COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After the removal of the historic trolley inside the former Spaghetti Warehouse, another iconic piece from the building is being preserved.
The bright red steam wheel that once graced the restaurant’s lobby has been salvaged and shipped to Tennessee, according to Columbus history enthusiast Shawn Kenney. The antique has arrived at its new home in Chattanooga.
A roof collapse in 2022 led to the demolition of the brick structure at 397 W. Broad St. in Franklinton. Kenney, who is also the executive director of the Museum of Catholic Art and History, documented the engine’s removal from the site on social media. On Saturday, he posted about retrieving the heavy items from the wreckage.
“Finally, the ammonia pump from the old icehouse (Spaghetti Warehouse) is officially on its way to Chattanooga,” Kenney shared, alongside several photos and videos. “The weight of the entire piece was about 42,000 pounds, the largest piece … with the actual pump weighing 32,000 pounds.”
Unlike the trolley, the steam engine was an original part of the building, Kenney told NBC4. The machinery was used to pump ammonia to maintain cool temperatures in the brick structure when it functioned as an icehouse. Kenney said building owner Jim Weiler, S.G. Loewendick Demolition, and a team of volunteers helped salvage the 130-year-old equipment.
In Chattanooga, the engine will join the personal collection of Coker Tire magnate Corky Coker. Coker, an antique car expert and Travel Channel reality star, operates The Coker Museum at 1309 Chestnut St., which features more than 100 vintage vehicles, including cars and airplanes. The museum is open for tours and available as a rental venue.