Family Reunion and National Drought

On January 14, 1920, William and Carrie Raschka had a visit from their niece, Mamie Olson, who was now about 30 years old, and studying to be a nurse. (Mamie, as you may remember, was the daughter of Charles and Luella (Chester) Olson.)


(Click on images to enlarge)

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Two days later, the rest of the nation joined Indiana and the other pioneer dry states, as Prohibition-with-a-capital-P became the law of the land — on paper, anyway.



The Gazette had off-handedly noted in its first issue of the year: "Many people throughout the country are dying from drinking wood alcohol." Without further explanation, we can only guess that this was in the already-dry states. But we've all heard the stories from the Prohibition era about people going blind or dying from bad bootleg liquor.


Sources:
♦ 1920 Census.
♦ "Additional Local News." Hobart Gazette 2 Jan. 1920.
♦ "Local and Personal." Hobart News 22 Jan. 1920.
♦ "Nation Now Dry Under Amendment to United States Constitution." Hobart News 22 Jan. 1920.