The "Römerbrunnen" (Roman Fountain), which nowadays is a restaurant, was originally built as a whey-house. Whey was a popular cure around 1855 and contributed considerably to the popularity of the sophisticated spa town. The pharmacist, Dr Julius Hoffmann, had visited Switzerland and brought a dairyman back with him. Dressed in his national costume, the dairyman served whey made from goat's milk every day between 6:00 am and 9:00 am. It was first served to spa guests at the Orangery, then in the whey house, until then a fairly primitive building with stables. In 1882, the construction of a proper dairy in the style of a Swiss chalet was undertaken. It including a café and stables. During the spa season, the dairyman, a Mr Peter Herrsche from Appenzell, lived in the attic of the new building. Spa guests enjoyed the fresh goat's whey with coffee and cake.
