RHS October Program – “Prohibition in Wisconsin" by Patrick Steele
Please join us at 7:00 PM Thursday, October 23rd as retired college history professor Patrick W. Steele explains prohibition’s impact on Wisconsin.
Many breweries closed or shifted production to non-alcoholic products, such as soda, ice cream, and cheese. Some brewers also made malt syrup for home brewing.
Prohibition also led to the rise of speakeasies, where people could obtain and consume alcohol in secret. Organized crime took advantage of prohibition by engaging in bootlegging and smuggling.
Our program will explore how the nationwide ban on alcohol was enacted and enforced in Wisconsin. Professor Steele will uncover the ways in which prohibition influenced Wisconsin’s social, economic and political landscape, from the notorious hideouts of Al Capone in the Northwoods to thriving underground speakeasies in local communities.
While prohibition is often labeled a failure, Steele will challenge the assumption, inviting guests to consider the complex legacy of the period, including whether it was really a failure or did it shape the state in lasting and unexpected ways.
Everyone is welcome to attend the RHS programs presented the 4th Thursday during the months of January–May and September–November. The programs start at 7pm and are held at the Richfield Fire Hall, 2008 State Road 175, Richfield, WI 53076.
Also check out other Contests in Richfield.
