What's Really Behind the Back Building Doors at OTPH? (Spoiler: It's Not a Speakeasy or a Portal to Narnia)

If you’ve spent any time at Old Town Public House, you’ve probably noticed those mysterious doors in the back of the building — the ones quietly hiding behind amps, mic stands, and the occasional rogue tambourine.

And while we can’t confirm the presence of secret societies or hidden kegs of ancient craft beer, we can finally let you in on what’s actually lurking back there.

Ready for it?

An elevator.

But not just any elevator.

We’re talking about one of the oldest dumbbell pulley elevator systems ever made — possibly one of the earliest designs ever used in Mecklenburg county. It’s tucked away like a relic from another century, quietly connecting the top and bottom of the building long before modern staircases came along.

Back in the day, this was the only way to reach the upstairs. And there was a rule: whoever lived up there had to own the shop downstairs. 

While it’s a really neat historic feature we had to do some work when we moved in to the building in order to keep things safe. The elevator had to be fire-proofed — drywall, special paint, the works. 

Oh…and if you’ve ever wondered why we keep a few instruments and mic stands strategically blocking that door… well, that’s partly because it’s, uh, vintage, and partly because of one unforgettable moment:

Let’s just say Jess, a founding member of OTPH, once got stuck inside the elevator while working on the fireproofing and painting as described above. 

Alone. With no cell signal.

Thank goodness someone wandered in to check on some of the renovation work and came to her rescue. They had to fetch a 30-foot ladder to get her out. 

It makes us chuckle now, but at the moment it was a bit scary! 

And for those curious enough to peek even deeper — yes, there’s a full-size basement below OTPH. You can stand, walk around, and feel the cool breath of history down there. It’s not finished; it’s just good old North Carolina mud and mystery.

While a bit dusty and dirty, there’s a piece of treasure down there that looks like it fell straight off an alien spaceship — the kind that might’ve ordered one too many Galaxy IPAs at the bar and crash-landed beneath OTPH. 

But fear not, earthlings — it’s not extraterrestrial tech. That otherworldly hunk of metal is actually the original heater for the building, a relic from another era that’s been quietly keeping this old place warm long before space-aged craft brews were a thing.

So next time you’re at OTPH, sipping a local brew and tapping your foot to the music, take a moment to glance toward the back wall. Behind those doors lives a small, dusty piece of Cornelius history — a quiet reminder that even the walls here have stories to tell.

Because that’s the thing about Old Town Public House: There’s always something more behind the music.