Prohibition in Nelson County

This series of interviews focus on industry and community reaction to the closing of Nelson County distilleries during Prohibition. Interviewees include industry workers and executives, their relatives, local historians, and other residents. They discuss the economic consequences of Prohibition, especially the impact on other businesses, unemployment, and the loss of billions of dollars to the federal government in taxes. Although there was a decline in living standards, interviewees suggest most distillers had farms to fall back on and few faced great hardship. Other topics include the tolerant and protective attitudes of the community towards bootlegging, the police, judges, and religious leaders, and temperance groups.