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Outpost, a longtime NASA tavern, damaged by fire
A part of space history dodged a bullet this morning...
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...olitan/3013830 Outpost, a longtime NASA tavern, damaged by fire By THAYER EVANS Chronicle correspondent WEBSTER -- An electrical short in a neon sign is being blamed for an early morning blaze today that caused $15,000 worth of damage to a popular bar and grill frequented by NASA employees. The Outpost Tavern, located at the corner of NASA Parkway and Egret Bay Boulevard, was closed when it caught on fire about 4:50 a.m., Webster Fire Chief Jamie Galloway said. He said the fire started outside on the building's east side and spread to an attic before being extinguished by firefighters. The cause is likely to be electrical from the wiring of a neon sign, Galloway said. The blaze damaged an 18-foot-by-25-foot section of the structure's roof and smoke from the fire did minor harm to the bar's vast collection of NASA memorabilia, but many of the items are salvageable, said Stan Aden, 50, who along with his wife, Sharon, owns the Outpost. The 24-year-old red barn-like pub, which was once military barracks at Ellington Field during World War II, has been featured in movies such as Space Cowboys and Rocket Man. "It could have been a lot worse," Aden said. "We really dodged a bullet. If the fire started on the inside, we wouldn't be standing here right now." Aden said the bar was insured, but not for the amount of money it will take to repair it. He said he would like to have the Clear Lake landmark reopened for business in time for the Super Bowl on Feb. 6. "We're going to need some help," Aden said. "We're going to have to work on the money. We'll get things rolling again, we hope." Donations to rebuild the bar can be made at the Outpost or by mailing them to P.O. Box 391, League City, Texas, 77574. -- JRF Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail, check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and think one step ahead of IBM. |
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However, the real history took place in The Singin' Wheel down the road
a bit. This was the "Pancho Barnes Happy Bottom Riding Club" for the Apollo Flight Controllers and their astronaut friends. It stands empty today and I was told recently that the owners of the property are asking $680K, and that the "worthless POS building should be torn down." I devoted Chapter 36 of my autobiography to the Singin' Wheel, but a lot of stories could not be told. Everytime The Outpost owners have problems, they appeal for money--us old Flight Controllers shoulda started a fund and bought the Wheel a long time ago.. Sy Liebergot "Apollo EECOM: Jorney Of A Lifetime" www.apolloeecom.com Jorge R. Frank wrote: A part of space history dodged a bullet this morning... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...olitan/3013830 Outpost, a longtime NASA tavern, damaged by fire By THAYER EVANS Chronicle correspondent WEBSTER -- An electrical short in a neon sign is being blamed for an early morning blaze today that caused $15,000 worth of damage to a popular bar and grill frequented by NASA employees. The Outpost Tavern, located at the corner of NASA Parkway and Egret Bay Boulevard, was closed when it caught on fire about 4:50 a.m., Webster Fire Chief Jamie Galloway said. He said the fire started outside on the building's east side and spread to an attic before being extinguished by firefighters. The cause is likely to be electrical from the wiring of a neon sign, Galloway said. The blaze damaged an 18-foot-by-25-foot section of the structure's roof and smoke from the fire did minor harm to the bar's vast collection of NASA memorabilia, but many of the items are salvageable, said Stan Aden, 50, who along with his wife, Sharon, owns the Outpost. The 24-year-old red barn-like pub, which was once military barracks at Ellington Field during World War II, has been featured in movies such as Space Cowboys and Rocket Man. "It could have been a lot worse," Aden said. "We really dodged a bullet. If the fire started on the inside, we wouldn't be standing here right now." Aden said the bar was insured, but not for the amount of money it will take to repair it. He said he would like to have the Clear Lake landmark reopened for business in time for the Super Bowl on Feb. 6. "We're going to need some help," Aden said. "We're going to have to work on the money. We'll get things rolling again, we hope." Donations to rebuild the bar can be made at the Outpost or by mailing them to P.O. Box 391, League City, Texas, 77574. -- JRF Reply-to address spam-proofed - to reply by E-mail, check "Organization" (I am not assimilated) and think one step ahead of IBM. |
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On 3 Feb 2005 09:15:45 -0800, "Sy Liebergot"
wrote: However, the real history took place in The Singin' Wheel down the road a bit. This was the "Pancho Barnes Happy Bottom Riding Club" for the Apollo Flight Controllers and their astronaut friends. It stands empty today and I was told recently that the owners of the property are asking $680K, and that the "worthless POS building should be torn down." I devoted Chapter 36 of my autobiography to the Singin' Wheel, but a lot of stories could not be told. ....You know, when I get around to getting OMWorld revamped(*), I could be easily pursuaded to proved space for some of those untold accounts. Unless, of course, they're stories that should not be told *out* of school :-) (*) Cue Pat to go "well, OM, if you weren't spending all your time photographing strippers with their clothes *on*, you'd -have- more time." Everytime The Outpost owners have problems, they appeal for money--us old Flight Controllers shoulda started a fund and bought the Wheel a long time ago.. ....Off the record, I dropped by the Outpost during the last JSC trip just before NYE, and to be honest I wasn't that impressed. Lots of memorabilia, but the few patrons that were there *and* the guy - at least, I *think* it was a guy - behind the bar stared at me and my brother like we were bugs in a jar. Needless to say, we didn't stay long. OM -- "No ******* ever won a war by dying for | http://www.io.com/~o_m his country. He won it by making the other | Sergeant-At-Arms poor dumb ******* die for his country." | Human O-Ring Society - General George S. Patton, Jr |
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IMO, the primary reason that The Outpost gained notoriety was that
George Abbey (former JSC Director)and his entourage of cronies (astronauts, etc) started going there. One could enhance his career by sucking up to Abbey. Happily, I was not one of them. Since most of that entourage have retired and/or moved on, the place has lost its 'luster.' And no, the Singin' Wheel stories that I omitted from my book will never find their way into print. Sy OM wrote: On 3 Feb 2005 09:15:45 -0800, "Sy Liebergot" wrote: However, the real history took place in The Singin' Wheel down the road a bit. This was the "Pancho Barnes Happy Bottom Riding Club" for the Apollo Flight Controllers and their astronaut friends. It stands empty today and I was told recently that the owners of the property are asking $680K, and that the "worthless POS building should be torn down." I devoted Chapter 36 of my autobiography to the Singin' Wheel, but a lot of stories could not be told. ...You know, when I get around to getting OMWorld revamped(*), I could be easily pursuaded to proved space for some of those untold accounts. Unless, of course, they're stories that should not be told *out* of school :-) (*) Cue Pat to go "well, OM, if you weren't spending all your time photographing strippers with their clothes *on*, you'd -have- more time." Everytime The Outpost owners have problems, they appeal for money--us old Flight Controllers shoulda started a fund and bought the Wheel a long time ago.. ...Off the record, I dropped by the Outpost during the last JSC trip just before NYE, and to be honest I wasn't that impressed. Lots of memorabilia, but the few patrons that were there *and* the guy - at least, I *think* it was a guy - behind the bar stared at me and my brother like we were bugs in a jar. Needless to say, we didn't stay long. OM -- "No ******* ever won a war by dying for | http://www.io.com/~o_m his country. He won it by making the other | Sergeant-At-Arms poor dumb ******* die for his country." | Human O-Ring Society - General George S. Patton, Jr |
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Sy Liebergot wrote: And no, the Singin' Wheel stories that I omitted from my book will never find their way into print. No stories of nights of drunken and twisted primate lust with Ham and Enos on the make, huh? http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall...S3/OLDHAM2.JPG "So I told Judy the chimp that pulling over fourteen G's was one thing, but I doubted I could take another sixty-eight of those! Hell, I got a million of 'em like that... any of you guys up for boilermakers? Yeah, I knew _you_ would be Shepard...maybe we should make it tequila, eh, Jose? I once asked Miss Sam once if she knew the difference between a banana and a penis; she said "no"- so I asked her if she'd like to go out for lunch sometime...." :-) Pat |
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Wow, that's the second less than sparkling George Abbey comment I've run
across just today. The other being from an LCC Flight Sugeon during the launch of 51-L at: http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2005/01...remembers.html So on Abbey, what's the overall verdict? "Sy Liebergot" wrote in message ups.com... IMO, the primary reason that The Outpost gained notoriety was that George Abbey (former JSC Director)and his entourage of cronies (astronauts, etc) started going there. One could enhance his career by sucking up to Abbey. Happily, I was not one of them. Since most of that entourage have retired and/or moved on, the place has lost its 'luster.' And no, the Singin' Wheel stories that I omitted from my book will never find their way into print. Sy |
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Re Geo. Abbey: Story has it that GSA was brought in by Chris Kraft to
be a 'Hatchet Man,' at which he turned out to be well suited. IMO. He seemed to know how to quietly wield power which rumor had it came from influential congressional buddies. On a historical topic: I've been in contact with a young man who's life ambition is to buy the Singin' Wheel and re-open it. Some mysterious "old lady' owner is asking $680K for the property. IMO there is no way that small parcel is worth even a quarter of that. I've encouraged him to attempt to ferret out the true value and set up a website for donations. I tell you, there's nothing like youthful zeal. Any of you fine people webmasters that would care to donate your time to create a Singin' Wheel website? Sy Liebergot "Apollo EECOM: Journey Of A Lifetime" www.apolloeecom.com |
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On 8 Feb 2005 07:48:36 -0800, "Sy Liebergot"
wrote: Any of you fine people webmasters that would care to donate your time to create a Singin' Wheel website? ....Possibly. I take it you've got stories *and* photos? ....On a side note, you may have missed it, but in an earlier post I solicited your take on the Carpenter grounding and the controversy as to whether Carpenter really showed the "Wrong Stuff" in flight, or was it Kraft trying to put "Astropower" in its place that was the real cause. OM -- "No ******* ever won a war by dying for | http://www.io.com/~o_m his country. He won it by making the other | Sergeant-At-Arms poor dumb ******* die for his country." | Human O-Ring Society - General George S. Patton, Jr |
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Story is that Chris Kraft brought GWA to be a 'hatchet man.' at which
he proved to be good. Three thumbs down. On another history topic: There's a young man that wants to buy the old Singin' Wheel down the road from the Outpost. Some mysterious "old lady' is asking $680K. That little piece of property is hardly worth 100K. IMO. Anyway, I'm encouraging him to ferret out the real value, then set up a website for contributions. Nothing better that youthful zeal. He needs a webmaster that will donate the time to set up a website. any help out there? Sy Liebergot "Apollo EECOM: Journey Of A Lifetime" www.apolloeecom.com an wrote: Wow, that's the second less than sparkling George Abbey comment I've run across just today. The other being from an LCC Flight Sugeon during the launch of 51-L at: http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2005/01...remembers.html So on Abbey, what's the overall verdict? "Sy Liebergot" wrote in message ups.com... IMO, the primary reason that The Outpost gained notoriety was that George Abbey (former JSC Director)and his entourage of cronies (astronauts, etc) started going there. One could enhance his career by sucking up to Abbey. Happily, I was not one of them. Since most of that entourage have retired and/or moved on, the place has lost its 'luster.' And no, the Singin' Wheel stories that I omitted from my book will never find their way into print. Sy |
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OM wrote: On 8 Feb 2005 07:48:36 -0800, "Sy Liebergot" wrote: Any of you fine people webmasters that would care to donate your time to create a Singin' Wheel website? ...Possibly. I take it you've got stories *and* photos? ...On a side note, you may have missed it, but in an earlier post I solicited your take on the Carpenter grounding and the controversy as to whether Carpenter really showed the "Wrong Stuff" in flight, or was it Kraft trying to put "Astropower" in its place that was the real cause. OM -- "No ******* ever won a war by dying for | http://www.io.com/~o_m his country. He won it by making the other | Sergeant-At-Arms poor dumb ******* die for his country." | Human O-Ring Society - General George S. Patton, Jr |
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