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Architect weighsin on Kimball wallRalph Peterson, the architect who is working on the design for the restoration of the Kimball War Memorial said he has a theory as to the use of the mysterious arched doorway that appeared when demolition crews razed the former Lombardo building to make room for more parking on the Memorial project.The 10-foot tall, arched entrance has been the subject of great speculation since Empire Salvage crews unearthed it about two weeks ago.“I inspected the building and had no idea it was there,” Peterson said. He said that the demolition crew discovered a passageway from the kitchen into the structure within the massive, two-foot thick wall.He theorized that the space may have been used to store beer, wine and/or rum during the Prohibition Era. He said that the Lombardos operated a restaurant there — The Depot Cafe, later known as Mr. Mike's — and that the establishment was known to offer libations to its guests.He said that work on the project has been delayed while the federal Environmental Protection Agency examined the area and made a recommendation.“It’s too small for a mine portal,” he said. Peterson and a representative of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., are scheduled to visit the site at 1 p.m., on Monday.The Kimball War Memorialwas dedicated in 1928 and is believed to be the only war memorial of its kind dedicated to African American veterans of World War I.The McDowell County Museum Commission led by James Eubanks Ray Williams, Lorenzo Henderson and others, along with the support and assistance of Senator Byrd, have raised funds to restore the memorial.
Newspaper Details
Bluefield Sunday Telegraph
Bluefield, West Virginia, US
Sun, Aug 18, 2002
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Bj T.
NA, NA 01 Feb 2023
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