Author Matt Bondurant, at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, says he didn't know about his family's bootlegger history until he was a . Multiple days spent hauling crops that could spoil could be reduced to one day hauling liquor that would not spoil. FCD crafts todays liquor from family recipes handed down over generations. Congress voted in favor of repeal on February 20, 1933, the Virginia General Assembly concurred on October 3, 1933, and the 21st Amendment was ratified December 5, 1933. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - Henry Lee Law is a third-generation moonshiner. They set that raid up where they have a jump man. Moonshiners would ignore these laws and continue delivering their products in motor vehicles to industrial towns like Danville, Lynchburg, and Roanoke. William B. Hopkins, Another View of the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935, VBA News Journal, p. 19 (Winter 2009/2010). Nationally, the production of corn sugar increased sixfold between 1919 and 1929. It was said that one juror in the conspiracy trial would not agree to indictments. A "white liquor" distiller in Wilkesboro was arrested in October 2009 and 929 gallons of moonshine was confiscated. "Then," Greer said, "it simply disappears from the face of the earth.". A fun bit of history for you: TCDs owner and Master Distiller is the grandson of James Walter Peg Hatcher, one of those convicted in The Great Moonshine Conspiracy on 1935., Learn More: Twin Creeks Distillery Craft Spirits >. And, in fact, theres a country right here in the Old Dominion that lays claim to being the Moonshine Capital of the World. James Forrest Bondurant (21 November 1901-4 December 1965) was an American Prohibition -era gangster and one of the three Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Virginia. But crafting spirits was not only a pastime for poor rural farmers; middle and upper class Americans on the eastern seaboard were known to build large dedicated stillhouses; George Washington even made his own liquor commercially at Mount Vernon, and you can still visit this distillery today! Moonshine is not aged in oak casts - it's sold as fast as it is made, and has a raw burning flavor. During the period of the movie shotgun shells were made of thick paper with a metal bottom for the primer. [2] Franklin County is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The third moonshine distillery to open in the county, Finally, if youre visiting Southern Virginia, plan a stop at, in Mecklenburg County, run by one of the grandsons of the legendary Bondurant brothers. Having run out of clues, Greer has placed a classified ad in the Roanoke Greer said anyone with clues may contact him at 703-483-5700. with the jury in the conspiracy case. The federal government suggested it had been defrauded $5.5 million in excise whisky taxes ($95 million in today's money), and thus brought forth the "Great Moonshine Conspiracy" trial of 1935. Greer said a review of the trial transcript - prepared for the appeal of Across the nation, farmers did not share in the economic prosperity of the early 1920s. Ironically, drinking in public became socially acceptable for women in speakeasies and private clubs; whereas before, women would not enter a saloon, unless like Carrie Nation, it was to smash the liquor. After roughly a year, Bailey was allegedly able to uncover a complex system driven by bribery and extortion, in which distillers would supposedly pay local sheriffs for protection from federal law enforcement agencies. Before World War I the Bondurants made a good living selling moonshine, but now Prohibition has arrived and there are new problems on the horizon for those in that business. Casey L. Higgins is a writer, editor, content consultant, and social media strategist working in the realms of travel and small business. upon it yet.". Events The Afternoon Tea At This British-Themed Tearoom In Virginia Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Virginia Hotel For Decades, This Rustic Barn Restaurant In Virginia Serves Up Heaping Helpings Of Delicious Cooking, The Incredible Place In Virginia That Was Once Part Of The Underground Railroad, Virginias 5 Spookiest Old Asylums Still Standing Today, Youll Want To Spend More Time In This Historic Crabbing Town In Virginia, 17 Tiny Towns In Virginia Where HUGE Things Happened, The Historic Christ Church In Alexandria, Virginia Is Older Than The Declaration Of Independence, Franklin County is considered the moonshine capital of the world. Mountaineers could use wood, a cheap fuel. Greer, a Rocky Mount lawyer who retired last year after practicing for 42 Im Milton Thomas Coopers youngest son. Franklin County Crafted Spirits We use age-old distilling methods and locally sourced goods. So, if you run away from the jump man for about 100 yards there would be 10 -15 men out there in a half-moon, youre caught. However, many people may not realize that it has strong roots in Virginia. Download our FREE Savings Pass to easily access discounts to local attractions, restaurants, & shops! , located in the mountains of Virginia, came to be known as the Moonshine Capital of the World due to the regions heavy involvement in the illegal moonshine industry that occurred during Prohibition? He even Eventually, local Sheriff D. Wilson Hodges and others realized that they could profit from the moonshine trade by imitating the practices of big city rings. While FCD mightve been the first licensed since Prohibition, TCD made the first sale. Ninety-nine out of every 100 residents were believed to play a part in the industry during the 1920s. The stills found during a raid would then be destroyed using axes or sticks of dynamite. The agricultural aspects of the communities and a lack of roads to transport produce grown on the lands to other parts of the state resulted in an abundance of fruits and grains to use in the distilling process. An article in the Winter 2009/2010 edition of VBA News Journal penned by Lees nephew, William B. Hopkins, suggests Lee was thrown under the bus, as he was simply following orders that came directly from Virginia Governor John Garland Pollard. We've got Law-theme t-shirts and hats ($18 each). , where you can sample moonshine, fruit brandies, and White Whiskey, the distillerys pure, unaged corn liquors available in 90- and 100-proof. Law said he got a thrill out of it, especially after getting away from the law. Or are they? The photo shows a shotgun in one hand, pointing at young man in center (holding a gun or jug of Shine) , and another young man pointing a pistol at center man also (Holding small handgun), also 2 young men on . Without you the fans and teams we couldn't keep this track going as we head into our 54th season of racing in 2022. Paul, who presided at the trial. one defendant - could shed new light on the conspiracy trial and on a The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935 resulted in little real effect on illegal liquor production in Franklin County, Virginia. White Lightning. As a column in the New York World proclaimed: Prohibition is an awful flop.We like it.It can't stop what it's meant to stop.We like it. If you are traveling, we recommend calling to be sure we can meet you! 5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on moonshine producers and runners in Franklin County. Two-way radios had not yet been invented, so evading capture was still possible for moonshiners with fast vehicles who knew the winding country roads along their route. As the Temperance movement made headway, local options allowed localities to prohibit alcohol (dry counties). Moonshining is concentrated in the mountains for several reasons, but primarily because there's a centuries-old tradition of converting corn crops into whiskey to simplify transport for sale outside of the region. Thank you! The origins of NASCAR are linked with the development of skilled driving to elude revenue agents and transport the untaxed, illegal liquor from the mountains to the final market in coastal cities. Dismiss, Click Here to View FCD's Live Virtual Tour, 25156 Highway 220, Franklin County, VA 24065. At that point, the rebellion dissolved and pardons were quickly issued for most participants.4. in Harrisonburg. After a grueling two-month trial, the verdict was finally made public on July 1, 1935. The movie and book both tell the tales of the Bondurant brothers and their bootlegging enterprise in Virginias mountains. Franklin County went from 77 legal distilleries in 1893-1894 to 16 in 1906 to one in 1911 and none in 1917. Prillaman whose family has been making moonshine in Franklin County since the late 1800s oversees the distilling of Twin Creeks' seven liquors, which include a corn whiskey, fruit brandies. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains. "In one county (Franklin) it is claimed 99 people out of 100 are making, or have some connection to illicit liquor." - Official Records of the Commission of Law Enforcement and Observance 1935, Vol. Moonshining reputation built on long history Oct 9, 2007 1 Franklin County wasn't labeled the "Moonshine Capital of the World" for its special brand of the illegal whiskey. Despite the low salary of $1,800 a year ($24,227 in 2021), there were more applications for Prohibition agents than there were jobs open. Before Prohibition took effect, many wealthy Americans, including politicians and business leaders who had voted or supported the dry position, began stockpiling enough liquor to last through their lifetimes. [2] Bailey's case took roughly two years to build, and charged the defendants with 68 separate counts of illegal activity related to the production of untaxed moonshine whisky. You have to realize that in Southwestern Virginia and down into North Carolina and Tennessee, moonshine has a heritage that has made the area what it is today. For Franklin County, moonshining is a family business, and one of the most notorious families is the Law family. Franklin County remained wet and voted 1,373 against statewide prohibition with 1,079 for. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Our family has deep ties to whisky making in the hills of Franklin County, Virginia. He was charged with perjury after state and Federal agencies cooperated in Operation Lightning Strike and broke up three moonshining rings that produced nearly 500,000 gallons of untaxed liquor between 1992-1999. Select a Rating! Using the tax rate instituted in 1920, moonshiners in Franklin County would have generated $5.5 million in taxes between 1930-1935 if they had legally sold their products. However, the drys won the state, and under the Mapp Act, Virginia began statewide prohibition in 1916, three years before the 18th Amendment instituted national Prohibition. NASCAR might not have acquired many drivers from Virginias illegal moonshine trade, but one such driver who did come from this background was Wendell Oliver Scott, a Black American racer from Danvilles Crooktown section. accounts. In fact, the Temperance Movement that led to Prohibition was supported by a diverse range of progressives and womens rights advocates as well as religious conservatives in part because of the amount of excessive drinking and the resulting violence. Small wonder that Franklin County farmers and business owners saw no need to stop making a product that was still in demand and even more profitable than before the 18th Amendment went into effect. Good people looking to have a good time when moonshine was prohibited in Southwest Virginia. Robert Bondurant, grandson of Franklin County's most famous moonshiner, is reviving the family legacy of making moonshine in Bondurant Brothers Distillery. The prosecution summoned 176 witnesses, most of which (if not all) were convicted criminals, versus the defense's 69, taking roughly 10 weeks for the entirety of the testimonies to be heard. Im sure to protect the names of some very prominent people that were involved at the time. We'll go through this sugar rather quickly, said Bobby Cobbs of Virginia Baptist Children's Home and Family Services, adding that . In . Plus, the spent grains left over from the distilling process could be fed to cows, pigs, and other livestock. 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