Oct 9, 2007. 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. Some would say Smith Mountain Lake, others would say moonshine — and … Their tasting room in Boones Mill is the place to sample their white label corn whiskey. "Lewis R. Redmond was an archetypal moonshiner. On March 1, 1876, the twenty-one-year-old North Carolinian shot and killed a U.S. deputy marshal who tried to arrest him on charges of illicit distilling. By 1914, Virginia voted to ban alcohol completely and the Commonwealth was completely dry of legal liquor. Biography. Virginia Economic Development Partnership Visit www.vedp.org. Your email address will not be published. Franklin County Virginia Moonshine. A complete study which traces the history of moonshining from colonial times through the 1960s. Makes good use of contemporary reports of revenuers in telling his story, which is always colorful and often violent. If you're looking to explore an area of Southwest Virginia that is immersed in beauty, history, and moonshine, Franklin County has to be on your list. As Prohibition ended in 1933, moonshining had become a huge economic force in the mountains of Virginia, and although alcohol was once again legal, the profits from illegal moonshining in the region remained high, encouraging the bootleggers to continue their shady enterprises. Franklin County wasn't labeled the "Moonshine Capital of the World" for its special brand of the illegal whiskey. Download our FREE Savings Pass to easily access discounts to local attractions, restaurants, & shops! Ninety-nine out of every 100 residents were believed to play a part in the industry during the 1920s. Franklin County is located in the Blue Ridge foothills of the U.S. state of Virginia.As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,159. The trial would pitch Franklin County into complete chaos, with threats, jury tampering, and the murder of a key witness, along with a uninvolved bystander, happening during the proceedings. Illegal moonshine was made in secret stills throughout the United States, but the mountain towns of southern Virginia were thrust into the national spotlight with the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935. In response, lots of citizens chose not to license their distilleries or pay taxes on the resulting liquors. 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. Transcripts of newswpaper articles, mainly from the Roanoke Times, of the 1935 Franklin County Moonshine Conspriacy Trial, held in Lynchburg, Virginia. 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. CONNECT WITH US. Franklin County is home to two beautiful lakes, breweries, distilleries, and plenty of quaint downtown areas. The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, located in Richmond, has a hands-on exhibit for all ages that tells the story of Wendell Oliver Scott and his significant contributions to NASCAR. Virginia’s moonshine history runs deep, so it’s no surprise that the mountain region of Virginia still has plenty to offer when it comes to distilled spirits. It was lengthy in both duration and defendants. Oct 9, 2007. Its county seat is Rocky Mount. Folks can join us in the tasting room for. Franklin County, Virginia might not be on the top of your mind when it comes to outdoor recreation - but it should be. There are distilleries in almost every region of the Commonwealth making legal moonshine, allowing you to get an authentic taste of Virginia’s moonshine history during your visit! Credit: "P-682 Ingram Family Still, Franklin County, VA," Lloyd Ingram Collection, Blue Ridge Institute and Museum at Ferrum College. Almost 85 years later, many people in Franklin County still have strong opinions on the case and the men who were charged. 136k members in the Virginia community. Head to the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum in Franklin County to learn more about moonshine heritage and the distilling practices passed down over multiple generations. The image of a moonshiner in the Blue Ridge Mountains tends to bring to mind an impoverished backwoods farmer, but in reality, some moonshiners would turn an incredible profit, especially during Prohibition. 1 of 1. $10.00. These brothers were known. Explore Rocky Mount, and consider traveling The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail to appreciate more of the culture of the area. Scott began his driving career as a taxi driver, but would also use his skills as a fearless driver and a knowledgeable mechanic to haul illegal whiskey, which would help him become the first and only black driver to win a major-league NASCAR race. Despite his general disregard for authority, Tim's become quite an authority himself. With echoes of WINTER'S BONE and the novels of James Lee Burke, DEEP RIVER BLUES will be a worthwhile addition to the regional crime thriller genre. Laws were passed during this time to make rural distilleries illegal, and in the following years, Virginia counties one by one banned both the production and sale of spirits. Business website. Virginia’s moonshine history runs deep, so it’s no surprise that the mountain region of Virginia still has plenty to offer when it comes to distilled spirits. Through Thompson's prose, local characters come alive as he pays particular attention to the stories of a key witness for the defense, Miss Ora Harrison, an Episcopalian missionary to the region, and Elder Goode Hash, itinerant Primitive ... The movie is based on Matt Bondurant's . 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. During the prohibition period, the Bondurant Brothers of Franklin County, Virginia (Howard, Forrest, and Jack) were legendary for running moonshine. May 31, 2016 - Franklin County VA, Moonshine Capital of the World. Check out our articles about, , and stay tuned for more But Did You Know… history articles to learn about some of Virginia’s most amazing untold stories. 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.”. Virginia's Franklin County, about 250 miles from D.C., is known as the "moonshine capital of the world." It isn't the only place where you'll find moonshine … + shipping. Found insideThese are just a few of the restless spirits of southwestern Virginia. Join local author Joe Tennis as he takes readers on both sides of the Blue Ridge to explore the ghostly tales of Appalachia and the Crooked Road. 1. In a poetic and engaging memoir, the Award-winning musician speaks out on her twenty-year-plus career in music and presents her thought-provoking insights and reflections on everyday life, marriage, friendship, motherhood, loss, forgiveness ... After such a bust, one might think the hammer had effectively been dropped on moonshining in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, but that would be a foolish thought. The original brand … "If you go somewhere else and mention, 'I'm living in Franklin County,' more than likely 'Franklin County? In a way, early Virginia moonshiners were some of the first eco-friendly farmers in America! In Virginia’s mountains, a few bootleggers were quite wealthy, earning tens of thousands of dollars in cash while the Great Depression was in full swing. 6 talking about this. Franklin County wasn't labeled the "Moonshine Capital of the World" for its special brand of the illegal whiskey. The FCPL is hosting this free exhibition in recognition of the Centennial of Prohibition and Franklin County Moonshine Heritage Month. Twin Creeks Distillery produced and sold the first legal batch of liquor in Franklin County, Virginia's "Moonshine Capital" since prohibition. A farmer could make enough liquor to cover his own family’s needs and then sell or trade the rest with other members of the community, allowing them to utilize produce that would have otherwise spoiled and been thrown away. Note that every member of the family assisted in the production of moonshine during Prohibition. Sunday. by Casey L. Higgins, The days of illegal moonshine are long gone. Tales of moonshine in Franklin County. The Bondurant Brothers: Franklin County, VA Moonshine Conspiracy. Robert Bondurant, grandson of Franklin County's most famous moonshiner, is reviving the family legacy of making moonshine in Bondurant Brothers Distillery. During prohibition, it was said that 99 out… However, many people … Fast forward to the 1700s, when the English, Germans, and Scots-Irish began immigrating to America and settling into western Virginia’s backcountry, where they would bring their own traditions for making homemade spirits, using fruits to make brandy and grains to produce whiskey. The birth of moonshining, how it affected the southern states, the laws broken, who upheld them & the results extended throughout the country. was established, Virginia colonists were using corn to distill spirits along the James River. April is Moonshine Heritage Month in Franklin County! Franklin County, Virginia has long been known as the Moonshine Capital of the World. Be a #Trailsetter. Found insideBased on extensive interviews with survivors and relatives, as well as diaries and letters, Kershaw's book focuses on several remarkable individuals and families to tell one of the most poignant stories of World War II--the story of one ... VIRGINIA MADE. After Rakes was forced to close in 1916 by the forces of prohibition, the county swiftly gained a reputation as "The Moonshine Capital of the World," a name in which it glorifies . And an air of mystery continues to surround the case, as part of the trial records “disappeared” from the Franklin County Courthouse files. Franklin County, Virginia, has its own storied heritage, home to Richard Rakes, who distilled whiskey at the turn of the 20th century. Franklin County hosts an annual Moonshine Heritage Month t o commemorate the history and cultural aspects of moonshine with tours, special events, and costumed … Follow along and get to know a little about bootleggin’ ‘shine through the mountains and valleys of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Moonshine has a fascinating and complicated history. Explore. He knows what good, pure and strong should taste like. Franklin … Franklin County's moonshine past gets national attention in the new movie "Lawless," which opens Wednesday at more 2,200 theaters across the country. In Moonshiners and Prohibitionists: The Battle over Alcohol in Southern Appalachia, Bruce E. Stewart chronicles the social tensions that accompanied the region's early transition from a rural to an urban-industrial economy. 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, might not have acquired many drivers from Virginia’s illegal moonshine trade, but one such driver who did come from this background was, , a Black American racer from Danville’s “Crooktown” section. Nowadays distilling spirits is legal in Virginia, but that requires licensing and tax payments. We invite you to taste history with Franklin County Distilleries’ White Label Corn Whiskey, available on Virginia ABC shelves, and featured at FDC’s new Tasting Room in Boones Mill, VA. Homegrown in the Moonshine Capital of America, Franklin County, VA, FDC’s White Label Corn Whiskey builds on the brand that bootleggers built, and offers a true taste of history in every bottle. This was the first time moonshine was made by colonists in America, although the indigenous peoples had been producing their own alcoholic beverages from corn and other native plants prior to the arrival of colonists. Sip with us and experience mountain spirits made by grandsons of conspiracy era bootleggers. Buy Franklin County, Virginia - Shine On! As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,159. “Lawless” is based on the book The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant, Jack Bondurant’s grandson. 11am - 7pm. Found insideTwentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins is the first biography of this legendary country music artist and NASCAR driver who scored sixteen number-one hits and two Grammy awards. The Franklin County Public Library (FCPL) is pleased to host the traveling exhibition, "Teetotalers & Moonshiners: Prohibition in Virginia, Distilled.". Fast forward 80 years, Jack Bondurant's grandson, Robert, has taken over the family tradition of distilling moonshine, but legally this time. In Franklin County, known as the "Moonshine Capital of the World," just saying the name Amos Law can get you pretty far in the moonshine business, Henry said. . Jim Smith, a prisoner Richards was transporting to the county jail at the time, was also killed, but Smith had nothing to do with the conspiracy. 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. Indeed, a good portion of the Franklin County populous was involved with moonshine even if they weren’t distilling or distributing. Matt Bondurant , the author of Lawless, on which John Hillcoat's film was based, says his family's role in the moonshine business only came to light in recent years Looking for 25 cars that are running and drivable. During the Prohibition period, the Bondurant Brothers were legendary for running moonshine. Learn More: Franklin County Distilleries Heritage Spirits >, In a veritable race to be first, Twin Creeks Distillery also launched in 2015. He set out to make the distillery a living history lesson, like stepping back in time. Most moonshine journeys from still to buyer would go smoothly, but occasionally, if agents were tipped off to the trip, they might set up roadblocks or wait along the planned route for the moonshine runner to pass by. Since you aren't able to visit us, we decided to post a photo of an item in our Moonshine collection each … Prohibition (Franklin County Virginia) Bondurant brothers are usually a name that comes up. April is Moonshine Heritage Month in Franklin County! Image Courtesy of The Library of Virginia, 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. Of 23 defendants, 20 were convicted. , located in the mountains of Virginia, came to be known as the “Moonshine Capital of the World” due to the region’s heavy involvement in the illegal moonshine industry that occurred during Prohibition? "Yes sir, that was a good one," said Jim Hunt, agent in charge of the Roanoke office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE Roanoke, VA 24016 (540) 342-6025 (800) 635-5535, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Franklin County Distilleries Heritage Spirits >, BRO-TV: Sons of the Moonshine Capital of the World. " Through the eyes, and keys, of a young realtor new to town, times past and hidden secrets come to light. A love story set in layers of history, this novel is chock-full of fun and answers. The book is NOT about making moonshine. Franklin County Distilleries | 25156 Highway 220, Boones Mill, VA 24065 | 540.334.1610 | info@fcdmoonshine.com, Bar & Grill Hours: Mon, Wed. Thu 10AM–9PM | Tues Closed | Friday 8AM–12AM | Saturday 8AM–12AM | Sunday 11AM–7PM| Closed Christmas Day. When they came to America, they believed that they would be free of these fees and could resume producing their own distilled beverages without infringement from the still-forming U.S. government. This provocative book details some of the largest busts ever to occur in American history and includes a pictorial epoch as well.A Dying Art II part II is a photo epa which displays photos of illegal distilleries from the turn of the ... Eat, Sleep, Play - Franklin County, Virginia. 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. Two men connected to the illegal liquor trade in West Virginia would be charged and convicted of the murders, but another witness perished under suspicious medical causes during the trial, casting doubt on whether the trial could possibly end with a successful outcome. That was November 1, 1916. Required fields are marked *. After she crosses paths with a mysterious, and somewhat menacing, couple along the way memories of a favorite childhood story are triggered. The tale of a dark witch and Williamsburg colonial man seeps from her mind's eye into her reality. She's also a mom and wife living in and loving the mountains and valleys of Virginia. Another moonshine distillery in the area is Twin Creeks Distillery, where you can sample moonshine, fruit brandies, and “White Whiskey”, the distillery’s pure, unaged corn liquors available in 90- and 100-proof. Not surprisingly, some distillers preferred to run their operations illegally rather than pay these high taxes. 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. Franklin County is a county located in the Blue Ridge foothills of the U.S. state of Virginia. The largest moonshine busts in the nation's history were all done in the area. If you want to sample authentic Virginia moonshine in its legal form, visit. Couple that with increased crime and repeal became imminent. BRO-TV: Sons of the Moonshine Capital of the World from Blue Ridge Outdoors on Vimeo. Deputy Jeff Richards, the alleged treasurer in Franklin County's moonshine conspiracy, was murdered in his car with his 38 revolver, shown here, in his hand. The county's legacy and long-established moniker, "Moonshine Capital of the World," was an outcome of the Prohibition Era. While moonshine activity in the rest of the country has remained slow, Franklin County has "gotten out of hand," according to Nolan E. Douglas, ATF special agent in charge for the Richmond area. While moonshine activity in the rest of the country has remained slow, Franklin County has "gotten out of hand," according to Nolan E. Douglas, ATF special agent … Have new blog posts delivered directly to your e-mail inbox. Governor Northam has lifted mask mandates for fully-vaccinated individuals, except on public transit, in health care facilities, and in congregate settings. “Operation Lightning Strike” struck down two Franklin County stills. Looking to sample moonshine in other parts of Virginia? Preferred to run their operations illegally rather than pay these high taxes Control was created witnesses newspapers... Would ignore these laws and continue delivering their products in motor vehicles to industrial towns Danville! And Kitchen to five years and 10 months ’ jail time were legal. Rusting away in the moonshine Capital of the World from Blue Ridge foothills of the County. 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