Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago Taverns-- Part 2: "Two-Gun Pete" and Prohibition

3.  When infamous Chicago police officer SYLVERSTER "TWO-GUN PETE" WASHINGTON retired from the force in the 1950s, he opened a bar in the Oakland neighborhood called the Hill Top Lounge.  as a cop, he had shot many suspects, including at least nine fatally.  As a barkeep, he saved a reminder of those days in a cigar box with bullet fragments pulled from his victims.

4.  The definition of Chicago tavern expanded a bit during PROHIBITION.  Thirsty patrons turned to the local pharmacy (with a doctor's prescription, residents could buy whiskey), the soda fountain counter (a risky yet common venture for many in the business) and, of course, the unnamed hole-in-the-wall speakeasy.

And, in October 1923, police cracked down on liquor sales of a fishmonger (the herring delivered a kick), a shoe shine (moonshine) and even a candy store which sold rye on the side.

--CooterShine

No comments: