Dust motes danced in the dim light as Andrew Howell, owner of Thornton Distilling Company, investigated a crumbling wall. He wasn’t expecting to unearth a secret from a bygone era, a relic of Illinois’s notorious past. Instead, his hand brushed against something cold and metallic, hidden within the aged limestone.
The discovery was a Colt 1908, manufactured in 1921, nestled inside an abandoned exhaust vent. It wasn’t merely a historical artifact; the pistol was fully loaded, cradling a full magazine of ammunition frozen in time. The find occurred within the walls of Illinois’s oldest standing brewery, a building steeped in history and shadowed by legend.
Historical accounts reveal the brewery’s dark past. During Prohibition, the building fell under the control of the infamous Capone and Torrio families, serving as a key location for the Chicago Outfit. Established in 1857, the brewery had witnessed decades of change, but this discovery offered a chilling glimpse into its most dangerous period.
Howell recounted the moment of discovery, describing loose mortar that gave way to reveal the concealed weapon. It appeared deliberately hidden, sealed away long before the surrounding structure began to decay. The precise timing of its concealment remains a mystery, lost to the decades.
Local police were immediately contacted, and a thorough investigation ensued. Officers ran the gun’s serial number, confirming it had no recent criminal associations. More remarkably, the ammunition was identified as dating back to the 1920s, solidifying the pistol’s connection to the Prohibition era.
A wave of relief washed over Howell, mingled with a thrill of excitement. He imagined the scenarios that led to the gun being hidden, the clandestine meetings and dangerous dealings that once unfolded within those walls. He was especially grateful it was found before a visitor stumbled upon it during a tour.
This wasn’t the first intriguing artifact unearthed at the brewery. Over the years, Howell and his team have uncovered beer order postcards from the mid-1800s, full bottles of pre-Prohibition beer, and original signage buried outside the building. Each discovery adds another layer to the brewery’s rich and complex story.
The pistol will now join these treasures, becoming a centerpiece of the distillery’s growing collection. Howell anticipates showcasing the weapon alongside the other artifacts, offering visitors a tangible connection to the past. He hopes further research will unlock the secrets surrounding the gun and its previous owner, adding another chapter to the brewery’s captivating history.
