BUCYRUS – A hidden gem in the heart of downtown is slowly coming to life.
A place of notoriety. Packed with history. And full of folklore.
The city’s speakeasy, which is in the basement of the Crazy Fox Saloon at 112 W. Mansfield St., is opening its doors for the first time in years Friday, July 21, for members of the Colonel Crawford High School Class of 1988, whose 35th reunion is Saturday.
“The speakeasy is something people are intrigued by,” said Elaine Gebhardt Naples, a member of the graduating class and host of the special event. “Old-timers didn’t even want to talk about it back in the day. But it’s an amazing amenity.”
The underground bar was one of many that sprouted up across the country during the Prohibition Era. A secret place to have a drink and socialize back in the 1920’s and early 1930’s when the federal government banned alcohol production and consumption.
The establishment, which boasts a 90-foot-long wooden bar, is said to have been a regular stop for notorious crime boss Al Capone nearly 100 years ago – a midway point on his frequent train rides from Chicago to New York City, Naples said.
“It’s an amazing amenity. It fits the time period,” said Naples, who has a deep affinity for her hometown – and its history. “It’s really in pretty good shape. The booths are in pristine condition.”
Brian Rockwell now owns the five-story brick building, which dates to 1916. He bought it in 2017 from Larry Williams and has spruced up both the saloon and the former Historic Weaver Hotel. “The building has a lot of history and I always liked that.”
The speakeasy, Rockwell said, is accessed by an elevator. But back in the day, two secret tunnels – one on the north and south sides of the building – provided passageways for patrons. They have since been sealed off, he said.
Naples said speakeasies – often hidden behind a door in a restaurant or hotel – have become a trend in recent years. “Speakeasies are just all the rage now. They’re popping up all over. And to think we actually have a real speakeasy here in town.”
Naples, who served on the city’s Bicentennial Commission in 2021, organized a mixology class at the speakeasy as one of several Bicentennial events. But she was forced to do the session online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For her class get-together, she plans to decorate the tavern with lights and hang up prohibition-related articles. She has even invited other CCHS alumni. “It will be great to have people down there. My classmates have no idea, absolutely no idea.”
“My spin on this, my angle, is that it’s an underutilized place. I just think it could be lively and exciting,” said Naples, who recently visited a modern-day speakeasy in Las Vegas. “I’m passionate about promoting positive and interesting things in our town.”
And down the road?
Rockwell said plans to tear out the dance floor of the Crazy Fox this fall and add a few more tables. But the century-old underground bar, with its dim lighting, thick brick walls, and prohibition vibe, will remain intact.
“I believe in history,” said the 61-year-old owner, who also gives tours of the former drinking establishment. “I believe in leaving it alone. Let people see how it was.”