Moonshine Still 1936, Tennessee Valley Authority records, NARA ID 280136.
Busted! From USA vs. Fannie Rosen and Samuel Rosen, NARA ID 294957.
ICYMI: National MOONSHINE Day!
By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs
We belatedly honor #National Moonshine Day (June 2) with records from our inestimable holdings!
During prohibition, moonshine was manufactured not just in the rural Appalachia mountains, but even in the city of Los Angeles! No small feat given that fire is needed to heat the mash so the alcohol can turn into vapor, and the fire can spread rapidly. Just that happened to Sam and Fannie Rosen, and the The National Archives at Riverside shared the story.
When the fire broke out the fire department showed up and found a mooneshine still. They called the police, the police called the Federal Prohibition Agents who got a warrant. Prohibition agent W. J. Mosher reported from the Rosen's home at 1015 ½ Sunset Blvd.: 1 still, three 5 gallon kegs, one 10 gallon keg liquor, one 5 gallon glass jug jackass brandy, 1 ž gallon glass jug wine, 1 funnel, and 2 pieces of rubber tubing.Â
These pictures were presented as evidence in USA vs. Fannie Rosen and Samuel Rosen. They were convicted of violating the 1919 Prohibition Act, both got six months in jail and a $500 fine. U.S. District Court for the Southern District CA criminal case number 3833).NARA ID 294957.
GOV'T CAUTIONARY TALE: One Time Too Often
Narrated by actor Raymond Burr this 1969 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms crime drama shows Treasury Agents chasing down moonshine bootleggers and features a gun battle and car chase as a saxophone wails on the soundtrack!
Arrested for running Moonshine "Booze Joint"!
Inmate File of Hays Cronkright, 1929, Bureau of Prisons, NARA ID 30624178
Patent Drawing for a Still, 7/12/1808, NARA ID 149285661.
Related National Archives exhibit:
Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History
See also:
Mortal Moonshine: Treasury Agents Take On Backwoods Bootleggers, The Unwritten Record blog.
Records of the Bureau of Prohibition, National Archives at Seattle
The Volstead Act, DocsTeach
Prohibition and the Rise of the American Gangster, Pieces of History
Prohibition and the Rise of the American Gangster, Pieces of History