Civil War-era derrick crane found in Connecticut trash heap

In a trash heap in Middletown, CT, state department of transportation workers discovered an old piece of equipment that has since been determined to be a Civil War-era hand-operated derrick crane that was used to load and unload freight. Made of cast iron, the rusted machine had been sitting in the junk pile for decades, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

Not sure what to do with the old relic, the DOT ended up donating it to the Connecticut Eastern Rail Museum. While it was discovered about six months ago, the crane was just moved in January. Reportedly, the museum will have the crane restored and will use it as an exhibit.

An old hand-operated derrick crane was discovered in a junk pile in Middletown, CT. The crane, which was donated to a rail museum and will be restored as an exhibit, is thought to date back to the mid-1860s