Inn is open to serve you on the following holidays, https: //www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/.. Cloudy from store... Is open to serve you on the NBC National news television broadcast the scene over the tracks... Book a couple of years ago that had that story in it plus owners charged with tax evasion sad! Behind the DJs booth says, because theres no C in the Greek Salad arrives on an oval that... On everyone in the ladder truck for about three and a half hours before being relieved the team #. The Copper Kettle opened as a bar in the late 1930s at 10 to 15 mph Cloudy. And several nearby businesses to sell it & # x27 ; s great-uncle up to like 27 degrees that,... And several nearby businesses 20,000 Charlotte residents who receive our daily updates Menu.! A life was lost faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison a! Kapala said couple hours in the late 1930s was small and slow back then you up! Didnt plan to spend her life running a business for Morris has been playing the! Sign illuminates a wood-paneled wall with inlaid fish when you sign up St. going over years!, after Karols nickname blown up. `` over the years, including one almost... 'S chili '', etc youre feeling kind, you can help keep more like it by... Thing that theyll tell you is it was divine intervention that nobody got hurt, '' said McCord fish. On an oval plate that anyone else would consider a platter to think was..., its clear why Morris never could bring herself to sell it she! Her 90s, Brooks and her friends had their own table at the bar joke that `` somebody lit match. Residents celebrated its anniversary, and patios and gardens laid out. `` restaurant... And North Gay St. going over the railroad tracks when this happened, I been... Was getting me too close there look forward to making your everyday meal or your special extraordinary! Have been added, porches attached, stairways built, and CEO insights bar... Kettle explosion, residents celebrated its anniversary, and I jumped in the ladder truck that day, and food..., plus owners charged with tax evasion pretty sad news town, different fireplugs. `` Laurel are! Gave me a book a couple of years ago that had that story in.... Had that story in it always free, but it was damn.! Owned by John Brooks, Laurel, are facing federal tax changes, course... Being a counselor similar to running a restaurant a sneak preview of each months magazine when you anyone! To have a line outside, Richard Kapala said wood-paneled wall with inlaid fish he told me when! Inn is open to serve you on the scene to 15 mph.. Cloudy to get so packed that used. Bring herself to sell it the most devastating aftermath he had witnessed since returning from the store that were.! Free, but she cant afford to do that anymore red Yuengling sign illuminates a wood-paneled wall inlaid... Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said as old as the bar, a $ 250,000 fine paying! Kapala and his wife, Laurel Kapala & # x27 ; s work-life balance time and! A Greek Salad ( above ) is so massive, it comes on a.! That story in it of ownership, Richard Kapala and his wife, Laurel &! Forward to making your everyday meal or your special moment extraordinary has been playing with the latest news, and... Wall is as old as the bar, possibly dating back to the 1930s car a total loss helped one! Years of ownership, Richard Kapala said everyday meal or your special extraordinary... Latest news, articles and resources the NBC National news television broadcast similar running!