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WEBVTT REPORTER: THE NEW YEAR HASRABBIT HASH IN RENEWED SPIRIT.THE GENERAL STORE, LOCALLY ANDGLOBALLY BELOVED, IS ON THESOONER-THAN-YOU-EXPECT RECOVERYLISTTHAT'S ED UNTERREINER TAKING ACHISEL TO SOME 100-YEAR-OLD REDOAEVERYTHING HERE IS EXACTING ANDHISTORICALLY-GUIDED.AT THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTRABBIT HASH WILL BE MARKING AONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY BURNED INTOITS COLLECTIVE MEMORY.THE FIRE THAT SEARED ITS VERYSOUL.THEIR OWN INNER FIRE HAS TAKENHOLD SINCE THE>> WHEN THEY TOOK THE FRONT OFF,NEXT DAY WE LAID THAT WHOLEFRONT ON A TRAILER AND HAULED OFF TO A BARN BECAUSE WE KNEW WEWERE GOING TO REUSE IT AND ITWOULD BE BACK.>> HOW WERE YOUR HOLIDAYS?>> GOOD.>> HOW ARE YREPORTER: THE ATMOSPHERE HERE ISAUTOMATICALLY SET ON WARMTH ANDWELCOME.THE TEMPORARY STORE LOCATION HSO MUCH AUTHENTICITY, SOME FOLKSARE ASKING WHY NOT TWO STORES?AND NO, THAT'S NOT THE MAYORCARRYING THE BIG STICK.THAT'S POPPY, AS MUCH A PART THE SCENERY AS WHAT WE ADMIREDINSIDE.>> THAT BENCH OVER THERE HASSOME HISTORY TO ITREPORTER: WHAT I SAT ON WITH THEGENERAL CONTRACTOR WERE OLDFLOOR JOISTS, SALVAGED FROM THEFIRE.REPURPOSED NOW AS 40 BENCHES,INCLUDING THE WOOD OF THIS ONEOFF A BARGE, CIRCA 1831.HISTORY HERE PERMEATES THE AIR.AND THE RESTORATION HERE INRABBIT HASH HAS BEEN GATHERINGMORE ACCELERATION LATELY THANKIN LARGE PART TO PEOPLE WHO GETIT ABOUT THIS PLACE.DONATIONS TOP $300,000.INTERIOR PERSONALIZED MARKINGSWERE SOLD AS PART OF A TIMECAPSULE FEATURE FOR DISTANTGENERATIONS.DUKE ENERGY DONATED ALL OF THESCAFFOLDING, READY MIX THECONCRETE, ARTS RENTAL THEMACHINES.WHETHER THE RIVER IS SHROUDED FOG OR SHIMMERED BY SUNLIGHT,THE SENSE OF SERENITY HEREDICTATES IT MUST BE PRESERVED.>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A MAGNET.BIKERS LOVE ITJUST THE ATMOSPHERE OF I>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'SMYSTICAL IN ANY WAY.I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY THEWAY THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE LIVINGANYWAY.REPORTER: THE SHUTTERS, WINDOWS,CLAPBOARD AND DOOR ARE ALLORIGINAL, WHICH FAIRLY DESCRIBESTHIS RECOVERY-MINDED PLACE.

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The work to reopen a local landmark hit by a devastating fire nearly one year ago has shifted into the fast lane. Progress to restore the historic Rabbit Hash General Store has been more rapid in the past few weeks, so much so that there is talk of moving up the timetable for a grand reopening. In Rabbit Hash, they do not refer to the project as a “rebuild.” They consider it a restoration. Related: Rabbit Hash General Store rising from the ashes A new sprinkler system is being installed, salvaged floor joists have been turned into benches for banjo players and those who love listening to those strings, and the labor of love at the general store site is evident on the faces of just about everyone who takes the time to stop in for a chat. Dustin Hagedorn, of Florence, was busy again Monday with the ceiling boards. "My father had his roots down here and that's kind of the reason why I'm down here is kind of continuing that tradition on that we had," he said. Although last February's fire incinerated much of the physical place, it could not snuff out the tradition. The aftermath inspired the recovery mindset that defines this river hamlet, a sliver of American soil. "When they took the front off, next day we laid that whole front on a trailer and hauled if off to a barn because we knew we were going to reuse it and it would be back," explained Don Clare of the historical society. Inside the temporary store set up a hundred yards away, the atmosphere is automatically set on warmth and welcome. The temporary location is stuffed with so much authenticity, some folks are asking, “Why not two stores?” The fund-raising effort in the aftermath of the fire has seen donations top $300,000. Duke Energy donated all of the scaffolding, Ready Mix gave the concrete and Arts Rental provided the machines. Don Clare got a call out of the blue. "Paint the new sign for ya'?" said the voice on the other end. "Their dad did the old one and they came down and you can see the results. It's just unbelievable. It looks just like the old one," Clare said. Myers Sign Company out of Cincinnati did the work gratis. Pat Growan, of Taylor Mill, is not surprised by the generous outpouring. "It's always been a magnet. Bikers love it. Just the atmosphere of it," he told us. The shutters, windows, clapboard and door are all original, which fairly describes the recovery-minded place that looks as if time decided to slow down and rest for a spell. Terrie Markesbery, who has managed the General Store since the turn of the century, paused to consider the nature of his surroundings. "I don't know that that's mystical in any way," she offered. "I think that it's probably the way that we all should be living anyway." Markesbery says the recent progress shows the power of community. "When we think about old, old America, maybe this is what people think of. And so, everybody wants to have a little part of that," Markesbery said. Unterreiner has photos his daughter took to guide his work, which must adhere to strict standards given the historic designation of the place. They're planning some type of event to mark the anniversary of the fire on Feb. 13. They had originally targeted Old Timers Day, which takes place toward the end of summer as the likely reopening date, but are now thinking it'll be spring. When asked what it's like to work on the project, Unterreiner, just a few feet from the river shrouded in fog, sounded as serene with his answer as the air around him. "It's a lot of fun," he said. "It really is. This is my neighborhood.”