‘Gradually and sure’ - Miller County experienced interesting moonshine history during Prohibition years

Moonshiners Dam inside Stark Caverns near Eldon is one of the places where moonshine was illegally distilled during the years of Prohibition. The pure spring water was reputed to produce excellent moonshine, and the dam was situated where it could be seen from a good distance whether it was a customer or law enforcement approaching. In the case of the latter, moonshiners could jump into the dammed pool of water, swim under several feet of rock and emerge in a different part of the cave. Courtesy of Jeremy P. Ämick

In the United States, members of the Progressive movement called for several societal changes prior to the turn of the 20th century, one of which pertained to the prevalence of alcohol. Nearly three decades later, their wishes came to fruition through a constitutional amendment that impacted many rural Missouri communities and involved the work of politicians, law enforcement and physicians.

“Many churches and organizations of the time, noting evil consequences of the widespread sale of liquor and its relationship to crime, insanity and other social problems, advocated prohibition as a technique for improving society,” noted Duane Meyer in “The Heritage of Missouri: A History.”

This Prohibition movement blossomed with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 1919, making it illegal to produce and distribute alcoholic beverages. Implemented through the Volstead Act, Miller County history reveals many in small communities still chose to distill alcohol but attempted to conceal their illegal activities.

“OFFICERS CAPTURE TWO MOONSHINERS” was the headline appearing in The Miller County Autogram-Sentinel on June 16, 1921. The newspaper explained, “Sheriff John Kinder, aided by deputy L.J. Mayfield and Tom Willis, made a raid on a moon shine outfit … Saturday morning. The still was located in the smokehouse at the home of Sam L. Robinett west of Brumley.”

The temperance movement had failed in previous decades, and “Prohibition” (the federal ban on alcohol) became effective on January 17, 1920. As with the raid that occurred in Brumley, moonshiners found that selling alcohol could be a lucrative business with a strong customer base. However, stories soon began to circulate about the poor quality of ingredients and a lack of knowledge in proper distilling practices. This could result in a highly questionable and potentially dangerous product.

“The teachers of Miller County had an opportunity to see a real moonshine still Friday night at the courthouse,” reported The Miller County Autogram-Sentinel on December 1, 1921. “Prosecuting Attorney Donnelly took advantage of the meeting to show the teachers the dangers lurking within the moonshine still.” The newspaper added, “Moonshiners are using the most primitive method of manufacturing moonshine whiskey. It is not generally understood that there is grave danger to (the) health of persons drinking this product. Amateurs at this business make it only by guess work.”

The newspaper added that teachers witnessed some of their students coming to school under the influence of alcohol. During the meeting, members of law enforcement (often referred to by the nickname of “revenuers”) were experiencing difficulties gaining the cooperation of the community and compromising their ability to locate illegal moonshine operations.

Violation of the Prohibition laws were of a federal nature, but the individual states were given latitude in the application of punishment. In Missouri, manufacture of alcohol was a “felony punishable by confinement in penitentiary for two years” noted the “Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives” on March 11, 1924.

Concealment of moonshine operations was a grave problem for local law enforcement agencies. A popular site in Miller County for many of these moonshiners were the bountiful number of caves in the area. 
In late October 1921, a moonshiner was arrested by the Miller County sheriff for operating a still in a cave along the Big Tavern Creek near Iberia. Another Miller County cave, which later became a popular tourist destination, was also used for the manufacture of moonshine.

“Moonshiners Dam” was constructed inside Stark Caverns near Eldon during Prohibition. The dam held mineral-rich spring waters flowing through the caverns that were reputed to be an ideal ingredient for great moonshine. The dam is also in an area where those making the illegal hooch could see from a good distance who was approaching. If it was a customer approaching, all was well. But if it happened to be a “revenuer,” the moonshiners could jump into the spring, swim under several feet of rock and pop up on the other side in a much deeper area of the caverns. They could evade the revenuers and avoid any legal entanglements.

Moonshiners Dam remains a popular spot during tours at Stark Caverns.

“The citizenship of Eldon in large numbers still shows an interest in prohibition and law enforcement (and this) was manifested Friday evening by the crowd that attended the law enforcement meeting at the high school auditorium,” explained The Eldon Advertiser on April 6, 1922.

The meeting featured local pastors who maintained that moonshine was addictive and essentially made from poison. Dr. William Logan Allee, a native of Olean who completed his medical studies at the University of Missouri, also opined on the toxic characteristics of local moonshine.

“The unfortunate thing about the present day moonshine that is called liquor is that it does not kill quick, but does its work gradually and sure,” he remarked.

With the nation experiencing the Great Depression, political support grew for the end of Prohibition. Many believed legalized liquor could lead to needed jobs and revenue and Prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. The University of Central Arkansas explained, “Far from decreasing crime and emptying prisons, Prohibition did the opposite. Prisons were quickly filled to capacity as normal behavior was outlawed…”

These days, moonshine continues to be made by local artisans and remains an alcohol deeply rooted in Ozark history. The days of revenuers and arrests for illegal hooch production are nearly a century in the past, but this method of distillation and a few caves in Miller County continue to share Prohibition’s fascinating history.

Jeremy P. Ämick is author of the historical compilation “Beyond the Moreau.”  

Dr. Warren L. Allee, a native of Olean, participated in meetings to help educate the public on the perceived health risks of moonshine consumption. Courtesy of Jeremy P. Ämick