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HISTORY The Rock Saloon was built between 1890 - 1892 of local stone quarried from the mountain behind the saloon and red brick made locally on East Elk Creek just north of town. The upstairs housed gaming and ladies of the night. In 1893 it was said to have had a grocery store on the west half of the building. 1900 an addition, called a pastime, was added on to the back of the saloon for billiards and cards. It was also used for dancing and meetings. When this addition was built a loading dock also was constructed behind it near the alley where the beer and whisky was unloaded for the saloon. Under the addition a trench like walk way was dug for access to the saloon, beer kegs were unloaded, then rolled through the trench to the saloon. The beer kegs were stored below the building to keep them cool. A small floor (cellar type) door was placed at the back of the billiard room where the bartender could gain access. This door remains today as part of the building history and so does the trench still exist today. Supposedly the trench was also used as a shooting gallery. The upstairs remained for the ladies of the night. It is known to have been a saloon up to 1910 but cloudy from then to 1928. In 1928 it became the US Post Office for New
Castle and remained the post office until 1985. Antiques Etc. has occupied the old Rock Saloon since 1991.
Visit these sites for more history about New Castle and our area:
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