Have a little tale to tell about Grandpa. He was quite a wine maker and had a nice little vineyard south of the windmill. He made upwards of 300 gallons of wine a year. I remember my Mom saying that Grandma used to complain about all the money he spent on sugar! After he died, my brother Frank and I were up there cleaning out the barns. Frank had his John Deere tractor with a front loader on it, which he used to push manure out of the back cattle barn. He would back in all the way to the wall and push the manure out the door where we would then load it on a spreader. Lo and behold, once when he backed in, the tractor sank in as the floor caved in under the tractor. When we got the tractor out and investigated further, we discovered a well built cave under the floor. Well built with curved walls and ceiling (such as an igloo) built out of bricks. In there we found old wine casks, etc. Apparently back in the days of prohibition he built that and hid his winery in that dungeon. If I remember right, a hidden door to it was in a manger. What a surprise as no one had any idea about it. Can’t remember what we did with the casks, etc. Probably threw them out and filled in the cave with dirt. I wonder how he got by purchasing all that sugar with attracting suspicion. He would give us youngsters a small glass of wine occasionally and I remember my Mom scolding him about that but he would snap back and say it would be good for our blood. I know that it was a Concord type wine, dark bluish/red in color. Sound good?

 
 
Ray Cernik 2012
 
Go pour yourself a glass of wine!!!!!