Testimony from 176 witnesses during the 1935 trial unveiled the extent of the bootlegging in Franklin County. . Tales of moonshine in Franklin County. Using the tax rate instituted in 1920, moonshiners in Franklin County would have generated $5.5 million in taxes between 1930-1935 if they had legally sold their products. Converting apples, peaches, and corn to alcohol before transporting the product by wagon to town meant fewer trips and more money. Boones Mill, VA 24065 (Map & Directions) (540) 334-1610. Henry Law used small-batch recipes from his father and grandfather, processed through two "doublers" or "thumper" barrels with a 60 feet long "worm" made of 2-inch copper pipe to condense the alcohol vapor. By the 1930s folks were so intertwined with moonshine that the national spotlight came to rest on Franklin County. Carbon dioxide is boiled away as a waste product when making distilled liquor, but trapped to keep the fizz in beer, and sparking wine (champagne). But the events of the 1930s have produced no scholarly study, in part in the 1950s. Old Roller Mill will be home to Bondurant distillery. Alcohol went untaxed for the next 45 years, but in the midst of the Civil War, Congress again passed a whiskey tax. It was during that time (1861-1865) that the liquor tax reached $2 per gallon, up to 12 times the actual cost of making a gallon of liquor., It seems the taxes were reduced at some point or more folks were willing to ply their trade legally, as by the 1880s dozens of Blue Ridge distillers were operating under state licensesIn 1893-94 Franklin County alone had 77 legal distilleries.. White Lightning. Another moonshine distillery in the area is. Sometimes [corn] brings such a small price it is not worth hauling it to market, but made up into whiskey there is always a good margin of profit. However, there are more job opportunities in the cities, so there's less incentive for people in urban areas to tackle the hard work of making illegal whiskey there. Just south of Roanoke on Virginia highway 220. Several witnesses reported to have moved hundreds of thousands of gallons over a period of five or six years. Moonshiners would ignore these laws and continue delivering their products in motor vehicles to industrial towns like Danville, Lynchburg, and Roanoke. information that leads to the trial transcript. In truth, however, the Governor of Virginia had directed law enforcement to take fines from whiskey makers wherever possible in order to relieve congestion in both the courts and jails in the Commonwealth. Visit our Franklin County section to learn more >. But likker makin' still goes on. Once the bulky corn was concentrated into liquor, farmers could transport it and still make a profit - unless taxed too heavily. Good moonshine can "hold a bead" so a bubble at the surface stays intact, due to surface tension and indicating a high percentage of alcohol rather than watered-down product. It was lengthy in both duration and defendants. You can read more about moonshine on Wikipedia there is also a lot of information on the distilling of moonshine here. Instead, the connection lay in the local garages, where mechanics used their skills to modify engines to increase speeds and suspensions to ensure better handling on the roads. Moonshining in the Blue Ridge Mountains became so notorious that Franklin County, in the southwest corner of Virginia, was dubbed the "Moonshine Capital of the World," after it was estimated. NASCAR might not have acquired many drivers from Virginias illegal moonshine trade, but one such driver who did come from this background was Wendell Oliver Scott, a Black American racer from Danvilles Crooktown section. At that point, the rebellion dissolved and pardons were quickly issued for most participants.4. The distillery is in the small town of Boones Mill, famous for being home to the Bondurant brothers store during Prohibition, where the bootlegging brothers and their associates would transfer moonshine for national distribution. Today's episode continues the Franklin County Moonshine Heritage month episodes. Now since the popularity of moonshine is rising, Law wants to make sure people know that moonshiners had to be very smart to build steel subs to make the drink. They set that raid up where they have a jump man. 0. So, sugar is a key ingredient for making hooch. VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLIC. For Virginia Citizen And Business Services Visit www.virginia.gov. A farmer could make enough liquor to cover his own familys needs and then sell or trade the rest with other members of the community, allowing them to utilize produce that would have otherwise spoiled and been thrown away. The stills found during a raid would then be destroyed using axes or sticks of dynamite. Sugar can be added to provide more carbohydrates as food for the yeast, which convert the carbohydrates into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The population was 8,582 in 2010. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Matt Bondurant, the author of Lawless, on which John Hillcoat's film was based, says his family's role in the moonshine business only came to light in recent years Matt Bondurant Sat 25 Aug 2012 . Women and children did suffer both physical violence and poverty due to wages spent on alcohol and gambling instead of groceries and rent. We invite you to taste local history with Franklin County Distilleries. ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ Chefs at an orphanage are cooking up visions of dancing sugarplums after learning they will get two tons of sugar seized in a federal moonshine raid. The last reference to the transcript that Greer has found is a 1945 The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935. The tense trial was the longest in Virginias history, and the dramatics of the case consistently kept it on the front page of newspapers, not only in Virginia but in papers around the country. After roughly a year, Bailey was allegedly able to uncover a complex system driven by bribery and extortion, in which distillers would supposedly pay local sheriffs for protection from federal law enforcement agencies. Photos and more. I broke loose. Casey L. Higgins is a writer, editor, content consultant, and social media strategist working in the realms of travel and small business. Your email address will not be published. See production, box office & company info, (based on the book by: "The Wettest County in the World"). The name Law's Choice echoed a decision he made after first asking his father to teach him the moonshining business, which at one point landed him in jail. Two men connected to the illegal liquor trade in West Virginia would be charged and convicted of the murders, but another witness perished under suspicious medical causes during the trial, casting doubt on whether the trial could possibly end with a successful outcome. 13:15:52 Franklin County Distilleries | 25156 Highway 220, Franklin County, VA 24065 | 540.334.1610 | info@fcdmoonshine.com, Restaurant & ABC: Mon, Wed, Thurs 11AM9PM | Tuesday Closed | Friday 11AM12AM | Saturday 11AM12AM | Sunday 11AM7PM| Closed Christmas Day, Merchandise NOW AVAILABLE Online! Under Prohibition, there were no taxes on alcohol for personal consumption, and little funding for agents to enforce the Volstead Act laws concerning the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. However, the customers are primarily "nip joints" (unlicensed bars) in urban areas such as Richmond, Baltimore and Philadelphia.3, In my incomplete (but still satisfying) experience, moonshine is sold in a Mason jar normally used for canning, sometimes with a peach on the bottom to give it a little bourbon-like color. Greer said. In jail, raisins and other foods are used to make "jailhouse hooch." Their tasting room in Boones Mill is the place to sample their white label corn whiskey. A page turner! 'The Untold Stories of Notorious Franklin County Moonshiner Amos Law." Follows the 6-year career of Amos Law and includes some of Henry's exploits as well. My grandfather Tom refused to pay extortion money and was arrested. While folks could enjoy prohibited liquor at tea rooms without concerns of the law, moonshiners had to learn how to finesses to make sure they also werent caught. I was to young to witness much of the distilling activities. Download our FREE Savings Pass to easily access discounts to local attractions, restaurants, & shops! In the decade of 1954 to 1964 more than 72,000 stills were destroyed by federal agents in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. We tell you where locals could get a drink without having to worry about raids during prohibition. Bloomery Plantation Distillery. subsequent trial for jury tampering. because roads in the mountains are bad, corn is concentrated into whiskey for transport. 25156 Hwy 220. They continued selling illegal, untaxed spirits after Prohibition ended, and some still do today. The movie and book both tell the tales of the Bondurant brothers and their bootlegging enterprise in Virginias mountains. Given the poor state of many roads and the reliance on wagons, a trip to town or a railroad station could take up an entire day. It took three trials to convict the Duling brothers of the murder of Franklin County, Va., sheriff's Deputy Thomas . ($$) 4.6 Stars - 13 Votes. Prillaman whose family has been making moonshine in Franklin County since the late 1800s oversees the distilling of Twin Creeks' seven liquors, which include a corn whiskey, fruit brandies. Amos Law trained his twin boys in the moonshining business. Wed love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! And in Franklin County, there is a deep history of moonshine. [3] In fact, many of the Government's witnesses likely had ulterior motives in testifying for the prosecution because they had been previously convicted by the efforts of some of the defendants. Watch 10 News for the latest local, statewide and national news, as well as the forecast from Your Local Weather Authority. Ironically, Prohibition led to an increase in moonshining and to less money and fewer agents to enforce the regulations. One is covered in shrubs not too far from Rocky Mount, and at a spot in Rocky Mount, theres another that is no longer there. Would you happen to know of any resources I can use to research family history? Select a Rating! The cold mash moonshine produced at this distillery is a neutral spirit that makes for a perfectly balanced cocktail. three days and returned guilty verdicts against all the defendants except two convicted. They became known as moonshiners or bootleggers. White lightning became the county's top cash crop, rolling down mountain Lawless: Directed by John Hillcoat. Small wonder that Franklin County farmers and business owners saw no need to stop making a product that was still in demand and even more profitable than before the 18th Amendment went into effect. Franklin Area, Virginia, has been dubbed the Moonshine Capital of the World because of its unique kind of whiskey and the huge quantities of moonshine produced by the county in a given year. This site also has Jiu Jitsu, Beach and Belt tournaments listed. Times & World-News offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who can furnish These 3 men bootlegged gallons and gallons of moonshine all over the state of Virginia and were some of the best at it. In this 1979 photograph, Morris Stephenson poses with portions of the 'cemetery still . 3. Tuesday, January 8, 2019 6:00 AM accounts. Set in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits. convicting the other defendants unless Lee was acquitted, according to . It contained 24 "black pot" stills, each containing 800 gallons of product. Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to keep up with all the exciting things in Virginia's Blue Ridge! "I've found no evidence of any deliberate malfeasance on anyone's part," Upon questioning, Jack merely lifted his shirt to show the bullet hole.. Franklin County Crafted Spirits We use age-old distilling methods and locally sourced goods. Posing as a small-scale moonshine buyer, Bailey went undercover in Franklin County beginning in 1934. Back in the days when car radiators were used to condense the vaporized alcohol into liquid phase, enough lead might end up in the moonshine to blind or kill the final consumer. Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2016. View Menu. Matches start at 10 a.m. and are refereed by Virginia. His goal was to catch you at the steel site or run you down away from him. [3] Set in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits. Finally, if youre visiting Southern Virginia, plan a stop at Bondurant Brothers Distillery in Mecklenburg County, run by one of the grandsons of the legendary Bondurant brothers. Farmers in the mountains might raise more than enough corn to feed families and livestock, but the cost of transporting the surplus to a market was too expensive. In 1929 alone, 35,200 illegal stills were seized in the U.S. During all of Prohibition, 3,909 stills were destroyed and 130,716 gallons of alcohol seized in Franklin County which accounted for 18% of the alcohol and 12% of the stills found by law enforcement in Virginia. He was charged with perjury after state and Federal agencies cooperated in Operation Lightning Strike and broke up three moonshining rings that produced nearly 500,000 gallons of untaxed liquor between 1992-1999. What I figured out early in the game was to go back around the way the jump man came, Law said. The alleged conspiracy was uncovered by federal agent Colonel Thomas Bailey, who after distinguishing himself as a hero in World War I, became an undercover agent for the federal government. FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - We first introduced you to moonshiners in Franklin County in early April. Cuisine: American, Bar Food. James Forrest Bondurant (21 November 1901-4 December 1965) was an American Prohibition -era gangster and one of the three Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Virginia. I think we got it. Many business leaders and politicians though it was acceptable for them to drink, but believed that excessive drinking was harmful to the working classes, so that Prohibition would be good for them by making alcohol unattainable. Online menu for Franklin County Distilleries in Boones Mill, VA - Order now! The most comprehensive list of wrestling tournaments all in one place. A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. Franklin County is known as the moonshine capital of the world. . Paul, who presided at the trial. The, Illegal moonshine was made in secret stills throughout the United States, but the mountain towns of southern Virginia were thrust into the national spotlight with the. The alleged conspiracy was uncovered by federal agent Colonel Thomas Bailey, who after distinguishing himself as a hero in World War I, became an undercover agent for the federal government. Some did stop drinking, but others drank even more. Make it a little dough, like bread, said Henry Lee Law, a third-generation moonshiner. In 2012, The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control had issued licenses for legal distilleries located in Albemarle County, Culpeper County, Fairfax County, Franklin County, James City County, Loudoun County, Norfolk, Richmond, Spotsylvania County, and Virginia Beach.1, The Bowman distillery in Spotsylvania County is the oldest legal distillery in Virginia. White lightning became the county's top cash crop, rolling down mountain roads each night in bootlegger caravans. Multiple days spent hauling crops that could spoil could be reduced to one day hauling liquor that would not spoil. Lawless is the story of the three Bondurant brothers from Franklin County, Virginia, Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, and the runt of the litter Shia LaBoeuf. sifted through 100 boxes containing the personal papers of the Judge John Single-batch, pot-distilled spirits made from cane and grain. Im Milton Thomas Coopers youngest son. Large, notable busts since then have occurred as recently as 2001. As U.S. Assistant Attorney General Mabel Willebrandt stated, if they arent taking the bribes, they are either very honest or very stupid. Law enforcement and political leaders at all levels, including the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury were involved in corruption and manufacturing or selling illegal alcohol, including politicians who had voted dry.. Particularly, in Franklin County, you had tearooms. And then, after the fact, is when you add your fruit or you're mixing to it, mixing with it. Head to the. After such a bust, one might think the hammer had effectively been dropped on moonshining in Virginias Blue Ridge, but that would be a foolish thought. You have to realize that in Southwestern Virginia and down into North Carolina and Tennessee, moonshine has a heritage that has made the area what it is today. seven others chose not to contest the charges, according to newspaper , where you can sample moonshine, fruit brandies, and White Whiskey, the distillerys pure, unaged corn liquors available in 90- and 100-proof. Not surprisingly, some distillers preferred to run their operations illegally rather than pay these high taxes. Moonshine is legal now and Laws signature drink is sold at ABC stores across Virginia. But crafting spirits was not only a pastime for poor rural farmers; middle and upper class Americans on the eastern seaboard were known to build large dedicated stillhouses; George Washington even made his own liquor commercially at Mount Vernon, and you can still, might not have acquired many drivers from Virginias illegal moonshine trade, but one such driver who did come from this background was, , a Black American racer from Danvilles Crooktown section. Love learning more and more about Virginia where my Dad, Joe Bondurant was born and raised. Or are they? The natural thing to do is run when there is danger. The feature film "Lawless," starring Gary Oldman and Shia LaBeouf, opens. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Have you visited Franklin County recently? The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935 [Greer, T. Keister] on Amazon.com. Enjoy chilled, with a mixer or in your . . newspaper accounts. Amos Law claimed he had never hauled sugar or jugs for anybody. The origins of NASCAR are linked with the development of skilled driving to elude revenue agents and transport the untaxed, illegal liquor from the mountains to the final market in coastal cities. We invite you to taste local history with Franklin County Distilleries. When they came to America, they believed that they would be free of these fees and could resume producing their own distilled beverages without infringement from the still-forming U.S. government. In the early 20th century, law enforcement officials examined moonshining supplies at a still bust, believed to be in Franklin County. Illegal moonshine was made in secret stills throughout the United States, but the mountain towns of southern Virginia were thrust into the national spotlight with the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935. He caught my buddy and I got away, and Im like, Wow man, what a rush, Law said. Explore Rocky Mount, and consider traveling The Crooked Road: Virginias Heritage Music Trail to appreciate more of the culture of the area. Copyright 2022 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. Their tasting room in downtown Rocky Mount is a great spot to visit for a cocktail before catching a concert at the nearby Harvester Performance Center. Call for shipping price. Two of the three were shot but none were killed. The image of a moonshiner in the Blue Ridge Mountains tends to bring to mind an impoverished backwoods farmer, but in reality, some moonshiners would turn an incredible profit, especially during Prohibition. Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard (Jason Clarke), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf) Bondurant successfully run moonshine out of the mountains and into Chicago, until the law gets involved--and not in the way you might initially think. moonshiners from arrest and harassment by revenue agents. Its owner-operator was sentenced to five years and 10 months jail time. Gymnasium. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Franklin with Southampton county for statistical purposes. During Prohibition, prices ranged from $6 to $12 to as much as $25 per gallon. While there were still illegal moonshiners living in the area, there were also 77 registered distilleries in Franklin County by 1894. In the early years of Prohibition, alcohol consumption did decline as did alcohol related illnesses, deaths, and crime, but as Prohibition continued, consumption, illness, and crime began to climb, with consumption reaching 70% of Pre-Prohibition levels. NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Labonte will be making his first start at Franklin County Speedway since 1984 when the SMART Modified Tour invades the 3/8-mile bullring in Callaway, [] SMART Modified Tour Set to Invade FCS on May 8th April 23, 2021 The effort to reduce crime and protect the family backfired. That was November 1, 1916. It now produces Virginia Gentleman bourbon as well as other liquor in a converted clothing factory (the old FMC Cellophane plant that once produced the inner linings for men's suits) located downstream of Fredericksburg.2, Illegal distilleries or "stills" are concentrated in the rural mountainous counties. FRANKLIN COUNTY MOONSHINE is the stuff of legends and outlaws, news stories and family struggles, a point of dubious pride in a region also known for stock car racing and mountain charm. Your email address will not be published. Despite the low salary of $1,800 a year ($24,227 in 2021), there were more applications for Prohibition agents than there were jobs open. Virginia State Police has identified the pilot who was killed in a plane crash in Carroll County. However, the growth of moonshining in Franklin County was astounding. o commemorate the history and cultural aspects of moonshine with tours, special events, and costumed interpreters. would not go alone, according to Greer. In the 1920s and 1930s, if you lived in Franklin County, most likely you were in involved in the county's biggest industry making illegal whiskey or moonshine. So, if you run away from the jump man for about 100 yards there would be 10 -15 men out there in a half-moon, youre caught. Franklin County hosts a Moonshine Heritage Month annually and invites the public to learn more about the culture. Law said those types of interactions with the law continued throughout the early parts of his moonshine career in the 1970s. The distillery is in the small town of Boones Mill, famous for being home to the Bondurant brothers store during Prohibition, where the bootlegging brothers and their associates would transfer moonshine for national distribution. In fact, Matt Bondurant wrote that his grandfathers shooting was unknown to the family until his father found a newspaper article about the incident. County residents, including the commonwealth's attorney, several sheriff's The county earned. Casey previously wrote for Virginia is for Lovers and is excited to share her enthusiasm for family fun, outdoors, and culinary delights found in Virginia's Blue Ridge. During one year of Prohibition more sugar was shipped by rail to Boones Mill and Franklin County than to New York City. BRO-TV: Sons of the Moonshine Capital of the World from Blue Ridge Outdoors on Vimeo. By the 1930s folks were so intertwined with moonshine that the national spotlight came to rest on Franklin County. Franklin County is home to two beautiful lakes, breweries, distilleries, and plenty of quaint downtown areas. But was told many intriguing stories of what went on. If you're having decent Franklin County moonshine, it should be made mostly from corn and it shouldn't have a whole lot of additives to it. years. To drink moonshine and not get caught with the law, there were several speakeasy locations or as they call it, tearooms. As Prohibition ended in 1933, moonshining had become a huge economic force in the mountains of Virginia, and although alcohol was once again legal, the profits from illegal moonshining in the region remained high, encouraging the bootleggers to continue their shady enterprises. Just south of Roanoke on Virginia highway 220. One of them had produced more than 213,780 gallons over a seven-year period in the 90s. Musicians within the region write songs about homemade hooch, stills have been repurposed into art exhibits, and youll find merchandise emblazoned with moonshine logos in stores throughout Virginias Mountain region. Franklin County hosts an annual Moonshine Heritage Month to commemorate the history and cultural aspects of moonshine with tours, special events, and costumed interpreters. Franklin County - The Moonshine Capital of the World. According to the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, The United States collected an excise tax on alcohol from 1791 to 1802 and then again from 1813 to 1817. Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, 10 Must Do Hikes in Shenandoah National Park, 8 Exclusive Luxury Retreats For a Pampered Virginia Getaway, 10 Gorgeous Glamping Destinations in Virginia for a Luxury Outdoor Experience, WanderLove: A Road Trip From Fredericksburg To Virginias Northern Neck, 15 Memorable Holiday Road Trips to Virginias Most Festive Towns, The Top Spots to View Virginias Colorful Foliage Throughout the Fall, 18 Relaxing Wellness Retreats and Getaways in Virginia, Hiking with Kids: 10 Family-Friendly Trails in Virginia, WanderLove: A Road Trip From Norfolk to Virginias Eastern Shore, 20 Virginia Summits with 360 Degree Views, 10 Best 2-3 Day Virginia Backpacking Trips on the Appalachian Trail. Even noted author and heavy drinker Jack London voted for womens suffrage in 1911 because women would vote for Prohibition, which would make him stop drinking. This photo taken on Oct. 22, 2015, shows bottles of white whiskey awaiting their labels at the Franklin County Distilleries in Boones Mill, Va., the first legal distillery, since prohibition, in . As Reston developed and land values increased, the Bowman family moved the distillery to Spotsylvania County in 1988. 4 talking about this. His goal now is to preserve the history of moonshine the good and the bad. During Prohibition, prices ranged from $6 to $12 to as much as $25 per gallon. Franklin County, Virginia is known as the Moonshine Capital of the . Fifty-eight-year-old Terry Michel, the owner who confessed to killing his two dogs, is set to make his first court appearance in the Franklin County General District Court on Wednesday. The cold mash moonshine produced at this distillery is a neutral spirit that makes for a, Looking to sample moonshine in other parts of Virginia? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Police officers and tax enforcement officials hunted down moonshiners throughout the United States with the help of local informants (which could sometimes be the bootleggers own competition). Image Courtesy of The Library of Virginia, But the Revolutionary War was at hand and the country needed money to pay for the care and supplies for American troops, so the government imposed a tax on alcohol. If you want to sample authentic Virginia moonshine in its legal form, visit Franklin County Distilleries, the first legal distillery founded in Franklin County. In a way, early Virginia moonshiners were some of the first eco-friendly farmers in America! Now, Im not saying they didnt shoot em up and they didnt beat each other up and they didnt have thieves and that sort of thing. That jump man would come in by himself. one defendant - could shed new light on the conspiracy trial and on a Forrest Bondurant: It is not the violence that sets men apart, alright, it is the distance that he is prepared to go. Moonshining is concentrated in the mountains for several reasons, but primarily because there's a centuries-old tradition of converting corn crops into whiskey to simplify transport for sale outside of the region. All spirits available in our tasting room, Virginia ABC stores, and select restaurants and bars. Find the cost, maps, directions, flyer and registration details all in one location. The same occurred on a national level. As the fees increased, small time moonshiners were forced out of business and the illegal industry was consolidated. Want to know more about Virginias lesser-known history? Locally, J. H. de-Hart of The Mountain Rose Distillery in Philpott, Virginia advertised reminding customers to submit orders that could be filled and delivered by October, 1916. Congress voted in favor of repeal on February 20, 1933, the Virginia General Assembly concurred on October 3, 1933, and the 21st Amendment was ratified December 5, 1933. Few People Realize That The Moonshine Capital Of The World Is In Franklin County, Virginia Moonshine has a fascinating and complicated history. Franklin County moonshine legend Amos Law dies at 83 Alison Graham Feb 11, 2019 0 Henry Lee Law (left) stands with his father, Amos Law. The annual Kahila Moonshine Classic wrestling tournament is Saturday at Franklin County High School's Samuel M. Hawkins-Central. And, in fact, theres a country right here in the Old Dominion that lays claim to being the Moonshine Capital of the World. If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1558. demonstration of moonshine making at Richmond Folk Festival, 2013. Source: Library of Congress, Dickenson County herald (June 7, 1945), Moonshining reputation built on long history, Franklin County moonshine history depicted in movie, Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Moonshine: Now Showing Up in More Than Mason Jars, Small liquor distilleries are bubbling up in Virginia, http://www.abc.state.va.us/admin/annual/annual.htm, http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/102010/10032010/579324, http://www.abc.state.va.us/facts/nipjoint.html, http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/encyclopedia/whiskey-rebellion, https://www.roanoke.com/news/local/franklin_county/franklin-county-moonshine-legend-amos-law-dies-at/article_97cb9edd-7d66-504c-bf2b-17a4694c8a84.html, https://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/news/offering-law-s-choice/article_49ccac48-5fed-11e7-bfa9-53486a5e5e97.html.