2008 Woodie Awards
Book shines light on Stearns'illegal past
Dana Johnson
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Intermission
- Page 1 of 2 next >
From 1920 to 1933, the United States had the largest social-political divide since the Civil War.
The years leading up to the Prohibition Era, counties had to quickly decide if they wanted to be "dry" or "wet" (with alcohol legal or not). For years on end, Stearns County voted wet by a landslide up until the U.S. government stopped allowing them to vote and made all alcohol illegal in 1920.
This is the interesting history of Stearns County that Elaine Davis's new book, "Minnesota 13," sheds light on. Davis is the great-granddaughter of one of the founders of the city of Albany, and she found many family ties in this era while doing research. She spent about a year and half at all of Stearns County's history centers to find the information.
During Prohibition, Stearns County, and some of the surrounding counties as well, were known for making the finest moonshine (whiskey) in the country. The whiskey was referred to as Minnesota 13.
"Minnesota 13 was considered the 'Dom Perignon' of moonshine and was served in the highest-class speakeasies from Los Angeles to New York," says the book, referring to the level of fame the whiskey developed.
The book goes into great detail about the history behind this illegal activity and what drove so many Minnesota communities to overlook its operations. The number of families who privately brewed the whiskey is much larger than anyone would think.
During the war, farming communities in America had to support Europe once the war ended. The price of farming land dropped significantly. By the time Prohibition set in, a calf sold for $5 and a gallon of moonshine sold for $5.
It was a lot easier to make moonshine than it was to raise cattle. These basic incentives gave every American a temptation to make and sell moonshine despite the risks.
The book also looks at the fact that a large percentage of Stearns County had German and Catholic roots. The German community already knew how to make good moonshine because alcohol was part of their culture and everyday lives.
The years leading up to the Prohibition Era, counties had to quickly decide if they wanted to be "dry" or "wet" (with alcohol legal or not). For years on end, Stearns County voted wet by a landslide up until the U.S. government stopped allowing them to vote and made all alcohol illegal in 1920.
This is the interesting history of Stearns County that Elaine Davis's new book, "Minnesota 13," sheds light on. Davis is the great-granddaughter of one of the founders of the city of Albany, and she found many family ties in this era while doing research. She spent about a year and half at all of Stearns County's history centers to find the information.
During Prohibition, Stearns County, and some of the surrounding counties as well, were known for making the finest moonshine (whiskey) in the country. The whiskey was referred to as Minnesota 13.
"Minnesota 13 was considered the 'Dom Perignon' of moonshine and was served in the highest-class speakeasies from Los Angeles to New York," says the book, referring to the level of fame the whiskey developed.
The book goes into great detail about the history behind this illegal activity and what drove so many Minnesota communities to overlook its operations. The number of families who privately brewed the whiskey is much larger than anyone would think.
During the war, farming communities in America had to support Europe once the war ended. The price of farming land dropped significantly. By the time Prohibition set in, a calf sold for $5 and a gallon of moonshine sold for $5.
It was a lot easier to make moonshine than it was to raise cattle. These basic incentives gave every American a temptation to make and sell moonshine despite the risks.
The book also looks at the fact that a large percentage of Stearns County had German and Catholic roots. The German community already knew how to make good moonshine because alcohol was part of their culture and everyday lives.