USAWA Nationals Update
by Thom Van Vleck
Dukum Inn: Kirksville Legend and Location of the USAWA Nationals Banquet
Just a couple blocks away from the armory is the Dukum Inn. This is a legendary establishment here in Kirksville. Back a hundred years ago this was a huge coal mining area. Coal mining was tough work and the miners would drink hard on the weekends. When I was a kid, the Dukum was tough, blue collar bar. I recall going there with my Dad from time to time when I was a boy. He would buy me a Cherry Coke (when a the Coke was poured into a Coke Glass and cherry syrup was then added) so I wouldn’t tell Mom we stopped there. He would play some pool with his pals and he’d give me some quarters for the pinball or I’d play shuffleboard in the sawdust. After a couple games of pool we’d head home with Mom none the wiser!
Well, today the Dukum is pretty much an “every man’s bar” (and every woman). It’s a lot more upscale than the old days but still has that old days charm of a corner pub. They have a private upstairs room that now has the original bar that was there when I was a kid and the original tables. It can seat over a hundred and has a stage that will work nicely for our awards ceremony. Plenty of room to gather after the meet, enjoy our meal, have our national meeting and have a good time!
So, get those entries in the mail!