The Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act both went into effect in 1920, thus making the production and sale of alcohol illegal. At this time, Morris County was one of the richest counties in the country, and home to the social elite. These wealthy men and women prided themselves on their elaborate parties, ones who could rival the high society of New York City for their sparkle and splendor. For many 1920s hostesses, alcohol was a vital ingredient to ensuring that their guests would have a good time. Therefore, most women were willing to pay top dollar to whomever was willing to supply them with illegal liquor. For many distilleries in Morris County, the reward of producing and selling alcohol far out-weighed the possible risk of getting caught.
Distilleries opened throughout the county during the 1920s, many inside houses or barns. They were often followed by speakeasies, which were taverns and restaurants that sold alcoholic drinks, usually right under the authorities' noses. Speakeasies derived their names from the fact hat a patron had to whisper a password against the door in order to enter the part of the building in which alcohol was served. One such speakeasy in Mendham was Sammy's. Sammy's was located across the street from Ralston's Cider Mill, and the alcohol as sent through pipes from the mill to the restaurant. In order to keep the establishment hidden, there was no sign out front to tell people where Sammy's was located. In order to find the restaurant, you had to know someone who had already been inside. Sammy's remains a popular steakhouse today. For more information, check out our Guide to Historic Dining in Morris County, on sale in our gift shop for $12.00.
Prohibition was a time in Morris County's history which sparked ingenuity and innovation. People learned how to get around the police officers at the time, many of whom were not too keen to enforce the law anyway. Once a hotbed for Temperance sentiment, Morris County spent most of the Prohibition Era finding ways to evade police raids and confiscations. Lake Hopatcong especially, with its booming tourism business, was constantly in The Jerseyman newspaper for liquor busts and the closing of restaurants and taverns. To cover up the smell of the alcohol, which often gave away the location of speakeasies, barkeepers started to mix drinks with fruity flavors, and thus cocktails became many people's signature drinks. Despite the illegality of liquor, people found ways to keep the alcohol flowing throughout the 20s and 30s. To learn more about this interesting time in Morris County history, come to the Downton Abbey Tour and Tea on November 17 from 1pm -4 pm. For more information, check out the Cosy Cupboard Tea Room . For tickets, call the Cosy Cupboard at 973-998-6676.
