In January of 1920, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution went into effect. It established the era of Prohibition, which had been spurred on by the temperance movement; the thought being, that decreasing the sale of liquor would, in turn, decrease nationwide poverty. While the actual act of drinking was not illegal, store and bar owners were no longer allowed to sell and distribute liquor, wine, spirits, or beer.
This change definitely impacted local businesses that had previously made a portion of their profits from the sale of alcohol. Making up for that potential lost income could result in other nefarious activities.
Week 38: Fun and Games
John C. Eggenberger photo, undated.
My great grandfather, John C. Eggenberger, ran a small grocery and confection shop during this time in Ottawa, Kansas. And it would appear he took it upon himself to dabble in this type of illegal behavior.
John C. Eggenberger in grocery store, Boone, Iowa, ca. 1905.
It’s unknown whether John was fully aware that what he was doing was wrong, but at the end of December in 1920, he brainstormed a game that would help him deplete his overstock of holiday candy. The law, on the other hand, determined he was involved in running a gambling scheme and quickly put a stop to it, arresting him on the spot!
Ottawa Herald, “Interrupted A Raffle,” Ottawa, Kansas, 27 Dec 1920.
Ottawa Herald, J. C. Eggenberger arrested article, Ottawa, Kansas, 30 Dec 1920.
For Eggenberger, thinking outside the box during Prohibition did not pay off, but it would seem he was not the only one to try and beat the system during these years. Unfortunately for him, he did not live to see the end of the Prohibition years, as they came to a close in 1933 and he passed away in 1928.
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