The dream of every home renovator...

[Little Raven]

Why doesn't it ever work out this way for me?

When Nick Drummond bought a home in upstate New York to restore, he knew the walls would have some secrets - he didn't realize those secrets would end up being worth thousands of dollars.

Nick Drummond is an architect with a passion and talent for historical restoration. Last year, he and his partner left their home in Baltimore so Nick could take a position in Cooperstown and, his partner Patrick could open his own floral design shop.

When the foursquare home in Ames they had admired came up for sale - they couldn't resist. While the home needs tons of work to return it to a semblance of its former glory - it wasn't long before the home started sharing its secrets with Nick and Patrick.

Nick says when they bought the house, they were told it was built by a childless German baron who turned to bootlegging illegal liquor in the 1920s.

Nick says the story seems to be at least partly true. "While repairing trim as part of a larger renovation, we discovered multiple false walls and secret compartment under the floor in our mudroom. The foundation walls and floors in the mudroom are lined with intact cases of 1920s whiskey."

I don't know if I would want to drink any of it, but it's pretty cool regardless.

[Jaymann]

Bah, where's the German baron memorabilia?