The 18th Amendment, 1920
Bowdoin Bugle 1920
Collections of Maine Historical Society
378 B674Q-b
Clearly many college students were not ready for their professed "alcoholic fast."
Thermometer
Courtesy of the Charles E. Burden collection
This device displayed in the exhibit was a thermometer in a wooden case. It was used in the Prohibition wine cellar of Bath's Harold M. Sewall. Keeping, drinking, and serving alcohol was by no means limited to one social, economic, religious, or ethnic part of the population. Even Portland's prestigious Cumberland Club was raided and caught with booze.
"Vanilla fooled me for a few days. In came a shipment of five gross of vanilla extract. I asked what was the idea in tying up money in that quantity of extract. The clerk said, 'That won't last two weeks. We sell a lot of it. We get thirty-five cents for it when they cook with it, and forty cents when they drink it."
- R.E. Gould's memories of 1920, Yankee Storekeeper , 1946
Medicinal Mount Vernon Pure Rye Whiskey, ca. 1925
Courtesy of the Charles E. Burden Collection
During the Prohibition era, many citizens diagnosed themselves for ailments requiring medicinal alcohol, much as their parents did in prior generations.
Old Collingswood Rye Whiskey
ca. 1920s
Courtesy of Drew D. Masterman
This whiskey is labeled "For Family and Medicinal Purposes," the only way alcohol could be legally sold during Prohibition.
'Stein Song,' 1930
Maine Historical Society
Stein Song, 1930
New arrangement by Rudy Vallee (1901-1986)
Collections of Maine Historical Society
Written at the University of Maine, Orono by Lincoln Colcord and Adelbert Sprague the great drinking song reached national popularity in 1929-30 when Maine's own Rudy Vallee's rendition made it the number one hit, a curious contribution to American culture from the state that led the nations temperance movements.
The Alcoholic Blues , 1919
Broadway Music Corporation
Collections of Maine Historical Society; gift of William David Barry, 1998
Coll. 2093, B1F2
This popular song marked the beginning of national Prohibition.
The chorus: I’ve got the blues I’ve got the blues I’ve got the alcoholic blues No more beer my heart to cheer Goodbye whiskey, you used to make me frisky So long high ball, so long gin. Oh, tell me when you comin back again?"
Buy Your Grape Juice with a Signed Guarantee, 1932
Collections of Maine Historical Society
Coll. 1863, Box 3
This grape juice, marketed through the mail, gives specific instructions to prevent fermentation. So specific that the method of turning the juice into wine is very clear.
Hires Root Beer
Early 20th century
Collections of Maine Historical Society
1997.248
Hires Root Beer was marketed as a "great temperance drink."
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