This photograph from about 1905 shows what remained of the Forestville distillery, which had closed in 1864.

Built of hewn logs, board-and-batten covered gables and split-oak shingles, the distillery was opened on the south side of town in 1856 by Robert Douglas, Rueben Odell and Felix Meighen. It supplied local residents with pure rye whiskey. The distillery included a copper boiler, a still worm, pine wash tubs, another water boiler, worm tub, bubbler and 50 feet of wooden steam pipes. Although not much is known about this enterprise, it ceased production in 1864 because of a tax imposed on whiskey distillers to help finance the Civil War.

One historical source also suggests that this building was used as a cooperage, or place where barrels and casks were made. Whether these two related functions occurred at the same time is not known.