Peter Rydzeski (1873-1955) emigrated from Poland and operated a restaurant-hotel business at the corner of King and Steele Sts. He helped organize St.__'s church in Herkimer. After prohibition he tried the soda business for a while and sold farm real estate, but moved to Long Island in 1923.
Peter Rydzeski of #2 Across was arrested in 1908 for violating the Excise Law for selling on __.
Maggie Hubbard of #14 Across offered to pay Chester Gillette's __ $1,000 to let the razor slip. She said "I think the facts in this terrible case justify me."
WW1 helped turn the nation in favor of Prohibition. Dry advocates argued that the barley used in brewing beer could be made into __ to feed American soldiers and war-ravaged Europeans, and they succeeded in winning wartime bans on strong drink.
One of the largest and most influential women's groups of the 19th century was the Womens __ Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.). A Herkimer County Convention was held on Oct. 27-28, 1915 at the Ilion M.E. Church, presided over by their president Carrie Diefendorf Scott of West Winfield.
The __ of Temperance was a brotherhood of men who promoted the temperance movement, started in New York City in 1842. A local chapter celebrated the 4th of July, 1848, at Palmer's Grove near Frankfort, where we are sure they imbibed in lemonade.
A wild incident took place at the Hubbard Hotel on Mohawk Street. __ Maggie Hubbard refused to let Benjamin Owens marry her young daughter Agnes. He took out a gun and shot at her 3 times - she survived. A week later, she withdrew her opposition and they married on May 14, 1890. The family unit continued to run the hotel together!
The big green bullfrog clock that was well known to guests at the Greenback Cafe in the Fick Block on S. Main St., owned by Charles H. Crandall (1876-1946), stopped __ when Prohibition hit. Clockmakers could not get it to work. Years later, in 1933, Crandall walked into his office where the clock hung, and it began __! That evening he learned the Senate passed the beer bill, the first steps to end Prohibition. The family still has the clock in their possession.
Prohibition officers made
__ in 1921 on two cafes in Herkimer and
secured evidence of alleged violations
of the Volstead law. Seized from Ralph Guzzo (1879-1952) were 2 gallons of whiskey and
Perfetto Chirico (1891-1979), a pint of wine and small quantity of whiskey.
Excise __ were issued by the County treasurer to places where intoxicants were sold. In 1915, 184 were issued in Herkimer County.
Liberty Shoemaker (ca.1874-1938) was a popular __. "Lib" could draw beer and "sling it like an old timer" at the Palmer House and later the Gilt Edge Cafe on N. Main Street. He "slung his hook" when Prohibition hit and opened a cafe for soft drinks and lunches in Ilion in December, 1919.