Prohibition - Tidbits of Info

In a report to a federal grand jury in Fargo on October 6, 1920, Judge Charles Amidon  reported that there are automobiles loaded with liquor in convoys that have men armed with rifles and sawed off shotguns. He was encouraging the jurors to enforce the law.

On October 25, 1920 a story was printed about $40,000.00 worth of confiscated whiskey being destroyed in Minot. “The fumes of the strong liquor became so dense at one time that some of the officials became nauseated.”

Whiskey Six #2

The “whiskey sixes” would run to Canada and back in the late spring through the fall, until the snow came. They did not run in the winter due to the danger of getting stuck in snow or mud, also the cars would be easier to follow. The price paid to the runners for running from their start to Canada and back varied. The amount ranged from $100.00 to $500.00 per trip. A lot of money was made in a very short time if you wanted to take the risk.

Flood Control Plan

Well, the preliminary flood controll plan for Minot and the Souris Valley is out. If you want to check it go to this website---- www.mouseriverplan.com.
Click on the maps tab and a variety of maps covering the valley are available for viewing. Eastwood Park and our home are safe. The new plan would run along Central Ave. on the north side of Eastwood Park. Much of Roosevelt Park, the Minot Golf Course and  The Country Club are in the greenspace, between the dikes. Erik, our son, has a house that will be covered by a dike the way it looks now. Public meetings will be held next week and the final plan will be "set in stone" by sometime in February.

Prohibition - Booze Runners

Booze Runners - The runners carried heavy loads in the “whiskey sixes”.  Where the roads were good, the cars could travel along at speeds as fast a 50 to 60 miles per hour. The runners would travel in a line, or group with the lead car posing as a tourist to flush out the lawmen. The lead car would stall on the road, warning the runners that the law was ahead so they could make their get-away. Another trick used by the runners was to have a woman companion and at times a woman driving the car. The thought being that the lawmen would hesitate to shoot at a car occupied by a woman. It was generally considered by their appearance that these women companions were not home loving housewives.

Evacuated - Day 133 - Nov 2, 2011

It is like a beehive of activity at the house. The plumbers have almost everything roughed in and hope to have the inspection done as early as tomorrow. The heating and a/c crew has most of the heating ductwork in and is working on the cold air returns. We will have heat in areas that had none before. Like our entry way which relied on warm air from the hallway and living room. The electricians are wiring the garage today and should have that done by tomorrow at the latest. The sheetrockers have most of the main floor taped and mudded and may start applying texture tomorrow. When dry we may be able to start painting. The carpenter and I have a plan for buillding a soffit around the ductwork. We also have a plan for installing the exhaust fans in the workroom.
Next step will be to get the floor leveled in the rest of the basement and then start installing flooring upstairs to get ready for kitchen cabinets and cabinets in the laundry room and workroom in the basement.

Whiskey Runnners

The Whiskey runners made a lot of money and made it in a hurry. They were flashy dressers, sporting big diamonds, silk shirts, fancy ties and suits. They were also big tippers. One night in Minot a group of them lined up and peppered a bass drum in a Minot dancehall orchestra with silver dollars. The group was trying to break the head of the drum. They eventually ruined the drum but the orchestra was not upset as they got to keep all the silver dollars.

Whiskey Six

A Whiskey Six was the name given to the big, high powered automobiles used by the booze runners in the days of Prohibition. The favoured car at the time was the Buick. Minot was a local point for the Whiskey Runners in the era of 1919 to 1921. The whiskey running was at its peak during this time. Minot was the last major stop before Canada. The whiskey runners at times would travel in packs with a pilot car ahead to warn the if any lawmen were waiting up ahead. On some days, a whole city block would be lined with “whiskey sixes” waiting for dusk to make their run for the booze. They seldom returned to Minot after getting the load as the main destination was points like St Paul, Minneapolis, Sioux City and Omaha.