100 Years Ago

                                          

                                      SEIZE BIG STILL IN NEW KENT CO. 

Plant, Located on Island in Chickahominy, Said to Be Owned  Here. 

State and federal officers yesterday descended in force on a distilling plant, supposed to be owned by Richmonders, in New Kent county and captured a 800-gallon still, thirteen fifty-gallon fermenters and two 500 gallon fermenters. 

The raid was participated in by State Inspectors J.C. Dillard. V.O. Smith, J.N. Wood. J.C. Elliott. P. O. Nance and W.F. Gregory, and Federal Agents W.L. Willis and S.W. Davis. 

The seizure was made on the Chickahominy river near Bottom's Bridge. The still was constructed of  copper and wood and was of the so-called submarine style. It was located on a small island in a marsh. The officers had to go through water and muck waist-deep to get to it. 

    Floated Materials. 

It is believed that the still was used during the high-water period when materials could be floated in and the distilled product floated out. It is thought that with the coming of low-water it was abandoned with the purpose of making it again a base of operations in the fall. 

Inspector T.M. Gravely today reported the seizure of a sixty-gallon copper still on Little Creek, in Tazewell county. The officers laid in wait from dawn to late in the afternoon. But no one appeared and therefore they took the still and went on their way. A seventy-five gallon still was also taken in the same county.

-News Leader, 29 August 1924

     NEW KENTER FIRST TO LOSE BEER LICENSE 

       PROVIDENCE FORGE MAN VIOLATES SUNDAY BLUE LAW 

 The first violator of the Sunday beer law had their license revoked by the ABC board in Richmond on Tuesday when it was announced that Mrs. Ruby Rollins, holder of a beer and wine license for Slim’s Place, Providence Forge, lost her permit because her husband took a chance on violating the ABC board’s regulation forbidding the Sunday sale of alcoholic beverages.

 This was the first case to reach the control board since the lid was clamped down on Sunday brew sales on February 28.

 At the same time nine other places lost their licenses for violating the ABC law. It was reported that Sunday’s Place in Port Richmond was one of the victims.

 In the case of Mrs. Rollins in New Kent, Inspector Crenshaw, of West Point, who is in charge of the operation of the board’s ban, Mr. Rollins not only sold beer in his place but drank some himself after refusing to permit inspection of his establishment. The board’s regulation forbids both the selling and drinking of brew on the premises of a licensee. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Rollins were at the hearing on Tuesday.

 In the meantime local beer drinkers are becoming accustomed to the new law and are forgetting beer on Sunday. Few have purchased beer on Saturday and drunkedness on the streets and highways is seldom seen. 

-Tidewater Review,  25 March 1937

The Virginia ABC Board ruled in February 1937 that the sale of beer and wine was prohibited on Sundays.

"the new rule sets forth that beer and wine licensees 'shall refrain from making any sale Or delivery of wine, beer or beverages between the hours of 12:01 a. m. on Sunday and 5 a. m. on Monday.

'Nor shall any person Permit the consumption of any wine, beer or beverages upon the premises to which any such license has been granted be tween the hours of 12:01 a. m. on Sunday and 5 a. m- on Monday.

 'This regulation shall become effective at 12:01 a. m., February 28, 1937. The officials of the board pointed out that the regulation applies to 3.2 as well as high-test beer."