Vermont Prohibition: Teetotalers, Bootleggers & Corruption

Vermont became the nation’s second dry state in 1853. But some locals refused to comply, and inept law enforcement led to ineffective consequences. What was intended to increase wholesomeness forced a newly carved detour toward crime and corruption. Early laws, such as the Liquor Law of 1853, targeted distilled spirits while conveniently protecting cider. As regulations tightened, morals loosened. Without legalized booze, smugglers imported liquor from Canada, and bootleggers ensured that domestic speakeasies kept the liquor flowing. Crime ran so rampant that Newport, Richford and Lyndonville residents relocated to escape rum-running gangs. Join author Adam Krakowski as he discloses the tumultuous side of Vermont’s temperance movement.