The Old Still Traditional Cache
Wis Kid: As this cache has exceeded the limits for temporary disabled caches, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, I'll be happy to unarchive it.
Wis Kid - Volunteer Reviewer
wiskid1@gmail.com
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Welcome to the ruins of the Denis Prevost farm. Watch your step among the debris.
Back in the day this was the source of some of the finest 'shine known to these parts. When the present plantation was originally tilled by the county forestry service, containers were found stashed about the property and, naturally, the contents had to be sampled and tested using the best methods available at the time, a whiff and a sip. Or two...
The still itself was not located here but many bottles of whiskey passed through on their way to buyers elsewhere. Denis and his three sons, Alfred, Leo and Reil produced their spirits in the seclusion of nearby swamps and forests and distributed it at least as far as Superior. The concrete you see here is what remains of the barn. The northwest corner is where the milk seperarating room was located and from there was access to a small chamber which was kept concealed. Inside, shelves of whiskey were stored.
Today there's a new container stashed on the property. I've included the usual logbook and pencil, a clever little booklight, a couple rubber pencils, a toy car and a pamphlet describing the ski trails that wind through the forest all around this spot. Please leave the pamphlet for others to read - you can get a fresh copy in Solon Springs at the Douglas County Forestry Office, just north of the pond, a couple blocks south of Prevost's Restaurant & Bar (established around '34 or '35 by Reil). Sorry, they don't sell locally produced spirits there.
Please keep the cache blended into it's surroundings so the revenuers don't find it.
If you're not pressed for time, point yourself east and go to N 46° 17.334 W 091° 48.082 where you will find the ruins of the farmhouse.
Although best known for his whiskey, Denis Prevost was primarily a farmer. There were chicken coops to the south of the house, hogs were kept southwest of the barn and a large herd of cows was tended in the barn where milk and whiskey passed within a few feet of each other on their way to their respective destinations. He also developed the first hydroelectric power in northern wisconsin by building a generating and distribution system in Solon Springs.
To the northwest of the house was a blacksmith shop, east of that was the icehouse and next in line, to the north of the house was the outhouse. Southwest of the house was the pumphouse. What remains now is the cellar of the house, the remains of the blacksmith shop, the well casing and a short concrete wall which was part of the pumphouse, and the barn foundation.
In 1937, Alfred Prevost bought the corner property west of here on the highway. At the time the site was occupied by a little white shack and a single gas pump. Alfred excavated a basement and hauled rocks from Lake Superior to build the structure that still stands there to this day. The original shack walls were used for the northwest corner of the interior of the new building.
Many thanks to C. C. for contributing some very interesting history.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
N pbssrr pna rapnfrq va pbapergr.