Wet or Dry? McLean County During Prohibition The Face of Prohibition…..
George “Bugs” Moran, leader of North Side Gang in Chicago
Al Capone, leader of the South Side Gang in Chicago, IL The Purple Gang of Detroit The Face of Prohibition in McLean County… ? Temperance: The Roots of Prohibition
Unknown Temperance Group, Cooksville, circa 1898-1900 Local Supporters of Temperance
Edwin Hewett
Jesse Fell
Anna Clifford Read
John McClun Bloomington Goes Dry—1854/1855
Newly elected Mayor of Bloomington, Franklin Price, a staunch supporter of temperance/prohibition, enforced the prohibition ordinance that was passed in 1854. He (with assistance by local police officers) began closing saloons and raiding establishments that sold liquor illegally. This became known as Franklin Price, mayor of the Whiskey-Zootic/Whiskey Bloomington 1855-1856 Rebellion. Bloomington did not stay “dry” for very long, and was “wet” by the end of the year. Mayor Badge of Franklin Price, ca. 1855 Militant Temperance
In 1858, a group of about 60 women, armed with hatchets attacked and demolished the Buena Vista Saloon in Towanda. Instances like this would occur throughout the United States, the most famous woman noted for this was Carry Nation. Let’s try this again—Bloomington goes “Dry” on April 20,1874.
“Could we but vote ourselves, we would sweep, if possible, this traffic from the face of the earth; but as we have no voice in the election of your officers, we appeal to you, our natural protectors and guardians, in the name of God and humanity, to deliver us, through the ballot box, from one of the greatest curses that ever afflicted the race.” — Anna Clifford Read, The Pantagraph, April 24, 1874
While Bloomington voted itself dry on April 20, the ordinance did not take effect until July 1 because city officials kept delaying it. However, it would not last. City officials did little to enforce the ordinance and it was rescinded six months later. Town of Normal was founded “dry” A petition which “every man, woman and child of six years or older” who resided in the soon to be founded Town of Normal, signed banning the sale of liquor within the city limits. Not only was the sale of alcohol banned in Normal, but Normalites were prohibited from possessing liquor in their “cellar, dwelling, outhouse, or any other place in town.” This ban on liquor lasted until the 21st amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933. The Town of Normal was “wet” from then until residents voted 2 to 1 to go dry again on March 4, 1935. The Daily Pantagraph- May 16, 1948 Mrs. Inez Dunn of the McLean County Historical Society looks over the long petitions which were a major factor in keeping liquor out of Normal for all but 9 months of the past 80 years. William Ashley “Billy” Sunday
Billy Sunday was in Bloomington from December 27, 1907 to February 3, 1908 to preach the gospel and preach against the evils of society, in particular against alcohol. His most famous sermon; “Booze, or Why Don’t You Get On The Water Wagon,” was given on February 2, 1908. “Whiskey and beer are alright in their place, but their place is in hell.”- Billy Sunday Billy Sunday’s Tabernacle Located at the corner of Main and Olive Streets in Bloomington Billy Sunday’s Water Wagon
This picture was taken outside of the McLean County courthouse on the 100 block of West Jefferson. However on April 4, 1908, the “drys” could not muster up enough votes. The “wets” defeated them by 392 votes.
During this same election, over 1,000 other townships in Illinois voted to go dry. Fifteen hundred saloons closed throughout the state, including 10 in McLean County. Bloomington was now an “oasis” in a very dry desert.
Daily Pantagraph, April 9, 1908 Third time’s a charm? Bloomington goes dry April 8, 1914.
Because women in Illinois won limited voting rights in 1913, they helped “dry” Bloomington out.
Daily Pantagraph April 9, 1914 “Dry Bloomington” was short lived—the town returns to its wet ways on April 5, 1916.
Daily Pantagraph April 3, 1916 One more time! Bloomington Goes “Dry,” April 2, 1918
The Daily Pantagraph reported that if women had not voted, the city would have remained wet. 4,129 women and 2, 481 men voted for Bloomington to go Dry. A ticking time clock has started…
While “Wartime Prohibition” did go into effect on June 30, 1919 (which banned the sale of beer and alcoholic beverages that had an alcohol content greater than 2.75%) and 26 of the 48 states bad already banned alcohol, the 18th Amendment did not go into effect until January 17, 1920. John Barelycorn is Dead! Nation-wide Prohibition Declared Law of the Land on January 17, 1920
On the eve of Prohibition in 1920, a mournful toast is raised around John Barleycorn's coffin. The Battle Begins…. Clever Hiding Places…..
This unknown woman displays a flask hidden in her garter in 1926 This unknown man is hiding some booze underneath his porch. Tools of the Trade….
A harmless doll……. Or a bootleggers tool to hide hooch? A household canister or a method of concealing home brew? Moonshine anyone?
Used by Bootleggers to make moonshine during the Prohibition Era, according to the donor this still was used in the Hudson area.
Was the still broken intentionally by law enforcement or the bootlegger who used it? Violence and Prohibition: Capshaw/Mendina Murder Suicide
On December 26, 1928, bootlegger Sam Capshaw was murdered by Henry Mendina, a laborer who worked sporadically for the Chicago and Alton Railroad. According to witness statements, Mendina killed Capshaw because Capshaw refused to sell him a pint of whiskey. Capshaw is buried in Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington Booze across our borders… Upholding the Law…..
This police officer is guarding a large haul of beer, whiskey, and home brew in New Jersey, 1920 Local Law Enforcement- fighting a losing battle?
The sheriff's men lined up behind a successful haul in front of the Old McLean County Jail, located at Madison and Monroe Streets in 1926. “Red Light District” ca 1960s
Most of what was Bloomington’s Red Light District “often called ‘The Line’” is long gone, having been demolished the streets reconfigured. Today, Wright Street, MacArthur Ave (which was Moulton Street), as well as Elm and East Streets, no longer run through this redesigned superblock. Wood Hill Urban Renewal Project covers a great deal of what was there. An unknown photographer took this photo of the Moulton Street Red Light District in the early 1960s. Alcohol was not the only crime associated with Prohibition…
A picture of local law enforcement destroying slot machines at a gambling house. Alcohol was often found at these gambling joints as well.
Residency of violators of Prohibition related crimes in the McLean County Jail sample of 873 violators from Jan 16, 1920 to Jan 1, 1926
A bootlegger or grocery delivery person? Soda Parlor or a Gin Joint? Opinions on Prohibition: The “Wet” Voice…
The “Dry” Voice… Before noon on Friday, April 7, 1933, two trucks loaded with beer arrived in Bloomington. Holding bottles of beer from the first shipment were Herman Steage, James Johnson, C. Wilson and James Smith. Beer and wine were once again allowed to be manufactured and sold before Prohibition officially ended on December 5, 1933. Prohibition Comes To An End… Happy Days Are Here Once Again… The Pantagraph December 17, 1933 Or are they?