Strategically located, patiently awaiting the onset of Prohibition.

In the 1899 time period it was rare to see a railroad freight car larger than 36 feet. The large freight car at the loading dock which looks to be 50 foot served a special purpose for Hiram Walker. Empty wood barrels used to age the whiskey were shipped to the distillery in cars like this. Curious though, empty barrels were a light load; How did it get the sway back?

I used to work in Detroit across the river from the distillery, and you could always tell when they were brewing mash - it stunk up the whole region and could best be described as 'burning hobo mattresses'.

With Detroit in the background, the only things in this picture that still exist today are the railroad tracks and the river, and POSSIBLY the building across the river with the white letter sign which might be the Parke-Davis Pharmacutical building, which still exists as the River Place condos. All of the distillery buildings have been replaced with more modern structures.