Maine Memory Network

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Acknowledgements

"Daveis Benevolent Fund. Rum, Riot, and Reform: Maine and the History of American Drinking Curators: Bill Barry Nan Cumming Design: Nan Cumming Mark…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Politics and Enforcement

"Sturdivant. He told Sturdivant, "I have been a rum-seller and a rum-drinker, and have brought my wife and children into trouble and poverty, and I do…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Overview & Introduction

"See complete Rum, Riot, and Reform Exhibition Printed Catalog . Introduction Mention the topic of alcohol reform in America and two semi-comical…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Influential & Interesting Documents

"Her cargo, sold locally as "Old Dart Rum",brought high prices and, in the estimate of historian William Goold, raised the spirits of all Portland."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Drinking Implements

"X Rum Bottle, ca. 1800 England or United States Blown glass Collections of Portland Museum of Art, Maine; bequest of Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Bootleggers vs. Police

"… Boyle, The Best of Boyle , 1980 Suspected Rum Runner Dixie III, Portland, 1927Maine Historical Society/MaineToday Media Suspected Rum…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Business as Usual

"X Rum Cart in Gorham's Corner Portland, ca. 1900 Collections of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission Portland's Gorham's Corner (the…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Neal Dow

"… Although this photograph was taken after the Rum Riot of 1855, the building had changed little after city government had moved to an elegant new…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - A Call to Temperance

"… she died." Metta Victoria Fuller, 1853 X Rum, Fire Water published in Ahiamihewintuhangan: The Prayer Song, 1858 Collections of Maine…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Taverns, People, and Scenes

"… drop their tools, and all would partake of rum, salt-fish, and crackers." Reverend Elijah Kellog (1813-1901) X Billy Hans (1755-1831)…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Drinking: Elegance and Debauchery

"… was kept hot to make warm Tom and Jerrys, a rum drink.The upper shelf contains cigar boxes, represented by red squares."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - 1620 to 1820: New England's Great Secret

"By 1700 more Yankees drank rum than beer, with cheap "New England Rum" being distilled in Boston, and later Falmouth."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - 1820 to 1865: Temperance and the Maine Law

"… moderation, they branded all drinkers as rum dealers. Indeed, Dow left the moderates behind, including wine drinker Governor William King, who…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - 1919 to 1934: The Nation Follows Maine Into Prohibition

"Rum continued to come from the West Indies in small Maine-made vessels built specifically as rumrunners."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Temperance Membership

"… Temperance Membership Back to: 1820 to 1865: Temperance and the Maine Law "The results of our agitation will be the expulsion from all the…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - The Continuing Debate

"The Continuing Debate Exhibition promotional poster, 1998 X Excessive drinking, once New England's secret, is now a recognized public issue."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Reform and Repeal

"Reform and Repeal Back to: 1919 to 1934: The Nation Follows Maine Into Prohibition X Franco-American Temperance Workers Westbrook, ca."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Quenching the Thirst

"Quenching the Thirst Back to: 1865 to 1919: The Drys Gain New Adherents and Leaders Don't drink the vanilla, Lumber camp, ca."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Society Copes

"… Society Copes Back to: 1919 to 1934: The Nation Follows Maine Into Prohibition X The 18th Amendment, 1920 Bowdoin Bugle 1920 Collections…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Why Study the History of Drinking?

"Why Study the History of Drinking? The history of drinking in Maine and America is rich and complex."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Women Leaders and Temperance

"Women Leaders and Temperance Back to: 1865 to 1919: The Drys Gain New Adherents and Leaders X Carrie Nation hatchet badge Ca."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - 1865 to 1919: The Drys Gain New Adherents and Leaders

"1865 to 1919: The Drys Gain New Adherents and Leaders Announcement for The Reformed Rumseller: Mr."

Prohibition in Maine in the 1920s

Federal Prohibition took hold of America in 1920 with the passing of the Volstead Act that banned the sale and consumption of all alcohol in the US. However, Maine had the Temperance movement long before anyone was prohibited from taking part in one of America's most popular past times. Starting in 1851, the struggles between the "drys" and the "wets" of Maine lasted for 82 years, a period of time that was everything but dry and rife with nothing but illegal activity.

John Hancock's Relation to Maine

The president of the Continental Congress and the Declaration's most notable signatory, John Hancock, has ties to Maine through politics, and commercial businesses, substantial property, vacations, and family.