Greenville Roots: In 1935, the city drinks legally again
It had been more than 25 years since Greenvillians had legally sipped a mint julep. Then, on May 27, 1935, Greenville went “wet.”
Since the 1880s, local voters had generally endorsed prohibition, although it wasn’t until the county approved it in a statewide local option election in 1907 that the town closed down its bars and liquor sellers. In 1915, in a statewide referendum, Greenville, like every county except Charleston, voted for prohibition. Residents supported the 18th Amendment enthusiastically and drank lemonade to celebrate its official start in January 1920.
But in the following decade, new words entered their language, like speakeasy, rum-runners and bootleggers. Old ones like “moonshine” flourished.
Before prohibition began, many people hoarded a supply of liquor. But by 1925, alcohol — whether manufactured in bathtubs, Canada, or the Dark Corner — became hard to get, expensive, and fashionable. It influenced the election of 1928, when Democrats first endorsed repeal, and was a significant factor in electing Franklin Roosevelt in 1932. After the 21st Amendment repealed prohibition in 1933, 3.2 percent alcohol beer and equally weak wine were allowed locally.
In April 1934, Greenville voted against whiskey. A year later, citizens finally endorsed it.
Editor's note: For more than 140 years, The Greenville News has told the story of our community and the people who live here. Each day this year we are publishing a brief piece of our history – Greenville's story.