Latest news with #RWF
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Historic Spaghetti Warehouse trolley to become learning center honoring Granville T. Woods
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two months after its dramatic extrication from the old Spaghetti Warehouse building, the historic red trolley that once housed the restaurant's special dining area is waiting for the next phase in its more than 100-year existence. In February, the iconic trolley was removed from the former 1800s ice house-turned-eatery at 397 W. Broad St. in Franklinton before the building was demolished due to safety concerns related to a roof collapse. According to Michael Aaron, Executive Director of the Rickenbacker Woods Foundation, which organized the removal and storage, the streetcar will eventually be used as a learning tool honoring central Ohio transportation inventor Granville T. Woods. See the story about the trolley's removal in the player above. As Big Lots stores relaunch, when will Ohio locations open? RWF is now raising funds to transform the trolley, which will be placed on the grounds of the foundation's headquarters, the boyhood home of World War I fighter pilot Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. Located at 1334 E. Livingston Ave. in Columbus, the Rickenbacker house is a registered National Historic Landmark. The trolley's addition to the RWF campus will go beyond sustaining its nostalgia for former Spaghetti Warehouse diners by adding an inspiring, interactive exhibit and classroom featuring Woods's life and inventions as the 'Granville T. Woods Institute.' According to historian and RWF board member Doreen Uhas Sauer, Woods was born in Columbus in the mid-1800s and made his mark on railroad and trolley systems with electrical patents during the Industrial Revolution. Woods, described as 'one of America's greatest unsung Black inventors,' is responsible for the 1893 patent for the third rail that powers streetcars and subways to this day. 'We didn't only save a trolley — we're giving it a second life as a place where history lives and young people dream,' said Aaron. 'The Granville T. Woods Legacy Exhibit will connect students to one of the most brilliant inventors of the 19th century and remind them that innovation and greatness can come from their own city, their own community, and maybe even their own story.' Sheriff speaks about finding dead dogs at Madison County home Currently, RWF is working with the Columbus Foundation to make public donations go even further. 'The Columbus Foundation gave us a powerful boost with a $10,000 contribution — and now we're asking the community to match that generosity with their own,' said trolley restoration fundraising chair Maryellen O'Shaughnessy. 'Every dollar donated in April is matched. It's a chance for everyday people to be part of something lasting: The transformation of a Columbus icon into a space that teaches, inspires, and honors legacy.' Additionally, supporters of the effort will be able to show others their patronage with a wearable keepsake. Trolley lapel pins will be available as a thank-you gift for donors. 'This isn't just a commemorative pin — it's a symbol of what we've saved and what we're building together,' said Aaron. 'For so many people, the Spaghetti Warehouse trolley holds memories. We wanted to honor that legacy with something people could wear and be proud of.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Express Tribune
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
3-time Olympic wrestling champion Buvaisar Saitiev dies at 49
Three-time Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Buvaisar Saitiev has passed away at the age of 49, Russian sports officials confirmed on Sunday. The Russian Wrestling Federation (RWF) President Mikhail Mamiashvili expressed shock at the news, stating, 'They called me just ten minutes ago to inform me of this tragedy. It's hard to believe. We were supposed to fly together tomorrow.' Saitiev, widely regarded as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in history, won Olympic gold in the 74 kg category at the 1996, 2004, and 2008 Games. He was also a six-time world and European champion. Recognised for his contributions to the sport, he received several prestigious Russian honours, including the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, the Order of Honor, and the Order of Friendship. Following his retirement in 2009, Saitiev transitioned into politics, serving as a member of the State Duma. His influence extended beyond the wrestling mat, shaping Russia's sporting landscape for years. The news of his passing has drawn tributes from across the combat sports world. Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo credited Saitiev as a major influence on his wrestling career, writing, 'Rest in peace, my hero, my legend, and my great friend.' MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov also paid tribute, posting a picture with Saitiev and writing, 'You inspired millions of children around the world and we will miss you.' UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev echoed the sentiment, calling him a 'legend' and offering condolences to his family. Saitiev's legacy in freestyle wrestling remains unparalleled, and his passing marks a significant loss for the sport.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trolley departs former Spaghetti Warehouse property for future journey to historical site
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Incredible images of the historic trolley from the old Spaghetti Warehouse building show it being transported through Downtown. The photos and videos were sent to NBC4 by Rickenbacker Woods Foundation Executive Director Michael Aaron. After being extracted from the structure in Franklinton on Monday, the trolley was moved to a secure facility on Wednesday. It will eventually sit on a site near the boyhood home of Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, a World War I fighter pilot, where it will be featured in an exhibit honoring African American inventor Granville T. Woods. Historian and RWF board member Doreen Uhas Sauer shared more about Woods in an email to NBC4. Joann plans to close all but one central Ohio store amid bankruptcy 'The prolific inventor was born in Columbus, lived part of his life on Livingston Avenue … worked in the early decades of the fast-moving Industrial Revolution in Ohio on electrical patents which made railroad (and trolley) systems possible and, most importantly, safer,' wrote Sauer. 'The trolley connects Livingston Avenue neighborhoods — known as the Trolley District for the early appearance of them in the city — and links a unique system of transportation which brought citizens and visitors out to Driving Park to watch Eddie Rickenbacker, inventor and mechanic extraordinaire, race an auto against an airplane.' The foundation is seeking $20,000 in an online fundraiser to cover moving and storing the trolley until it can be permanently fastened to a platform on the grounds at 1334 E. Livingston Ave. RWF previously 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus organization seeks to save historic Spaghetti Warehouse trolley from demolition
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A local organization is making a last-minute push to save the trolley inside the former Spaghetti Warehouse building before it is demolished. Rickenbacker Woods Foundation has been working on plans to relocate the trolley from the doomed building at 397 W. Broad St. in Franklinton to a site 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 that rescuing the trolley that it was the restaurant's centerpiece is the next best thing. RWF wants to preserve the trolley to 'provide a dynamic educational platform to celebrate Woods' inventions and their impact on modern technology.' With demolition approaching, Aaron is concerned that time is running out. He stressed the urgency of taking action before it is too late, noting 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 has had discussions with Spaghetti Warehouse and the original rigging company that installed the trolley. Plans began early last year, but recent developments have raised concerns about their feasibility. RWF has secured $500,000 of federal funding through the city, in the form of a Community Development Block Grant, to build a park that would 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 is owned by the Robert Weiler Company, which acknowledged the foundation's interest in the trolley car, as well as from other groups. But the larger concern remains the building's instability. The RWF group is also seeking help from other preservation advocates and local leaders. Pointing to the financial and logistical challenges of moving and restoring 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. A video about plans for the original Spaghetti Warehouse site is available in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
