Was Harbor Springs Wet or Dry? Historical society to host virtual Prohibition History Talk
HARBOR SPRINGS — The rarely discussed history of Prohibition in Harbor Springs will be brought to light on Thursday, Oct. 20 with a lecture hosted by the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society.
Curator Beth Wemigwase will present an original Harbor History Talk based on the research she conducted to create the new exhibit, “Dry Harbor: Prohibition, Gambling and Gangsters in Harbor Springs.”
The exhibit first sets the national stage leading up to the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1920 (which outlawed the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages), including sweeping societal changes brought on by World War I, the Spanish Flu epidemic and the women’s rights movement.
The Harbor Springs area experienced a healthy share of bootlegging, speakeasies and casinos for the 15 years Emmet County was dry, complete with elaborate delivery schemes, underground escape tunnels and connections to Detroit’s notorious Purple Gang.
“Numerous rollicking establishments opened and operated during the era to serve the public’s desire for alcohol and dancing,” said Wemigwase, “such as Club Manitou, Booth’s Pavilion and Juilleret’s.”
Wemigwase’s lecture begins at 7 p.m. online via Zoom. Admission is $10 per person, and registration is required. Call (231) 526-9771 or visit HarborSpringsHistory.org/events to sign up. A Zoom link will be emailed to all participants the day prior to the lecture.
All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Harbor Springs Area Historical Society’s community campaign to develop and preserve a historical corridor at the eastern approach to Main Street, including creation of a Shay House Innovation Museum and new exhibit installations in the History Museum.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Was Harbor Springs Wet or Dry? Historical society to host virtual Prohibition History Talk
