Uriahs Pub Burns down

[onegunguitar]

From The Altoona Mirror:
A popular neighborhood bar and restaurant in Altoona's East End was destroyed in a Friday morning fire that cloaked that part of the city in thick black smoke.

City Fire Chief Reynold Santone said by the time firefighters arrived at Uriah's Restaurant and Pub, 101 Bellwood Ave., flames were spurting from all sides of the building and the roof.

City firefighters quickly determined that no one was inside the two-and-a-half story structure, which had apartments on the second floor.

Santone, concerned about the safety of his men, decided not to send them into the building.

"It was written off when we got on scene," he said.

He said thousands of gallons of water per minute were poured onto the pub and a separate stream of water was focused on a single-family home at 107 Bellwood Ave., just a few feet from the east side of Uriah's, in an effort to save it from a periodic flurry of flames coming from the roof.

Ken Caldwell also watched as his building was consumed by the fire. He said he owned the pub for 21 years.

A large crowd, including many of Caldwell's patrons, gathered at the scene. One woman, Tina Laty, who lives on Sixth Avenue, said the bar held many memories for her and her husband. It was good place to play darts and to spend New Year's Eve, she said.

Penelec turned off the electricity in the neighborhood because two wires fell during the blaze.

Mirror reporters are working on a story for Saturday's paper.

[BDR]

Wow. One of my old haunts from way back. Comedy and karaoke, those were the two orders of business there for me.

Sux.

r:>)

[Jim Price]

That's sad. I used to deliver Pennsylvania Musician there until just a few months ago.

I'll remember the comedy nights, and seeing a number of bands and performers there in the late 80's and early 90's. Ken even had a few national-caliber acts there, as I recall.

I also remember that picture wall in the hallway where you first entered, with all the framed and autographed promo pics of the comedians and other entertainers who had performed there.

[drums=life]

thats a damn shame, MANY yards of beer consumed there!!!!

[witchhunt]

thats a damn shame, MANY yards of beer consumed there!!!!

What's a "yard" of beer? I never heard that before.

[metalchurch]

thats a damn shame, MANY yards of beer consumed there!!!!

What's a "yard" of beer? I never heard that before.

I thought the same thing when I read it. Maybe he means gallons?

[Ron]

It's a 3 foot tall glass of beer.

[metalchurch]

Really??
Well, I guess that makes sense then. I guess it's one of those, "you have to be there" things to understand it.

[ToonaRockGuy]

It's a 3 foot tall glass of beer.

I had a few yards there. The glass is 3 feet tall, and has a funky shape. You have to spin the yard to drink the beer fast, cause once it starts coming out, it don't stop, LOL. Kind of like major-league shotgunning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard_(beer)

[metalchurch]

That's kind of neat Kevin, thanks for sharing that photo.
I wonder how much beer is in that?

[Banned]

Man that fuckin' sucks. Hope Ken rebuilds.

[Colton]

All I see in that picture is an object with the most bong-potential I've ever seen in my life.

My lungs hurt thinking about it....

[Naga]

That sucks. I know a few of my friends would drop down there from time to time. It seemed like a pretty decent place too. Was hoping to have a get-together down there some time or the other soon. Damn

[songsmith]

bong-potential

(Furiously scribbling this phrase down in the Songsmith lexicon of phrases I think are funny, but no one else does.)
There. It's in the book, just ahead of cootch-de-gras and douchery. (cootch-de-gras is that maneuver she does that finishes you off quick, when she knows there's something good on TV. )--->JMS

[witchhunt]

Thanks for the "yard" info. I learnt something today.

[metalchurch]

(cootch-de-gras is that maneuver she does that finishes you off quick, when she knows there's something good on TV. )--->JMS

But us men have done the same thing before to our women, so would that be cock-de-gras?
I dont know what "de-gras" means, I hope it's nothing gay.

[songsmith]

It's a takeoff on Coup De Gras, or "winning thrust of grace." It was that final shot that finished off an opponent humanely after a terrible fight. --->JMS

[PanzerFaust]

I had my name on the wall in the "100 yard club"....

One of my life long achievements!!!

Boy I need to get a life huh?

Didn't they have the mugs with peoples names on them at one time too?

Anyone else had their name on the wall for the yards club?

Were they even still up on the walls? hehe... That was back in the late 80's...

[metalchurch]

I had my name on the wall in the "100 yard club"... That was back in the late 80's...

How old are you?

[ToonaRockGuy]

Tood's like 850 years old.

[Banned]

I had my name on the wall in the "100 yard club"... That was back in the late 80's...

How old are you?

Older than the iron in his panzer. Seriously though, I had my name on that wall back in like 91. Also, I saw beer come out a guy's nose there once...hilarious!!

[BDR]

Tood's like 850 years old.

We should call him "Master Yoda."

r:>)