Laws father Amos had moonshine rings that produced 500,000 gallons. Portrayed in the movie Lawless starring Shia LaBeouf as Jack Bondurant, the Bondurant Boys were Franklin County rumrunners in the 1930s. The still was discovered in 1979, by which time revenue agents estimated that it had run for several years before being discovered. They have a technique that ensures the alcohol doesnt get messed up. Sign up for travel tips and inspiration delivered right to your inbox, Many people know a little bit about the era of Prohibition in America or have at least watched films about moonshiners, such as the 2012 Hollywood drama, starring Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy, adapted from the novel. Get more stories delivered right to your email. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Franklin with Southampton county for statistical purposes. Virginia man talks about lifelong moonshine making. A famous example of this occurred in the late 1970s in Franklin County, where a moonshiner bulldozed a massive hole into a field, built an underground room with a sod-covered roof, placed cinder block headstones on top, and created a fake cemetery that they regularly mowed and placed flowers throughout. And Stanley knows a lot about the history of the moonshine in Franklin County, from the good and not-so-good. While FCD mightve been the first licensed since Prohibition, TCD made the first sale. Amos was known for his successful moonshine business. In March 1934, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control was created. 1140 Kelly Island Rd, Martinsburg, WV 25405. His goal now is to preserve the history of moonshine the good and the bad. Law said those types of interactions with the law continued throughout the early parts of his moonshine career in the 1970s. If you are traveling, we recommend calling to be sure we can meet you! conspiracy trial, scoured court records and searched state archives. into districts overseen by deputy sheriffs who were paid to protect the Source: Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, Law's Choice Wheat Whiskey. The taste may be rough, but the "kick" should be quick. If a moonshiner ran, the agents would chase them down, but most of the time, the men caught red-handed would give up without a fight; violence was a rare result for moonshine raids at the time. According to the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, agents in Floyd County alone destroyed 3,909 stills, made 1,669 arrests, and seized over 716 vehicles along with 130,717 gallons of alcohol during Prohibition. 4 talking about this. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Official Tourism Blog Of The Commonwealth Of VirginiaCopyright 2023 Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Cary St., Suite 900, Richmond, Va 23219. They became known as moonshiners or bootleggers. During Prohibition, prices ranged from $6 to $12 to as much as $25 per gallon. Moonshine has a fascinating and complicated history. Carbon dioxide is boiled away as a waste product when making distilled liquor, but trapped to keep the fizz in beer, and sparking wine (champagne). View Menu. Although the production of illegal whiskey and products used for both home brewing and distilling increased during Prohibition, dry and semi-dry politicians and civic leaders continued to support it. By 1914, Virginia voted to ban alcohol completely and the Commonwealth was completely dry of legal liquor. The trial lasted 10 weeks. 981-3324. Some did stop drinking, but others drank even more. | Stop in TODAY! 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. Fast forward to the 1700s, when the English, Germans, and Scots-Irish began immigrating to America and settling into western Virginias backcountry, where they would bring their own traditions for making homemade spirits, using fruits to make brandy and grains to produce whiskey. "This is kind of a last-chance thing," he said Friday. These citizens became known as "moonshiners," and those that lived in the mountains of western Virginia were among the first in the country. The natural thing to do is run when there is danger. "Moonshiners" will feature Tim Smith and his son J.T., along with friend . of Robert E. Lee. Eventually, 34 people would be indicted in the case, including 19 bootleggers, one corporation, and nine government employees, but when the trial finally drew to a close, the resulting convictions and punishments were surprisingly light for the crimes; jail sentences were two years or less, fines were shockingly low, and thirteen of the 34 would only receive probation. They continued selling illegal, untaxed spirits after Prohibition ended, and some still do today. Have you visited Franklin County recently? One such moonshiner in Franklin County bought an airplane so that his son could fly over their land and make sure their stills werent visible from above. The stills found during a raid would then be destroyed using axes or sticks of dynamite. Greer said. He caught my buddy and I got away, and Im like, Wow man, what a rush, Law said. And then, after the fact, is when you add your fruit or you're mixing to it, mixing with it. Race car drivers now circling around NASCAR tracks can trace the heritage of that sport to drivers carrying moonshine from mountain stills to market, using cars souped up to outrun government revenue agents. Particularly, in Franklin County, you had tearooms. 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. Set in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits. By the 1930s folks were so intertwined with moonshine that the national spotlight came to rest on Franklin County. 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. Housing units, July 1, 2021, (V2021) 28,284: Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2017-2021: 80.4%: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2017-2021 What is the streaming release date of Lawless (2012) in Germany? From the earliest colonial settlement into the industrial era of the 1800s, producing spirits became a part of life for the small rural communities of Southwestern Virginia. The feature film "Lawless," starring Gary Oldman and Shia LaBeouf, opens. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - Henry Lee Law is a third-generation moonshiner. As Reston developed and land values increased, the Bowman family moved the distillery to Spotsylvania County in 1988. Franklin County remained wet and voted 1,373 against statewide prohibition with 1,079 for. Franklin County hosts an annual. Head to the. Indeed, a good portion of the Franklin County populous was involved with moonshine even if they werent distilling or distributing. Many business leaders and politicians though it was acceptable for them to drink, but believed that excessive drinking was harmful to the working classes, so that Prohibition would be good for them by making alcohol unattainable. Just south of Roanoke on Virginia highway 220. Franklin County, Virginia is known as the Moonshine Capital of the . Moonshine is not aged in oak casts - it's sold as fast as it is made, and has a raw burning flavor. the missing court files. The Federal government needed revenue to pay for the Revolutionary War debts absorbed by the Federal government from the states, in the compromise that had resulted in the capital being located on the Potomac River. Gymnasium. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. The name Law's Choice echoed a decision he made after first asking his father to teach him the moonshining business, which at one point landed him in jail. Im sure to protect the names of some very prominent people that were involved at the time. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains. Otherwise, "white lightning" is a clear fluid with an alcohol content comparable to grain alcohol, often above 100 proof. 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. Love Virginia? . Want to know more about Virginias lesser-known history? Even worse, crime and corruption increased. What I figured out early in the game was to go back around the way the jump man came, Law said. Lawless is the story of the three Bondurant brothers from Franklin County, Virginia, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, and the runt of the litter Shia LaBoeuf. Red flags brought revenuers to southwest Virginia, and eventually sugar was bought by legitimate businesses like bakeries as a cover for the real operations. However, the growth of moonshining in Franklin County was astounding. claimed 90 people out of 100 are making or have some connection with illicit The cold mash moonshine produced at this distillery is a neutral spirit that makes for a perfectly balanced cocktail. Bondurant Store Location Franklin County VA.wmv shortcrow 9 subscribers 21K views 12 years ago The Wettest County in the World- Granville Bondurant's store location in Franklin County. Drop in for a sip or grab a bottle at your local VA ABC store. Multiple days spent hauling crops that could spoil could be reduced to one day hauling liquor that would not spoil. You can learn more about Franklin County Distilleries here and Twin Creeks Distillery right here. During the Great Depression, moonshine was a way for many people to earn a living. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 4, p. 1075 Moonshine is the general term that has been used to describe "illegal liquor," mainly corn liquor. With his wife Eliza Bridges Cooper they raised eleven children on their farm in the rolling hills of the Piedmont. The Morning Delivery DECEMBER 19, 1930 Surviving the Shoot-out Moonshine Continues Forrest Bondurant Nov. 21, 1901- Dec. 4, 1965 Heroes or Anti-heroes Before long, three of the cars reach the narrow wooden bridge We invite you to taste local history with Franklin County Distilleries. 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. The most comprehensive list of wrestling tournaments all in one place. Casey L. Higgins is a writer, editor, content consultant, and social media strategist working in the realms of travel and small business. Franklin County is known as the moonshine capital of the world. Follow along and get to know a little about bootleggin shine through the mountains and valleys of Virginias Blue Ridge. Thanks again Steve. 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. Plus, the spent grains left over from the distilling process could be fed to cows, pigs, and other livestock. 'The Untold Stories of Notorious Franklin County Moonshiner Amos Law." Follows the 6-year career of Amos Law and includes some of Henry's exploits as well. Virginias moonshine history runs deep, so its no surprise that the mountain region of Virginia still has plenty to offer when it comes to distilled spirits. CHATHAM, Va. (AP) - A father and son from Pittsylvania County will appear on a new television show about making moonshine. [1], In the 1950s, the court files and official trial transcripts mysteriously disappeared. In a 2012 Newsweek article, the younger Bondurant describes his Grandpa Jack as an imposing man while recalling taking stock of a pair of brass knuckles hanging on the wall in his grandfathers storage room. . Your email address will not be published. Tuesday, January 8, 2019 6:00 AM , where you can sample moonshine, fruit brandies, and White Whiskey, the distillerys pure, unaged corn liquors available in 90- and 100-proof. White lightning became the county's top cash crop, rolling down mountain Franklin County went from 77 legal distilleries in 1893-1894 to 16 in 1906 to one in 1911 and none in 1917. Thank you! According to members of the Bondurant family, the Bondurant Boys Forrest, Howard, and Jack - bucked the idea of paying additional protection money and were thus involved in a 1930 shoot-out with police at Maggodee Creek Bridge. Local moonshining legends kept the attention of readers, who loved tales of individuals like Mrs. Willie Carter Sharpe, who was known as the queen of Roanoke rum runners.. A visit to Franklin County is a visit to the moonshine capital of the world and the wettest county in the world.. Liquor legality has been off and on again like a bad relationship. Popular culture has long associated moonshine running with NASCAR auto racing, but in reality, very few moonshine drivers from the Blue Ridge were involved with organized racing. With the sugar, the . Explore Rocky Mount, and consider traveling The Crooked Road: Virginias Heritage Music Trail to appreciate more of the culture of the area. The roads in the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Plateau have always been poor, due to the cost of construction. It was said that one juror in the conspiracy trial would not agree to Although Prohibition was no longer in effect, illegal moonshine was still a thriving industry, as moonshiners went to great lengths to avoid paying taxes on their products. "I think there is an innocent explanation, but I haven't happened Find the cost, maps, directions, flyer and registration details all in one location. Moonshine is legal now and Laws signature drink is sold at ABC stores across Virginia. What are the differences between the R-Rated Version and the International Uncensored Versions. Cuisine: American, Bar Food. one defendant - could shed new light on the conspiracy trial and on a During Prohibition, prices ranged from $6 to $12 to as much as $25 per gallon. Casey previously wrote for Virginia is for Lovers and is excited to share her enthusiasm for family fun, outdoors, and culinary delights found in Virginia's Blue Ridge. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. But the Revolutionary War was at hand and the country needed money to pay for the care and supplies for American troops, so the government imposed a tax on alcohol. MOONSHINE EXPRESS happening at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 225 Middle School Rd,Rocky Mount,VA,United States, Rocky Mount, United States on Sat May 13 2023 at 09:00 am to 03:00 pm Ninety-nine out of every 100 residents were believed to play a part in the industry during the 1920s. His grandfather and father have. Actually, distilling boils down to tax evasion more than prohibition. Copyright 2022 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. Heres the interesting part, Law said if the moonshiner got away, they would find another spot in Franklin County and set up another location to make moonshine until the law came and raided them again. The Franklin County Moonshine Conspiracy emerged during Prohibition, when mountain settlers transformed their liquor-making craft into a huge industry. Potatoes or other starch-rich foods can be fermented to produce alcohol. was established, Virginia colonists were using corn to distill spirits along the James River. Feb 18, 2013 Updated May 14, 2019. Event starts on Saturday, 13 May 2023 and happening at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Rocky Mount, VA. Register or Buy Tickets, Price information. A federal commission set up to study The 2012 movie Lawless is set in Franklin County and portrays similar corruption. when [he] spends his evening at home or in the library . Single-batch, pot-distilled spirits made from cane and grain. But likker makin' still goes on. prisoner one week before the federal grand jury returned its conspiracy 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. Pre-Prohibition, moonshining allowed small farmers to increase profits, and for many it was the one reliable source of cash. The Franklin County, Va. Moonshine Heritage Festival will be held at Crazy Horse Marina on April. Biography Bondurant in 1931 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. Instead, the connection lay in the local garages, where mechanics used their skills to modify engines to increase speeds and suspensions to ensure better handling on the roads. We invite you to taste local history with Franklin County Distilleries. For generations, state agents have chased moonshiners in rural parts of Virginia, raiding chicken coops, tobacco barns and old warehouses for the illegal brew. 467 Franklin St Rocky Mount, VA 24151 Get directions Edit business info You Might Also Consider Sponsored Regal Valley View Grande 21.2 miles away from Franklin County Moonshine Festival Sage N. said "There are in fact student discounts, the previous reviewer is mistaken in that regard. The jury stayed out The government posited authorities received protection money from still operators, and that Commonwealths Attorney Charles Carter Lee was the instigator. Liquor is manufactured from corn, rye, and other grains - unlike wine, which is produced from grapes or other fruits. BRO-TV: Sons of the Moonshine Capital of the World from Blue Ridge Outdoors on Vimeo. 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. County, and Richards had told people that he expected to go to prison but We wrestled around for a few seconds. So, sugar is a key ingredient for making hooch. Enjoy Virginia spirits responsibly and enjoy Franklin County. Franklin County also acts as a gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway, 'Round the Mountain Artisan Trails, and is of course the . As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,477. If you're having decent Franklin County moonshine, it should be made mostly from corn and it shouldn't have a whole lot of additives to it. ("200 proof" is 100% alcohol.). *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. [3] In fact, many of the Government's witnesses likely had ulterior motives in testifying for the prosecution because they had been previously convicted by the efforts of some of the defendants. Was the disappearance yet another conspiracy? 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