COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After a last-minute push involving a whirlwind of discussions and the work of a demolition company, the trolley inside the old Spaghetti Warehouse has left the building.
Rickenbacker Woods Foundation is now working on plans to store the trolley after it was pulled from the doomed building at 397 W. Broad St. in Franklinton. It will eventually sit on a site near the boyhood home of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker at 1334 E. Livingston Avenue in Columbus, where it will be featured in an exhibit honoring African American inventor Granville T. Woods. Executive Director Michael Aaron said that since the building, which suffered a partial roof collapse in 2022, cannot be saved, rescuing the trolley that was the restaurant’s centerpiece is the next best thing.
(Photo Courtesy/ SG Loewendick Demolition)(Photo Courtesy/ SG Loewendick Demolition)(Photo Courtesy/ SG Loewendick Demolition)(Photo Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)(Photo Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)(Photo Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)(Photo Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)(Photo Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)RWF looked to preserve the trolley to “provide a dynamic educational platform to celebrate Woods’ inventions and their impact on modern technology.” The foundation website notes that Woods was “a world-renowned African American scientist and inventor of over 60 patents, including the 'third electric rail' that powers subways and streetcars today.”
Rendering of improvements to Rickenbacker Woods Foundations (Image Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)Rendering of improvements to Rickenbacker Woods Foundations (Image Courtesy of Rickenbacker Woods Foundation)While the demolition will continue, Aaron expressed relief in a call to NBC4 that last-minute efforts to remove the trolley were successful. He previously noted that the streetcar has been a key part of memories for patrons of the beloved restaurant, representing the “joy of food and happy times.”
Aaron said the foundation had had discussions with Spaghetti Warehouse and the original rigging company that installed the trolley. RWF secured $500,000 of federal funding through the city through a Community Development Block Grant to build a park that will house the trolley, creating an educational space highlighting Woods’ contributions to transportation and communication technology.
“We are submitting our proposal which is Project Genesis, which is the new start to the Rickenbacker Woods Foundation’s education initiatives,” Aaron told Columbus City Council at the time. “We’ve asked the City of Columbus and the federal government to fund a new park on Columbus’ South Side. Where this park will go is replacing an alley. It’s replacing a scary-looking part of the neighborhood with beauty.”
The building, owned by the Robert Weiler Company, acknowledged the foundation’s initial interest in the trolley car, as well as interest from other groups. However, concern about the building’s instability took extra planning to remove.
The RWF group still seeks help from other preservation advocates and local leaders. Pointing to the financial and logistical challenges of storing the trolley, it is looking for support from those with resources and expertise. The organization said potential tax incentives and financial benefits could be available.
The Spaghetti Warehouse opened a new location in Downtown Columbus after the closing of the Franklinton restaurant, which had many of its antiques used for decor auctioned off in 2023.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Historic Spaghetti Warehouse trolley saved from demolition )
Also on site :