The era of Prohibition was a time of national upheaval, where the federal government’s attempt to curb alcohol consumption dramatically shaped American life. Like many other states, Idaho found itself navigating the tension between enforcing the 18th Amendment and dealing with widespread resistance. From moonshiners and speakeasies to law enforcement officials caught up in their own violations, Idaho's experience during Prohibition was a complex blend of rebellion and enforcement.
In this article, we’ll explore the history of Prohibition in Idaho and statewide, including before it happened and why it was repealed. We’ll examine Idaho's unique role in the Prohibition era, highlighting its lasting impact on the state’s culture and alcohol laws.
Prior to Idaho’s Prohibition Era
IMAGE SOURCE: THEWORLDWAR.ORG
Long before the prohibition, in the 1800s, alcohol was quickly becoming a problem among many Americans. During this century, the average person in the United States drank 9 gallons of hard liquor annually, significantly more than the amount consumed today. Widespread excessive drinking across the nation led to a myriad of social issues, including domestic violence, poverty, and men neglecting their families—problems that were compounded by the lack of legal protections and advocacy for women during this time.
Part of the reason alcohol was increasingly popular was because people thought it was safer to drink than water, which was sourced from rivers. In the United States during the 1800s and early 1900s, rivers often served as sewers, with outhouses built directly above them, allowing human waste to flow into the water. In Idaho, for instance, two major rivers are named “Malad,” derived from the French word “malaise,” meaning sickness. So, what do you do when the water you're collecting from the river is contaminated? The answer: turn to alcohol. Along Idaho’s railroads, dozens of warehouses opened to store barrels of alcohol for passersby. “Franklin & Hayes” were the kings of beer in Pocatello, Idaho. On the state's western side, Boise had John Lemp as the primary brewer. Lemp was the president of First National Bank of Idaho for a limited time, served as Boise’s mayor for a year, and was one of Idaho’s first millionaires due to his success as the beer baron of Boise.
The state of Idaho and its inhabitants tried various strategies to reduce alcohol consumption. For example, in Pocatello, Idaho’s first hotel, The Pacific (owned by the railroad), would open its bar for only a limited number of hours but a set number of minutes. The goal of The Pacific’s time limit was to give men what they wanted (alcohol) without letting them have enough time to get drunk on the job.
IMAGE SOURCE: EXAMINING THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
As alcohol consumption continued to worsen, women began to rise up. The temperance movement, led primarily by women such as Frances Willard and Carrie Nation, was a social and political movement that sought to encourage less drinking in the United States. Since women had not yet gained the right to vote, they were still finding how to use their voices to effect change—the temperance movement became one powerful way to do just that. While most of the temperance movement used peaceful strategies, some women took more drastic measures, entering bars and saloons with hatchets to destroy the establishments as a bold statement. Through societies, local organizations, and the rare hatchet-destroying saloon escapade, the temperance movement started to gain traction, paving the way for the nationwide Prohibition era.
The Prohibition in Idaho & its Consequences
Before the early 1900s, Idaho charged breweries a fine similar to the “sin tax” for prostitution. However, this law failed to motivate a dry society in Idaho. In 1916, Idaho officially passed a statewide prohibition forbidding the manufacture, possession, or sale of alcoholic beverages. Four years later, the rest of the United States followed suit, creating the 18th Amendment, which illegalized the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. Historian Justin Smith states, regarding the implementation of the 18th Amendment, “The idea was let’s make America into this shining city on the hill. This beacon of freedom for the world. And to get there, there were all kinds of ideas about how to improve it.” And what better way to make America a shining example for the rest of the world than to promote a culture of responsible sobriety across the country? Unfortunately, the Prohibition Amendment didn’t serve the purpose initially intended by the U.S. Congress.
IMAGE SOURCE: WAYS PEOPLE HID ALCOHOL DURING PROHIBITION
Soon after a nationwide prohibition started, hiding alcohol became the norm, and arrests for breaking the law started appearing regularly throughout state newspapers. Alcohol could be tucked away in heels or tall boots, in the woods, or in dozens of other secret hideouts. People even created black dress shoes with blocks of wood attached to the bottom, calling them “cow shoes.” When moonshiners ran from the law, they’d wear cow shoes to make it look like a herd of cattle trampled the area rather than people.
IMAGE SOURCE: DNAINFO
Idaho wasn’t much different than the rest of the nation regarding lawbreakers and those trying to enforce the 18th Amendment—and one federal prohibition agent stood out in particular. Richard “Two-Gun” Hart was an Italian-American prohibition agent sent to Northern Idaho to enforce laws on Indian reservations and hunt down moonshiners to destroy their sills. With 2 revolvers on his hips and a badge that required him to shut down distilleries by the dozen, Richard “Two-Gun” Hart caught various moonshiners in Idaho, Nebraska, and beyond. Ironically, Richard was the oldest brother of Al Capone, an American gangster who opposed prohibition, but also knew it benefited his bootlegging business—so he taunted law enforcement officers to chase down his supply. Can you imagine their heated discussions when the two brothers met up?
Richard “Two-Gun” Hart and dozens of other prohibition agents had their hands full in Idaho—locals saw the 18th Amendment as a threat to their freedom, so they were fighting back. According to historian Sarah Phillips, “There was more moonshining and more illegal drinking in Idaho than just about any other state in the nation. In Pocatello, there was 10-times more illegal drinking per capita than there was in Philadelphia.” It wasn’t just average Idaho residents breaking the law—some of those responsible for enforcing it were also found guilty.
IMAGE SOURCE: YELLOW PINE TIMES, IDAHO HISTORY
Rene Edward Weniger was a sheriff in Shoshone County when bootlegging was active in Silver Valley, the mountains of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In reality, Shoshone County never did become dry during Prohibition, but the county did acknowledge that alcohol was illegal. Liquor, beer, and wine were often smuggled into Silver Valley across Montana’s mountains. However, in November of 1929, the moonshiners and the local community couldn’t get away with it anymore.
Moscow, Idaho’s grand jury complained about alcohol proprietors, Mullan’s board of trustees, Deputy Sheriff Charles Bloom, and Sheriff Rene Edwards Weniger for violating the 18th Amendment. In August of that same year, prohibition agents uncovered over 600 gallons of bootleg and Canadian liquor in Wallace, Kellogg, and Mullan, further confirming Northern Idaho's widespread defiance of the law. The feds won the case, and the accused, including Sheriff Weniger, were charged guilty and sentenced to Washington’s McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary.
Repealing the Prohibition Amendment in Idaho & Nationwide
Despite efforts from law enforcement and prohibition agents, illegal alcohol manufacturing and distribution continued to thrive. Thirteen years after the 18th Amendment, crime was at an all-time high, liquor consumption was still present, and morality was rapidly declining nationwide. Prohibition had failed, and it was time for something new. In 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed prohibition, making it the first and only amendment to be overturned. After it was repealed, 1 million barrels of beer were sold in a day, highlighting just how much Americans had missed the freedom to enjoy alcohol again.
In Idaho, celebrations took place, but local products would take decades to come back from the effects of the prohibition era. After the repeal of the 18th Amendment, 17 states, including Idaho, put in place a controlled system for the selling, manufacturing, and consumption of alcohol. This law, which still is in effect today, requires hard liquor to be sold only in liquor stores at limited hours, while beer and wine can be found in grocery stores.
Idaho also experimented with various alcohol laws after the 21st Amendment. One such law prohibited the sale of liquor by the drink over a bar unless the establishment was part of a municipality. This led to the establishment of speakeasies, such as Twin Falls’ Turf Club, which opened its doors in 1946 to serve liquor under the counter to local ranchers and farmers until a license became available in the 1960s. Entire towns were created solely to sell hard liquor by the drink over a bar. Incorporated in May of 1947, Island Park’s city government drew up the town’s boundaries to include several businesses that sought licenses to serve and sell alcohol. Lined with dozens of lodges, motels, restaurants, lounges, and tackle shops, this city’s main street is now known as the longest main street in America.
Take a Sip of History at Twin Falls’ Turf Club
What began as a government effort to curb alcohol consumption and improve life in America quickly became an easy target for rule-breakers who rebelled and demanded freedom. The Prohibition era sparked cultural shifts and debates about personal independence that continue to influence American society today, and you’re invited to experience a taste of the Prohibition period at Southern Idaho’s Turf Club.
The Turf Club’s hidden bar, Griff’s, offers craft cocktails that transport you into a rich, historical experience. Step into Turf Club to journey back to the Prohibition era and rediscover the joy of rule breaking.
Comments