My parents were draft dodgers. My father stayed in the Navy Reserve after serving in the South Pacific in World War II. Upon his release, my parents married, lived near Chicago, and had two small boys. Then the Korean War broke out and my father’s unit was getting called up. My mother was pregnant with me and couldn’t bare the thought of widowhood with three children to raise alone.
For better or for worse- alcohol has a strong part in our family histories. Our Grandfathers were brothers and for me this was the paternal side of the family. The interesting prohibition story from my ancestry comes from the Maternal side of the family where my grandfather was a prosperous owner of several taverns in Jersey City, NJ when prohibition struck. Ever resourceful, he kept the taverns open as eateries. Most of the alcohol was kept in his home and the legeend is that it was kept under his children’s beds. His brother in law, a Jersey City police captain steered him whenever the Feds were coming to inspect and
Imagine your grandmother saved a farm during the depression! And never told anybody about it. It was just something you didn’t got on with it My dad was like that, and my stepmother as well. They went about their charity, and the good things they did for the community very quietly, and never taking credit for anything. I love that about that generation. We need more of that now!
Mary, I love your articles. I was born and raised in Manning and know that house well. The Collings family, who published the weekly newspaper for decades, owned it then. One of their daughters and I were middle school sweethearts and I had my first kiss there one summer night as we listened to American Pie by Don McLean! We lived just down First Street across from the funeral home, and with all the kids in the neighborhood, we used their yard as home base for many games of kick the can.
Wow, Mary! What a story. What a bang-up ending, literally. Your grandmother must have been something. I love how you weave the Hail Mary through the story of the hooch. As a fan of whiskey, I would love to taste Templeton Rye one day. Slainte!
Good read. Ironic that the newspaper's left column is about "Father" Coughlin a leader in misinformation and white supremacy. He had a cult following via the media. The resurrection of ill will under the pretense of religion is timeless.
Cousin Mary
For better or for worse- alcohol has a strong part in our family histories. Our Grandfathers were brothers and for me this was the paternal side of the family. The interesting prohibition story from my ancestry comes from the Maternal side of the family where my grandfather was a prosperous owner of several taverns in Jersey City, NJ when prohibition struck. Ever resourceful, he kept the taverns open as eateries. Most of the alcohol was kept in his home and the legeend is that it was kept under his children’s beds. His brother in law, a Jersey City police captain steered him whenever the Feds were coming to inspect and
What an amazing story, Mary!
Wonderful story! It takes a great teller to make it memorable. Thanks for telling, Mary.
Imagine your grandmother saved a farm during the depression! And never told anybody about it. It was just something you didn’t got on with it My dad was like that, and my stepmother as well. They went about their charity, and the good things they did for the community very quietly, and never taking credit for anything. I love that about that generation. We need more of that now!
Gosh, I’ve forgotten that they wrote many many letters. I still have all the letters my grandma wrote me… Anyway, I sure loved your story.
Mary, I love your articles. I was born and raised in Manning and know that house well. The Collings family, who published the weekly newspaper for decades, owned it then. One of their daughters and I were middle school sweethearts and I had my first kiss there one summer night as we listened to American Pie by Don McLean! We lived just down First Street across from the funeral home, and with all the kids in the neighborhood, we used their yard as home base for many games of kick the can.
A great story, Mary! How tenacious our ancestors were, and how quiet they were about it. I wonder how they would’ve done in the age of social media
Delightful story about depressing times that provided a spark to the local economy. It must be a good product.
Loved every part of this family story! Now that's how you write family history that gets read! Thank you.
I love this Mary! (Tenets is probably tenants? It's the old editor in me...) What a wonderful punchline!
Love, love, love this story! 💖
So good, every word. But my faves are "my grandmother preferred to just bang on the hot water pipes."
I love this story, Mary! Thank you.
Oh Mary, Hail Mary!
Wow, Mary! What a story. What a bang-up ending, literally. Your grandmother must have been something. I love how you weave the Hail Mary through the story of the hooch. As a fan of whiskey, I would love to taste Templeton Rye one day. Slainte!
Good read. Ironic that the newspaper's left column is about "Father" Coughlin a leader in misinformation and white supremacy. He had a cult following via the media. The resurrection of ill will under the pretense of religion is timeless.