I
n October 2009, contractors rehabbing the old train depot along the Eisenbahn Trail in West Bend, WI, stumbled upon a couple of hidden treasures. Construction manager Rocky Thomson with American Design & Build Inc. discovered a one-quart bottle of Taylor & Williams Yellowstone rye whiskey dated 1911, nestled in the rafters. The well-preserved bottle, featuring a paper label and raised glass writing, miraculously survived a fall onto a hardwood floor.

    The same bottle had also balanced precariously atop a beam during the depot's relocation, withstanding multiple moves without breaking. Another surprise find was a couple of Milwaukee Sentinel newspapers from 1913, discovered between the walls. The yellowed papers included news about war plants and a delayed welfare bill vote in Madison, as well as comics featuring Flooey and Axel.

    The reconstruction of the old depot is nearing completion, with drywall installed up to 12-foot ceilings and original bead board lining one wall. Five-panel hardwood doors have been refurbished, along with layered trim-work around doors and windows. The maple hardwood floors need buffing, while the Douglas fir siding will be repainted in its original red color.