Whiskey Bottle from the Days of Pavilion Construction Uncovered

A worker replacing the roof at The Bridge Pavilion in Dubuque's Eagle Point Park discovered what is thought to be a long-ago stashed whiskey bottle.  It appears as though workers a long time back left behind an empty Windsor Straight Bourbon Whiskey half-pint bottle.  The bourbon, distilled in Peoria, was bottled on October 15, 1936, according to the label on the back of the bottle .  That would date it to right around the time of the pavilion's construction.

Workers provided us with photos of several other bottles and cans uncovered during current renovations.  Scroll down for a look.  The construction project is expected to be completed by the end of July

Eagle Point Park opened in 1909.  Sources vary on the construction dates of the park buildings.  Work on the park shelters, recognized as among the most influential pieces of architecture in Iowa, with formal dedication of the area in 1937.

The shelter area's designer was former Dubuque superintendent of parks Alfred Caldwell.  Caldwell was a Frank Lloyd Wright disciple who, although he never studied directly under Wright, incorporated many Wright design concepts throughout the park.

In an ironic twist, Eagle Point Park was purchased by the city from noted distiller and brewer, Joseph Rhomberg.  Rhomberg purchased the area of bluff upon which the park sits in 1873.  He and his family cared for the area and kept it in its natural state until the property was purchased by the city in 1908.

Eagle Point Park, an absolute gem of a park if ever there was one, is open from 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM Friday and Saturday.

 Admission: 

• $1.00 per car,
• $5.00 per bus.
• Bicycles and pedestrians are admitted for free.

Eagle Point Park is located at 2601 Shiras Avenue

Photos: Tim Koehler and "My Guy!"

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Point_Park_(Dubuque,_Iowa)

• http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/index.php?title=EAGLE_POINT_PARK, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pp1dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0VwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2444,3334905&dq=history+of+eagle+point+park+dubuque&hl=en

• https://www.thegazette.com/news/time-machine-eagle-point-park-dubuque-distiller-set-aside-land-depression-era-workers-enhanced-it/

• https://www.cityofdubuque.org/573/Eagle-Point-Park