Two workers named Lukas Nielsen and Leo Kimble discovered a beer bottle while working at the Michigan Central Station.
Inside the vintage beer bottle was a mysterious message dated 1913. The letter is believed to have been penned by two men named Smith and Hogan, who were workers involved in the original construction of the station in 1913.
An Unexpected Discovery!
The station, located on the bustling Corktown street in Detroit, opened its doors in 1913. This station features sparkling marble floors, a soaring vaulted ceiling, and elaborate decorative tiles. After closing in 1980 due to economic decline, the city announced plans to restore the station’s grand hall for public use.
While Lukas Nielsen and Leo Kimble were clearing out old furnishings from the waiting room, they uncovered a Stroh’s Bohemian beer bottle hidden behind a layer of plaster.
Finding cigarette packs and discarded beer bottles is not unusual for construction workers. Daily, crew members discover various items trapped within the walls. However, this case was something entirely different.
What excited the construction workers was that inside the beer bottle was a handwritten note. The date on the beer bottle was July 19, 1913, coinciding with the commencement of construction for the Michigan Central Station.
Two workers discovered an old Stroh’s Bohemian beer bottle at Michigan Station.
Located in Detroit, Michigan, the Michigan Central Station was built in 1913 to serve the old Michigan and Amtrak railway systems. The station eventually closed due to deteriorating infrastructure and significant vandalism. Since then, it has been largely abandoned, although it has become a favorite location for filmmakers of horror and action movies such as Transformers, The Island, and Four Brothers.
The Contents of the Letter
According to a demolition worker named Nelson, “it’s fascinating to discover something like an old beer bottle; it holds a 108-year-old message.” In fact, when paper is shielded from rain, extreme temperatures, or mold, it can last for hundreds of years. In this case, the paper was well insulated inside the glass beer bottle, allowing it to remain almost intact.
Upon discovering the letter, Nielsen and Kimble were eager to open the beer bottle and read the hidden message within the rolled paper. However, the two construction workers were stopped by Ford’s archivists. Nielsen also added that “if we wanted to get the paper out, the quickest way would be to smash the beer bottle.” Therefore, they handed the beer bottle over to the project leader.
Later, the letter was carefully opened by experts. However, its contents have not been disclosed, and it is known that the letter mentions dates. The names of the individuals who left this message were identified as “Smith” and “Hogan.”
All facilities at Michigan Central Station were closed in 1967.
The construction of the Michigan Central Station began in 1913 as a major transport hub. The primary purpose of building this station was to accommodate a large number of passengers at one time. However, after World War II, many services from the station were cut as they faced a significant decline in passenger numbers. All facilities at Michigan Central Station were closed in 1967.
According to David Kampo, the project director working for Christman-Brinker, the beer bottle was intentionally placed there with the hope that someone would find it in the future.
Currently, the paper containing the mysterious message is well-preserved. Ford’s archivists have secured it in a special, temperature-controlled space to ensure it is not damaged. First, the paper will be re-moistened and then preserved in a special conservation box.
According to Ted Ryan, Ford’s Brand and Heritage Director: “The most important thing to do is to slow down the degradation of the paper.” He also added, “With the bottle, that’s easy since it’s glass, but we also have to ensure the rest of the label isn’t damaged. It’s like the pieces of a classic car.”
The vintage beer bottle with the mysterious message is not the first item discovered by the construction team. While this particular case has garnered significant attention, other items have previously been found at the old central station during Ford’s redevelopment process. In fact, approximately 200 historical artifacts have been discovered by construction workers.
While demolishing the walls, workers uncovered several items left behind by construction crews from a century ago. Some of the items found at the station include children’s shoes branded Coloso, a Burroughs Series P adding machine, and a railroad lantern manufactured by Adams & Westlake Co. Other discovered items included buttons from Finck’s “Detroit Special” denim overalls, old tickets, and plates…
All artifacts discovered during the construction, including the vintage beer bottle and message, will be transferred to a storage space at Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. These storage spaces have been specially built to ensure that all these historical items are carefully preserved.
