| Click to enlarge |
|
| BRISTOL 1874 |
This poem or ode was published in the Bristol News of
June 1880:
Oh, Sir Charlie Harmeling came out of the West
Through all those wide borders, his beer is the best.
It foams like new milk from the clover distilled.
And it costs but a trifle to have yourself filled.
(Harmeling operated a Saloon on the corner of Cumberland & Front
Sts. and would later construct The Harmeling Opera House on State St, and relocate his Saloon inside.)
Bristol,VA. went " DRY" in 1886.
From June 17,
1886 to June 22, 1888, it was illegal to sell whiskey ( alcohol) in Bristol,Va. BUT, perfectly legal to do so in Bristol,Tenn.
From Nov
1909 to Nov. 1916, it was illegal to sell whiskey in Bristol, Tenn., but perfectly legal to do so in Bristol,Va. The
National Prohibition Act- enacted in 1916 "dried" up the Nation.( Except for the criminally minded, who made vast
fortunes from selling illegal alcohol.)
This item was published in the Bristol News
of Dec.1906:
Local Temperence people may be interested
to know the vote of Bristol, Va., June 17th, 1886 on the question of licensing saloons to sell intoxicating liquors. The Temperence
people carried the issue by a vote of 364 to 216, despite the fact that at the time, saloons were legal in Bristol,Tenn. At
the time of the vote in Bristol,Va. there was a tacit understanding between the Temperence people on both sides that Bristol,Tenn.
would vote out saloons at the next opportunity, which was a year later. When this vote was held, whiskey was voted out of
Bristol,Tenn. and Sullivan County by a vast majority, but the fight lost in the State, and , consequently, its sale in Bristol,
Tenn. could not, under law, be prevented.
On June 22, 1888, another vote was held in
the four precincts comprising Goodson District and Bristol,Va. on the saloon question. Though Bristol, Va. voted to license
the saloons by 184 to 115, (the main of the former Temperence people not casting a ballot), the District went against whiskey.
The Corporation Court of Bristol, Va. was then organised and Judge Wm. F. Rhea placed upon the bench. Upon application by
the whiskey people for a license, Judge Rhea held under law he was compelled to grant the license.
(**Note: why did the "main of the former Temperance
people" not cast a ballot?
| Click to enlarge |
|
| BRISTOL 1894 |
1891...
The Supreme Court
of Tennessee has decided against Mr. John M. Crowell in his suit against the Town of Bristol for $5000.00 damages for failing
to close the doors of J.W. Jett's liquor Saloon on Main Street. It decides that a Town cannot be sued for failure to
remove a nuisance, the proper remedy being by indictment.
** was Crowell related to Charles T. Crowell who owned
a saloon in 1904 at #21 4th ST. ?
| Click to enlarge |
|
| BRISTOL 1904 |
Dec.
1906....
E.L. Whiteaker, a youthful miscreant, was arrested on a charge of hurling a missile through the plate glass
front of The Phoenix Saloon on Front St. The large glass which cost $40.00 was smashed. The boy was taken before the Mayor,
who fined him for promiscuous throwing. It is stated that the saloon owner will demand damages from Whiteaker's father.
A Saloon Owner's Open
Letter to the Bristol News.
CARD FROM MR.KELLER
(July 1907)
Regarding the
extension of the Adams Law, will say I have confidence enough in our Representatives in Nashville to feel sure that no legislation
will be enacted with reference to Bristol,Tenn. that will give Bristol,Va. any advantage of Bristol,Tenn. , and that if such
a law was passed, as is now being talked of, the tax-paying citizens of Bristol,Tenn. would not be foolish enough to adopt
it; not withstanding the fact that Bristol,Va. no doubt would furnish the necessary amount to help make Bristol,Tenn. dry
- in order to further their own pet scheme - a Dispensary.
Much has been said about
the saloon men in Bristol in some of the papers, about them keeping dives, joints,dens,etc., by people, some of whom have
never been of any advantage in any community they have lived , and who have left other communities for the public good.
I do not propose to make
any attack on anyone that would result in a newspaper controversy. I have probably traveled as much as the average citizen
of Bristol and I have never seen more honorable, upright, and reliable men in the liquor business anywhere than are the whiskey
men of both Bristols. The 10 o'clock closing ordinance has been in effect some years now and I have yet to hear of some violation
of it, much less a conviction. It has been said that so much money was spent for liquors in Bristol; if so, what have the
liquor men done with the money, except help build up Bristol. None of them have taken any bankrupt laws or left the town.
They are citizens, property owners, and have made their business a success, while some people have failed to make good anywhere,
at anything. Probably, jealousy has caused some to fight us. I've been here nearly eighteen years in the liquor business and
have no investments in any other town or state and could probably stay here, (even in a dry town), as long as some of those
who are leading the fight against us have been citizens of this place. Bristol is filled with merchants from dry towns, from
East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, and why they left these towns is a question that they could probably answer better
than I could. Bristol is the best town I ever was in for its size and has as few arrests as the average town of its size.
Notwithstanding the fact that it has to contend with many disadvantages arising from its peculiar location as regards the
State Line. I live here and I am going to stay regardless of business.
S.G. Keller,Jr.
** Keller and his father
were saloon owners in Abingdon.
Heller Bros. Buy Macon
Liquor House
(Jan.1907)
Heller. Bros., wholesale liquor
dealers of Bristol & Knoxville, have just purchased the wholesale whiskey business of The James Co. Inc. at Macon, GA.,
and will operate the business in the future. A.B. Heller, of the local branch of the firm, has returned from Macon,
where he went with his brother, M.A. Heller of Knoxville, and closed the deal.
Chattanooga Now A Whiskey Mecca
(Oct.1907)
A number of Bristol whiskey dealers
will move to Chattanooga, as a result of the decision of the Supreme Court holding their abolition in Bristol Nov. 1st as
valid.
A.B. Heller, of Heller Bros., one of
the largest of the local mail order concerns, returned last night from Chattanooga and announced that his firm would consolidate
the Bristol, Knoxville, and Macon houses, and move to Chattanooga. While there, Mr. Heller leased a building near the Central
Depot on Market St. expecting to occupy it and be ready for business by Nov. 1st.
Other whiskey dealers of Bristol will
move there also, but they have little hope of that city remaining wet longer than the meeting of the next Legislature.
As a result of the statewide prohibition
laws just passed in Georgia, dozens of whiskey houses in that state will move across the line into Tenn. and locate in Chattanooga.
Saloon Keepers Make Known
Their Plans
(Oct.1907)
A number of those now in business
in Bristol, will move to other places after Nov.1st. The Saloon men of Bristol have nearly all made preparations to move to
other cities Nov. 1st., the date set for the new charter under which they are abolished, is to take effect.
A number of them have not yet made public
their plans, while others are announcing their headquarters beginning the first of next month.
Heller Bros. will consolidate their
Bristol & Knoxville houses and move to Chattanooga. They have just leased quarters at no. 1122-1124 Market St. in that
city and are having the building stocked and prepared for occupancy by the latter part of the month.
John C. Brady & Son have leased
a building on Salem Avenue in Roanoke, VA. and have already opened a house at that place.
Shere's Plans Uncertain - L. Shere,
who conducts one of the largest saloons in the city, corner 4th and State Sts., has not yet decided on his future location.
He has just returned from Richmond and may relocate to that city.
Walter O. Trenor, who formerly conducted
a saloon in Bristol, is now in business in Roanoke.Other liquor men have yet to announce their plans, though it is said
that most of them contemplate leaving the city and opening up elsewhere.
To Run Penny Arcade - L. Mack Mantz,
who formerly conducted a saloon business on Front St., is opening a penny arcade in the building adjoining the Citizens Bank
of Bristol.
The majority of the whiskey men are
heavy holders of Bristol real estate and it is expected that some of them will remain here and enter other business.
E.Gouge & Co., Distillers &
Rectifiers, will also leave here on account of the abolition of the saloons, though they have not decided on a location.
Heller Bros. will move their Macon,
GA. business to Jacksonville, FL. , on account of the prohibition laws recently enacted in the former state.
W.O. Trenor Suffers Fire Loss
in Roanoke
(12Feb.1907)
The Casper-Trenor Company of
Roanoke of which former Bristolian W.O. Trenor is a member, suffered a loss of $8000.00 there in a fire early Monday morning.
The Company's business which is liquor distilling and bottling was insured for $10,000.00 thus was fully insured.
Claude H. Brady Sells His Business
(Oct.1909)
Returns to Roanoke - Sam & W.E. Bryan
Purchase the Stock.
Claude H. Brady has just disposed
of his saloon and mail order liquor house, on Front & Cumberland Sts., to Samuel N. and W.E. Bryan. Judge Kelly granted
a transfer of the license to the purchasers in court Wednesday.
Mr. Brady has a large liquor house at
Roanoke, and following the victory of the "Wets" there a few days ago, he is determined to return and personally look after
his business there. He accordingly sold out to Bryan Bros. the entire business, which is one of the largest of its kind in
the city.
It is rumored that a large bonus was paid
by the purchasers for the place. Mr. Brady was the only saloonist in the city occupying his own property and will lease it
to the purchasers.
License Transferred
The license of Hessberg, Son & Company,
Inc. , was transferred in court to Otto D. Heldreth. Walter D. Everett retired as Manager to go into other business.
| Click to enlarge |
|
| BRISTOL 1905 |
MORE APPLICANTS FOR LIQUOR LICENSE
(29 Oct.1909)
They Will Be heard By Judge Kelly At November Court
Judge Kelly will have four more applications for liquor licenses when he convenes the Corporation
Court of Bristol,Va. on November 1.
They are:
Home Liquor Company, in building adjoining the Empire Department Store. A.S. Henkle, Manager.
T.H. Haynes Company,Inc., in building on State Street near Moore, just vacated by Abe Morris. Ernest Kilgore, Agent
& Manager.
Clark & Sherfey Company in building on State Street near Lee, adjoining the Dominion National Bank. C.A. Hines, Agent
& Manager.
East Tennessee Brewing Company of Knoxville wholesale malt liquor license. Ben J. James , Agent & manager.
There are now thirteen liquor licenses in force. However, two of the Licenses have both retail
liquor and wholesale malt privileges. If the four applicants for November 1, whose formal notices will mature before that
time, are given licenses, there will be seventeen licenses and fifteen sepererate places where liquor business is conducted.
The concerns that will apply November 1 are getting ready to open and so far as is known there
will be no objections to any of them, with a possible single exception as to the location of one of the saloons.
BRISTOL SALOON REGULATIONS
(Oct.1909)
Only Front Entrance
Judge Kelly required that all applicants not only sign the agreement he prepared some days ago,
but had the most of them personally promise to see that order was preserved in their places and the law rigidly enforced.
He made it clear with them that they could under no circumstances have other than a front entrance, and that no drinks could
be served except at the counter and ,that they could not be served to patrons in rooms either above, below , or partitioned
on the same floor. He made the rigid holding that saloons cannot send out drinks, that is to rooms in hotels, adding that
this might furnish opportunity for minors to get liquor.
Shere Liquor Company Going Out of Business
(April 1910)
Manager Denies, However, That High Licenses Forces Concern Out -
Returns to Richmond, Va.
The L. Shere Liquor Company will not apply for renewal
of its license. It is just learned that the company will withdraw from Bristol on May 1st, at which time its license expires.
It was reported the company decided not to apply for renewal on account of the $3500.00 tax, but this is stoutly denied by
the local manager, who states that there is no other reason than that he is needed in Richmond, where the company had a very
large business. He says that the sudden death of the principal man at Richmond, necessitates the closing of the Bristol place,
adding that he had already prepared to renew his license.
One and probably two other saloons will open shortly,
so that the number here will not be lessened. It is understood that the Shere Bar , which is on Cumberland St., may be sold
and continued.
NEXT>>>>
|
