Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog

Monday, February 14, 2022

Prohibition in Western Kentucky

A repeat of a post from the archives of the Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, 21 Aug 2014.

The United States became a different place in January 1920 when the 18th Amendment went into effect. No longer could people legally manufacture, transport or sell alcoholic beverages. The Amendment wasn't passed suddenly. The country had been leaning more and more toward prohibition for many years. It seemed to be what folks wanted ... Well, some folks wanted it. Others didn't plan to give up their alcohol and if it could not be bought, they would just make it themselves.

Shortly after the 18th Amendment was passed, articles about raids on hidden stills began to appear in the newspapers, including those in western Kentucky. In July 1920, Hopkinsville Constable Claxton and two other men "secured 46 gallons of moonshine liquor which was being transported in a high power automobile."[1] In a scene straight out of the movies, a getaway was made with one man balanced on the running board of the car with the back seat loaded high with kegs and glass jars of liquor.

Another raid was made by lawmen on the old Thomas O'Nan farm south of Corydon, Kentucky and captured a 30 gallon moonshine still with 3 1/2 barrels of corn mash and a gallon jar half full of "white liquor." [2] The "operators" were not captured, but the still was taken to the courthouse in Henderson to be viewed by anyone wanting to see an operating still.

Constable Bob Adamson and Deputy Charlie Bob Sanders of the Bells Mines community of Crittenden County, Kentucky captured a large moonshine still along with two gallons of "white mule," which was delivered to county authorities in Marion. [3] Before daylight, the lawmen went to where they thought the still was being operated, but a sentinel on the opposite hill saw them and fired two shots. The constable and his deputy made a dash for the still and the operators ran off. Shots were fired, including one that passed through the Constable's hat, but the still operators got away. Their identities were unknown. The lawmen found three gallons of moonshine and brought two gallons to town. The other gallon container was broken and the contents lost. Hmmm.

The 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933, ending one of the more colorful eras of our country's history.

[1] "Hold Up Truck Load of Booze," Evansville Courier, 2 July 1920, p. 19.

[2] "Find Still But Not the Operators," Evansville Press, 28 September 1921, p. 2.

[3] "Still Captured Near Bells Mines," Crittenden Press, 20 June 1924, unknown page.

A repeat publication on 14 Feb 2022.

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Salem Shops Shut on Sundays in 1836

Blue Laws are nothing new in Kentucky. Even in the 1830s merchants banded together to keep stores and shops closed on the Sabbath. The following Article of Agreement among merchants, mechanicks, grocery and tavern keepers was found among loose county clerk's papers in Livingston County. The following document was first published here on 31 Jan 2013.

"We the undersigned traders & Merchants of the town of Salem, Ky. for the purpose of correcting some degree the pernicious practice of Opening Shops, Stores, &c on Sunday, do obligate ourselves to close & keep closed our doors on the Sabath, & in all cases refuse to trade with any who may come to town on said day to loiter & drink. And do further agree unanimously to present any Grocery, Store or Shop that persists in so unholy & unlawful practice in Salem. June 7, 1836. The above obligation is not to prevent the furnishing of medicin Shrouds &c Sent for by the sick or required for the Dead. [signed] Greer & William, [?] Johnson, G. Robertson, [?] Richardson & Greer, Jos. Watts, Bayliss & McCrosky, Joseph Watts & Co., H.M. Woods, Given Williams & Given, R. & W.U. Hodge, Bass & Williams."

Published again on 30 Jan 2022

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Singing For Better Weather

This post on the weather comes from previously published posts of the Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog. Somehow it seems appropriate. The only thing missing was a pandemic.

After a couple of years with mild winters, those of us living in the middle part of our country had almost forgotten what a real winter was like. Mother Nature hastened to remind us the middle of this month when she sent us bone-chilling temperatures and several inches of snow.

The winter of 1950 cut a swath of destruction across the country– from tornadoes in the south, a paralyzing blanket of slush in the midwest and snow and ice dumped on the northeast. The tornadoes killed 48 people and injured hundreds.

When two large rain-swollen rivers meet and merge, a flood is sure to happen. The result in 1950 was an inundated business district with part of the residential area being covered by water, too. Part of Smithland had been flooded since early January. [1]

The residents of Smithland, Kentucky knew how to deal with disaster when their options were few.

“From the Pacific Northwest to New England, the northern half of the nation was barraged by almost every weapon in winter’s book – snow, rain, freezing drizzle, high winds and sub-zero temperatures.

“Flood refugees at tiny Smithland, Ky., held a community sing to bolster their spirits. More than 200 people sang “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More” and “River Stay way From My Door” as the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers, which join near the town, climbed steadily higher …

“The Red Cross served coffee, donuts and punch, and county clerk Gabe McCandless reported, “Yes, sir, everybody was kinda cheered up and felt much better when the thing was over.”[2]

[1] “Where Cumberland Meets Ohio,” Evansville Press, Evansville, Indiana, Thurs., 16 Feb 1950, page 1.

[2] “Tornado – Battered Southern Sections Get Flood Misery; All Northern Half of U.S. Feels Winter,” Clinton Daily News, Clinton, Oklahoma, Tues., 24 Feb 1950, p. 1, Newspapers.com accessed 18 Feb 2021.

p.s. Don't expect new posts from now on. Maybe cabin fever is getting to me or perhaps this is a way to entertain myself on a quiet winter day.